Title: An Enhanced PID Based Electrical Fault Detection System for Three Phase Induction Motor
Authors: Kennedy Ihemba, Ekene Samuel Echefu, I. U. Uju
Volume: 9
Issue: 8
Pages: 192-201
Publication Date: 2025/08/28
Abstract:
As the main components of several industrial and commercial systems, correct and reliable operation and performance of induction is inevitable for efficiency and increased production. Also, having fault detection scheme is of significant and brings valuable advantage by enhancing performance and ensuring that motor is prevented from damage when fault occurs. In this work, an electrical fault detection system for three phase induction motor is proposed. The system was basically designed to detect electrical fault (short-circuit) between any phase and the ground. In order to achieve this, control circuit based on discrete Proportional, Integral and Derivative (PID) controller with low pass filter as part of the derivative element called PIDf was designed. The designed PIDf controller was tied to trip-off circuit (or circuit breaker) such that it provides a command signal that enables the circuit to trip-off and then cut the motor off the supply when fault condition sets in such as fault voltages, faults current or fault voltages and currents. A Root Mean Square (RMS) technique that functioned to evaluate the harmonics present in the voltage or current waveform by so doing determine the quality of the output voltage or current, which then helps to detect the type of fault, was incorporated as part of the feedback network to the controller. Thus, the resulting type of fault is displayed on a scope attached to the RMS. The entire system with three-phase induction was modelled in MATLAB/Simulink. Simulations were initially conducted when the motor was running normally without any short circuit fault in the supply line. The results revealed that the starting current was high as shown by the rotor and stator currents, low starting torque and with the motor running at the rate speed of 1500 rpm. Further simulations were conducted for fault analysis without the controller as part of the system and the results revealed that the motor decreased from 1500 rpm to 1470 rpm for single-phase short circuit fault, 1500 rpm to 1365 rpm two-phase short circuit fault, and 1500 rpm to 1325 rpm for three-phase short circuit fault occurred. the integration of the designed discrete time proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller with low pass derivative filter (that is PIDf) ensures that detected error (or fault) signal is applied to the circuit breaker to cut off the motor from the network when any of these faults occurred. Thus, the resulting output of the motor is zero. As shown by the RMS technique, the occurrence of short circuit caused voltage sag along the supply line. Generally, the application of the discrete PIDf controller provided not only fault detection, but protection for the motor by ensuring that the circuit breaker trip off the line connection to the motor.