Condition Monitoring and Fault Diagnosis in Synchronous Generators

Synchronous generators are critical assets in modern power systems, supplying reliable electricity across thermal, hydroelectric and renewable installations. Ensuring their continuous operation requires robust condition monitoring and timely fault diagnosis. Electrical faults include stator winding short circuits and rotor inter-turn shorts, while mechanical issues range from bearing wear to static and dynamic air-gap eccentricity. Contemporary monitoring strategies combine sensor arrays—capturing current, vibration, temperature and magnetic field data—with advanced signal processing. Techniques such as electrical signature analysis, spectral decomposition and model-based parameter estimation enable early detection of anomalies. Machine-learning and optimisation algorithms enhance pattern recognition, reducing false alarms and providing prognostic insights. Integration of non-invasive external field sensors and two-dimensional thermal and electromagnetic simulations offers a holistic view of generator health. Globally, these advances support predictive maintenance, minimise downtime and extend asset life, while aligning with sustainability goals by preventing catastrophic failures and optimising energy efficiency.

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Condition Monitoring and Fault Diagnosis in Synchronous Generators publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in condition monitoring and fault diagnosis in synchronous generators across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Condition monitoring: Continuous or periodic assessment of machine health via sensors and analysis techniques.

Fault diagnosis: Process of identifying, locating and assessing the severity of defects in electrical machinery.

Electrical signature analysis: Technique that examines electrical parameters, such as current harmonics, to detect anomalies.

Static air-gap eccentricity (SAGE): Misalignment of the rotor within the stator that remains constant during operation, causing uneven magnetic flux.

Inter-turn short circuit (ITSC): Insulation failure between adjacent turns of a winding, leading to localized circulating currents and thermal stress.

Wavelet entropy: Measure of signal complexity derived from wavelet transform coefficients, used to extract fault indices.

Frequency-resolved circulation spectrum (FRCS): Method that computes branch circulation harmonics to isolate and visualise winding faults amid interfering phenomena.

References

1. An overview of various faults detection methods in synchronous generators. IET Electric Power Applications (2021).
2. Static and dynamic eccentricity fault diagnosis of large salient pole synchronous generators by means of external magnetic field. IET Electric Power Applications (2021).
3. Diagnosis of inter‐turn short circuit in excitation winding of pumped storage unit based on frequency‐resolved circulation spectrum. IET Electric Power Applications (2022).
4. A Study of Fault Diagnosis Based on Electrical Signature Analysis for Synchronous Generators Predictive Maintenance in Bulk Electric Systems. Energies (2019).