Analysis of Magnetic Flux Linkage Distribution in Salient-Pole Synchronous Generator with Different Kinds of Inter-Turn Winding Faults

A reliable and accurate diagnosis of inter-turn short circuit faults is a challenging problem in the area of fault diagnosis of electrical machines. The purpose of this challenge is to be more efficient in fault detection and to provide a reliable method with low-cost sensors and simple numerical algorithms which not only detect the occurrence of the fault, but also locate its position in the winding. Hence, this paper presents a novel method for diagnosis of different kinds of inter-turn winding faults in a salient-pole synchronous generator using the change in the magnetic flux linkage. It describes the influence of inter-turn winding faults on the magnetic flux linkage distribution of the generator. The main feature of the proposed method is its capability to identify the faulty coils under two types of inter-turn winding faults. Also, simple algorithm, low cost sensor and sensitivity are the other feature in the proposed technique. In this method, generator air gap flux linkage is measured via search coils sensor installed under the stator wedges. Theoretical approach based on Finite Element Method (FEM) together with experimental results derived from a 4-pole, 380U, 1500 rpm, 50 Hz, 50 KVA, 3-phase salient-pole synchronous generator confirm the validity of the proposed method.