MOTOR STATOR WINDING PROTECTION BASICS

Deterioration of the electrical insulating system of stator windings is a common cause of reduced motor life and failure. This may result from numerous causes, such as subjecting the insulation to moisture, excessive dielectric stress, and mechanical or thermal damage.

The physical and dielectric properties of an insulation system deteriorate with age, and like other chemical activity, this process is accelerated by an elevation in temperature.

A rule of thumb has been developed from tests and experience to indicate that the life of an insulation system is approximately halved for each 10 °C incremental increase of winding temperature, and approximately doubled for each 10 °C decrease (the range of 7 °C–12 °C is indicated for modern insulation systems).

Thus, insulation life is related to the length of time the insulation is maintained at a given temperature.

In practice, winding failures resulting from dielectric breakdown are usually attributed to conditions such as impulse or switching surge voltage, moisture, penetration, or conducting contaminants. Mechanical stresses, such as vibration or distortion forces, can also cause winding failures.

These forces occur most often when starting the motor, or possibly during a transfer to another electrical source. Regardless of the reason associated with the failure, the effect of elevated temperature is to reduce the ability of the insulation to withstand electrical or mechanical abuse.

The temperature level at which an insulation system should be protected is subject to engineering judgment and applicable standards. (For limits established by the motor industry, see NEMA MG1-1998, Articles 12.41, 12.42, and 12.52. For induction motors, see NEMA MG1-1998, Article 20.40. For synchronous motors, see NEMA MG1-1998, Article 21.40.)

It should be noted that deriving increased output at the price of higher temperatures for any given motor means accepting a shorter life. However, when motors are used in essential or critical service, such as for fire pumps or boiler-feed pumps, it is often desirable that the operator be given time to correct an overload condition before a motor is stopped.

Such service may require the motor to run overloaded for prolonged periods, in situations where the overload does not exceed the breakdown torque rating of the motor. In these cases, the cost of reduced motor life due to the overload conditions must be weighed against the expense and damage that would result from a service interruption.