Fibre optic sensors for the monitoring of rotating electric machines: a review

Abstract

Accurate and efficient monitoring of electrical machine (EM) operating parameters, including temperature, mechanical vibration, torque and rotating speed and others that can indicate the EM health conditions is becoming ever more important in the world of electrical drives. The traditional methodology of one sensor per parameter can be theoretically replaced by a "one sensor measures all" technology, which can be achieved through the use of fibre-optic sensors (FOS). In this paper, several FOSs, which use different optical sensing principles for multiple physical parameter measurements of EMs, are reviewed. This paper also provides an insight into the major developments, and discusses the engineering challenges of FOS used for EM monitoring over the last few decades, and compares the advanced features of FOS with those of conventional sensors in use. Finally, a novel FOS-EM observer system scheme employing the Fibre Bragg Grating technique for multiparameter monitoring of EM health is proposed, after discussion of the preceding industrial and academic FOS cases for EM applications.

Fiber optic Michelson interference experimental course towards the cultivation of undergraduates majoring in optical engineering

“…We need high bandwidth and data transmission speeds, long-distance, and high-performance data networking, so that fiber optics is widely researched and employed in telecommunications services [12,31]. Besides, optical fibers are resistant to electromagnetic interference and sensitive to many physical quantities, thus optic fibers are widely applied in various fields of engineering to realize industrial real-time monitoring and construction safety detection [15][16][17][18][19][20]. The scientific knowledge of the light nature and its handling results are currently and will still be applied in solving engineering problems.…”

“…Fiber optic cables are widely employed in telecommunications services like the internet, television, and phones, because of the advantages including high bandwidth and transmission speeds, long-distance, and high-performance data networking [12]. Based on these advantages, optic fibers are also widely used in the fields of engineering, including monitoring in aerospace [15], coal mining [16], bridges [17], environmental quantities [18,19], and industrial machinery operating parameters [20]. Therefore, it is necessary to cultivate optical engineering talents who can adapt to the development of applied optics, have physical optic and fiber optic knowledge as well as analytical thinking, and can use optic knowledge to analyze and deal with practical problems.…”

Fiber Optic Fiber Bragg Grating Sensing for Monitoring and Testing of Electric Machinery: Current State of the Art and Outlook

“…The conventional temperature monitoring approach in electric machines generally employs embedded temperature sensors, such as thermocouples (TCs) or resistance thermal detectors (RTDs), to measure the local temperature of the monitored parts [26]. However, the utilization of these sensors, especially for critical machine applications, can have considerable limitations due to the safety risks posed by the electrically conductive nature of the sensor material and the sensor installation complexity; further constraints arise from the physical dimensions of these sensors, which can prevent or significantly complicate the effective access to key thermal measurement locations of interest (e.g., windings slots) [27].…”

Broken Rotor Bar Detection Based on Steady-State Stray Flux Signals Using Triaxial Sensor with Random Positioning

“…Electrical faults are further divided into stator (turn-to-turn, coil-to-coil, phase-to-phase, phase-to-ground, and open circuit), rotor (broken rotor bar and broken end ring), and power supply faults (phase imbalance and single phasing). Mechanical faults are divided into stator (frame vibrations), rotor (unbalanced, bent rotor, static, dynamic, and mixed eccentricity), and bearing faults (outer ring, inner ring, rolling elements, and loss of lubricant) [2,3].…”