Method and apparatus for predicting electric induction machine failure during operation

A method for identifying an operating condition of an electric induction machine which operates as one of a power source and load on a power line of an electrical distribution system comprising:

• a. monitoring in real time a power line waveform having a signature influenced by driven loads associated with an electric induction machine;
• b. spectrally separating at least a representative portion of the power line waveform into a plurality frequency-domain components;
• c. selecting for analysis at least one specific component of the plurality of frequency-domain components based on at least one of frequency and magnitude values of the component by referencing a base of stored knowledge of representative operational characteristics of the induction machine;
• d. associating without supervision the selected component with an operating condition of the induction machine by referencing the base of stored knowledge;
• and
• e. updating the base of stored knowledge with at least one of at least a portion of new selected components and new induction machine operating condition associations, which have been identified during real-time monitoring.

A method for identifying an operating condition of an induction machine which operates as one of a power source and load on a power line of an electrical distribution system comprising:

• a. coupling an electric induction machine to a power line of an electrical distribution system and operating the machine;
• b. monitoring in real time power line waveform signature influenced by operating conditions of the machine;
• c. spectrally separating at least a representative portion of the power line waveform into a plurality of frequency-domain components;
• d. selecting for analysis at least one specific component of the plurality of frequency-domain components based on at least one of frequency and magnitude values of the component by referencing a base of stored knowledge of representative operational characteristics of the machine;
• e. associating the selected component with an operating condition of the machine by referencing the base of stored knowledge;
• and
• f. updating the base of stored knowledge with at least one of at least a portion of new selected components and new machine operating condition associations, which have been identified during real-time monitoring.

A method for identifying an operating condition of an electric induction machine which operates as one of a power source and load on a power line of an electrical distribution system comprising:

• a. coupling an electric induction machine to a power line of an electrical distribution system and operating the machine;
• b. monitoring in real time power line waveform having a signature influenced by operating conditions of the machine;
• c. spectrally separating at least a representative portion of the power line waveform into a plurality of frequency-domain components;
• d. selecting for analysis at least one specific component of the plurality of frequency-domain components based on at least one of frequency and magnitude values of the component by referencing a base of stored knowledge including at least one of a portion of component values and component selection criteria representative of operational characteristics of the machine;
• e. associating the selected component with an operating condition of the machine by referencing the base of stored knowledge;
• and
• f. updating the base of stored knowledge with at least one of at least a portion of new selected components and new machine operating condition associations, which have been identified during real-time monitoring.

A method for identifying an operating condition of an electric induction motor which draws a power load from a power line of an electrical distribution system comprising:

• a. powering an induction motor with a power line of an electrical distribution system;
• b. monitoring in real time power line current signature having specific spectral components influenced by operating conditions of the motor;
• c. selecting and analyzing automatically at least one of specific spectral components of the power line current by referencing a base of stored knowledge of representative operational characteristics of the motor;
• d. associating automatically without supervision the selected component with an operating condition of the motor by referencing the base of stored knowledge;
• e. identifying a previously unknown motor operating condition;
• and
• f. updating the base of stored knowledge with at least one of at least a portion of new selected components and new motor operating condition associations, which have been identified during real-time monitoring.

A method for identifying an operating condition of an electric induction motor which draws a power load on a power line of an electrical distribution system comprising:

• a. powering a motor with a power line of an electrical distribution system;
• b. monitoring continuously in real time power line current of at least a portion of the electrical distribution system having a current signature having specific frequency and magnitude components influenced by operating conditions of the motor;
• c. selecting and analyzing automatically at least one of specific frequency and magnitude components of the power line current by referencing a base of stored knowledge of representative operational characteristics of the motor, including at least one of a list of at least a portion of component values and component selection criteria;
• d. associating without supervision the selected component with an operating condition of the motor by referencing the base of stored knowledge;
• e. identifying in real time a previously unknown motor operating condition;
• and
• f. updating the base of stored knowledge with at least a portion of new selected components and new motor operating condition associations, which have been identified during real-time monitoring.

An apparatus for identifying an operating condition of an electrical device which operates as one of a power source and load on a power line of an alternating current electrical distribution system comprising:

• a. a data conditioning sampler for monitoring in real time a power line waveform having a signature influenced by driven loads associated with at least one electrical device;
• b. a preprocessor, coupled to the data conditioning sampler, for spectrally separating the power line current into a plurality of frequency-domain components;
• c. a spectral characteristic component selector filter, coupled to the preprocessor, for selecting automatically for analysis at least one specific component of the plurality of frequency-domain components by referencing a base of electronically stored knowledge representative of operational characteristics of the electrical device;
• d. an association device, coupled to the component selector filter, for associating automatically without supervision the selected component with an operating condition of the electrical device by referencing the base of stored knowledge and for updating the base of stored knowledge with at least one of at least a portion of new selected components and new electrical device operating condition associations, which have been identified during real-time monitoring;
• and
• e. an enunciation device coupled to the association device, for enunciating a previously unknown electrical device operating condition to an output device coupled thereto.

An apparatus for identifying an operating condition of an induction machine which operates as one of a power source and load on a power line of an electrical distribution system comprising:

• a. a data conditioning sampler for monitoring in real time a power line waveform having a signature influenced by driven loads associated with an electric induction machine;
• b. a preprocessor, coupled to the data conditioning sampler, for spectrally separating the power line waveform into a plurality of frequency-domain components;
• c. a spectral characteristic component selector filter, coupled to the preprocessor, for selecting for analysis at least one specific component of the plurality of frequency-domain components by referencing a base of stored knowledge of representative operational characteristics of the electrical device;
• d. an association device, coupled to the component selector filter, for associating without supervision the selected component with an operating condition of the induction machine by referencing the base of stored knowledge;
• and
• e. an updating device coupled to the base of stored knowledge and at least one of the component selector filter and the association device, for updating the base of stored knowledge with at least one of a portion of new selected components and new electric induction machine operating condition associations, which have been identified during real-time monitoring.

An apparatus for identifying an operating condition of an induction machine which operates as one of a power source and load on a power line of an electrical distribution system comprising:

• a. an operational induction machine coupled to a power line of an electrical distribution system, the power line carrying a waveform having a signature influenced by operating conditions of the induction machine;
• b. a data conditioning sampler, coupled to the power line, for monitoring in real time the power line waveform;
• c. a preprocessor, coupled to the data conditioning sampler, for spectrally separating the waveform into a plurality frequency-domain components;
• d. a spectral characteristic component selector filter, coupled to the preprocessor, for selecting for analysis at least one specific component of the plurality of frequency-domain components by referencing a base of stored knowledge of representative operational characteristics of the machine;
• e. an association device, coupled to the component selector filter, for associating the selected component with an operating condition of the induction machine by referencing the base of stored knowledge;
• and
• f. an updating device, coupled to the base of stored knowledge and at least one of the component selector filter and the association device, for updating the base of stored knowledge with at least one of a portion of new selected components and new induction machine operating condition associations, which have been identified during real-time monitoring.

An apparatus for identifying an operating condition of an electric induction machine which operates as one of a power source and load on a power line of an electrical distribution system comprising:

• a. an operational induction machine coupled to a power line of an electrical distribution system, the power line carrying a waveform having a signature influenced by operating conditions of the induction machine:
• b. a data conditioning sampler, coupled to the power line, for monitoring in real time the power line waveform;
• c. a preprocessor, coupled to the data conditioning sampler, for spectrally separating power line current into a plurality of frequency-domain components;
• d. a spectral characteristic component selector filter, coupled to the preprocessor, for selecting for analysis at least one specific component of the plurality of frequency-domain components based on at least one of frequency and magnitude values thereof, by referencing a base of stored knowledge including at least one or a portion of component values and component selection criteria representative of operational characteristics of the induction machine;
• e. an association device, coupled to the component selector filter, for associating the selected component with an operating condition of the induction machine by referencing the base of stored knowledge;
• and
• f. an updating device, coupled to the base of stored knowledge and at least one of the component selector filter and the association device, for updating the base of stored knowledge with at least one of a portion of new selected components and new induction machine operating condition associations, which have been identified during real-time monitoring.

An apparatus for identifying an operating condition of an electric induction motor which draws a power load from a power line of an electrical distribution system comprising:

• a. an induction motor powered by a power line of an electrical distribution system, the power line carrying a waveform having a signature having specific spectral components influenced by motor operating conditions;
• b. a data conditioning sampler, coupled to the power line, for monitoring in real time the power line waveform;
• c. a spectral characteristic component selector filter, coupled to the data conditioning sampler, for selecting automatically for analysis at least one of the specific spectral components of the power line waveform by referencing a base of stored knowledge of representative operational characteristics of the motor;
• d. an association device, coupled to the component selector filter, for associating automatically without supervision the selected component with an operating condition of the motor by referencing the base of stored knowledge;
• e. an enunciation device, coupled to the association device, for identifying a previously unknown motor operating condition;
• and
• f. an updating device, coupled to the base of stored knowledge and at least one of the component selector filter and the association device, for updating the base of stored knowledge with at least one of a portion of new selected components and new motor operating condition associations, which have been identified during real-time monitoring.

An apparatus for identifying an operating condition of an electric inductor motor which draws a power load from a power line of an electrical distribution system comprising:

• a. an operational induction motor powered by a power line of an electrical distribution system, the power line carrying a waveform having a signature having specific frequency and magnitude components influenced by motor operating conditions;
• b. a data conditioning sampler, coupled to the power line, for monitoring continuously in real time the power line waveform;
• c. a spectral characteristic component selector filter, coupled to the data conditioning sampler, for selecting automatically for analysis at least one of the specific frequency and magnitude components of the power line waveform by referencing a base of stored knowledge of representative operational characteristics of the motor, including at least one of a list of at least a portion of component values and component selection criteria;
• d. an association device, coupled to the component selector filter, for associating without supervision the selected component with an operating condition of the motor by referencing the base of stored knowledge;
• e. an enunciation device, coupled to the association device, for identifying in real time a previously unknown motor operating condition;
• and
• f. an updating device, coupled to the base of stored knowledge and at least one of the component selector filter and the association device, for updating the base of stored knowledge with at least one of a portion of new selected components and new motor operating condition associations, which have been identified during real-time monitoring.

An apparatus for identifying an operating condition of an electric induction motor which draws a power load from a power line of an electrical distribution system comprising:

• a. a data conditioning sampler for monitoring in real time power line current having specific frequency and magnitude components with values influenced by driven loads associated with an induction motor;
• b. a spectral characteristic component selector filter, coupled to the data conditioning sampler, for selecting for analysis at least one of the values of the specific frequency and magnitude components of the power line current by referencing a base of stored knowledge including at least one of:
• i. a list of at least a portion of component values, and
• ii. component selection criteria;
• c. an association device, coupled to the component selector filter, for associating in real time without supervision the selected component with a motor operating condition by referencing the base of stored knowledge;
• and
• d. an updating device, coupled to the base of stored knowledge and at least one of the component selector filter and the association device, for updating the base of stored knowledge with at least one of a portion of new selected components and new motor operating condition associations, which have been identified during real-time monitoring.