The Detection of an Inter-Turn Short-Circuit Fault in a Brushless Permanent Magnet Motor with Different Winding Configurations

This article is about the detection of a partial inter-turn short-circuit fault in a brushless motor with permanent magnets (BLPMM). The detection of a single inter-turn short circuit is a difficult issue. The authors of this article tested the sensitivity of the tested powertrain damage detection method. The diagnostic method developed for BLPMM allows for any configuration of the motor winding. A number of analysed configurations have been applied for the combined star–delta connection (YΔ). For the combined star–delta connection Y/Δ, the problem of partial short circuit at two locations was analysed. In the first case, this was the short-circuit winding phenomena in the star part (SC1). In the second case, the short circuit was connected in part to the delta (SC2). A mathematical model has been developed that takes into account both the type of connection and the chance of a partial short circuit of the coil. Based on numerical calculations, the sensitivity of diagnostic methods is designated for both cases. Furthermore, the impact of partial short circuits on motor performance was also examined. The effect of a partial inter-turn short-circuit fault on motor parameters was also determined. Laboratory verification was carried out.