Optimised condition based maintenance of induction machines

The induction machine is the most common electromechanical energy device in industrial employ and their optimum maintenance is crucial for the long-term, sustainable attainment of integrity, productivity and profitability. A condition based maintenance strategy has long been recognised as a cost effective way of maintaining critical plant and such strategies are routinely deployed as part of an optimised maintenance program. Recent work in the areas of the condition based maintenance of induction machines has centred on new analytical and signal processing techniques for the detection of incipient fault conditions as opposed to examining the practicalities of delivering an optimised Condition Based Maintenance program within the constraints of an industrial environment. This paper helps to address this by determining a framework for the provision of an effective and efficient induction machine condition based maintenance program. The paper will illustrate this framework through reference to the industrial application of the optimisation of induction machine condition based maintenance in the New Zealand dairy industry.