A crucial aspect of preventative maintenance in electric motors and generators is estimating the remaining lifespan of the insulation system of rotating equipment. That information can be compared with different operating conditions — pertaining to load, cycling, or the environment — to assess how and when the motor will be affected. To detect and resolve motor issues preemptively, Renown Electric Motors & Repair Inc. utilizes electric motor winding analysis (MWA).

Winding-Analysis

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Motor Winding Analysis for Preventative Maintenance

What Is Electric Motor Winding Analysis (MWA)?

With electric motor and generator winding analysis, our skilled technicians can discover early-stage problems inside rotating electrical equipment before they become more substantial. This early detection method allows us to perform the appropriate repairs during planned downtime. In addition to reducing repair costs during unscheduled shutdowns, winding analysis can lessen costs associated with disastrous component failure. Winding analysis is a form of non-destructive testing (NDT) that can be used for motor, transformer, and generator windings.

Alongside MWA, current signature analysis helps classify electric winding insulation. This information helps us detect any problems associated with premature component failure, which, in turn, prevents the loss of production time and high maintenance costs.

Winding failure analysis upon inspection of a failed unit is an ideal method for diagnosing system-related issues that affect the winding. In addition to active winding analysis for monitoring the dielectric strength of your winding insulation in-situ, the combination of methods forms a necessary aspect of any electric motor or generator preventative maintenance plan.

Main Benefits

MWA is an advantageous diagnostic measure for large electric motors and generators. Some of the primary benefits of checking motor windings periodically and proactively include:

  • Finding problems early on to avoid catastrophic motor or generator failure. If left unchecked, small issues like general wear in your insulation will become larger. By identifying the existence of wear or damage early, you can safeguard against equipment failure, unplanned shutdowns, lost time and profits, and costly repairs. Preventive maintenance also allows you to schedule any necessary repairs during planned system downtime for greater efficiency.
  • Improving safety in your operations. Not only will failing systems prove disastrous for productivity and your bottom line, but malfunctioning motors and generators can pose a safety risk to your facility and workers. Ensuring that winding systems are functioning properly limits the chance of such hazards.
  • Supporting peak performance, efficiency, and reliability in your motors and generators. Even well-cared-for insulation will experience degradation over time. Additionally, motor windings may become unbalanced, diminishing the performance of your equipment. Proactive analysis helps keep your motors and generators running smoothly for reliable functionality whenever you need them. Doing so also boosts efficiency and reduces energy use and costs.
  • Saving on expenditures. Speaking of costs, as a preventive maintenance method, MWA allows you to deal with maintenance issues as they occur, which is much more cost-effective. Failing to make repairs as problems arise or waiting to replace parts until they fail can be a very expensive mistake, as these problems will worsen and potentially affect other components.
  • Ensuring regulatory compliance. Routine motor winding analysis will help make sure that your equipment adheres to all necessary, current industry regulations and standards regarding functionality and safe operations.
  • Maximizing equipment longevity. Preventive maintenance keeps integral — and expensive — motors and generators in optimal running condition, encouraging peak performance and leading to a longer lifespan and improved ROI. Better quality assurance is also possible, all while utilizing a non-destructive testing method that won’t harm your equipment.
  • Developing maintenance services and scheduling that are specific to your needs. As you carry out periodic motor winding analyses and gather operating data on your specific equipment, you’ll then be able to develop an informed, custom preventative maintenance plan that optimizes efficiency.

Types of Motor Winding Insulation Tests

MWA is composed of three essential tests that ensure the efficacy of motor winding insulation, as follows:

  • Electrom TIG 12-D. Using DC voltage, this nondestructive testing technique detects leaks, which it measures in micro-amps.
  • On-line tests. Per phase as well as Rotor Bar tests, on-line testing assesses voltage and amperes.
  • Off-line tests. Examples of off-line tests include the Surge Test, Hipot Test, and the One-Minute Megger Test.

Premium Electric Motor Winding Analysis Services From Renown

At Renown, we utilize the most state-of-the-art equipment for our motor winding analyses on every repair in-house or in the field, (for AC and DC motors & generators, respectively). If you can’t make it into our shop, don’t worry — our testing equipment can be pre-programmed and quickly brought to you in the field.

Industries We Serve

Elevator Elevator
power-1 Hydroelectric Hydroelectric
Mining & Milling Mining & Milling
Wind Power Wind Power
Water & Wastewater Water & Wastewater
Oil & Gas Drilling Oil & Gas Drilling
Municipal & Government Municipal & Government
Aggregate Aggregate
Manufacturing
Elevator-bg

Elevator

We’ll keep your elevators running with services both in-shop and on-site, including in-field rewinding, turning, and undercutting. For decades, we’ve worked closely with companies in the mining, power generation, construction, and other industries for sheave regrooving, gearbox repair, and general elevator modernization, repair, and restoration. With cutting edge technology and close relationships with leading elevator suppliers, we can help with obsolete units and modern elevators alike.

Our maintenance programs are designed to help you avoid costly emergency repair and ensure elevators meet all local and national safety regulations. We also offer related products, including elevator pump motors, elevator room machine guards, shafts and sheaves, motor parts, more.

Learn More About Our Elevator Services
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Hydroelectric

Hydroelectric generators play a critical role in the production of renewable energy, and it’s essential to keep them running smoothly to ensure uninterrupted power and energy efficiency. However, these generators face a lot of challenges in their environments, from corrosion to extreme temperature and pressure, and regular maintenance is necessary for optimal performance. Even something as seemingly trivial as a loose bearing can lead to excess vibration and additional stress on certain components. Over time, the damage will extend throughout the motor, and that one loose bearing can ultimately decrease the life space of your entire system.

Renown Electric offers generator rebuilding and rewinding, gearbox repair, and preventative and predictive maintenance. We can help you identify potential issues based on your environment and generator usage, and make repairs and component replacements as necessary to avoid an unexpected shutdown or emergency repair situation.

Hydroelectric Industry Services
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Mining & Milling

Electric motors are the force behind essential mining and milling equipment like generators, crushers, pumps, mills, hoists, and more. These systems are often highly specialized and carefully designed for durability in a harsh environment. If any piece of equipment goes down, it comes with big costs—not only in repairs, but in lost production. In some cases, those breakdowns can put people’s lives at risk.

With years of experience and state-of-the-art ISO 9001:2015 certified facilities, we offer preventative maintenance, windings inspection, motor rewinding, bearings maintenance and replacement, and other services for AC and DC motors.

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Wind Power

On a wind farm, the wind turbine generator takes the mechanical energy produced by the spinning turbines and converts it into electrical energy. If the generators fail, no power is produced and the wind farm loses money, which makes generator inspection and maintenance an important part of wind farm operations.

With in-shop preventative and predictive maintenance and mechanical services that include coil manufacturing, generator rewinding, laser alignment, pitch and yaw repairs, slip ring repairs, wind analysis, vibration analysis, and thermal imaging, we keep your generators working to help you avoid downtime. We also maintain an inventory of repair and replacement parts for wind turbine generators to ensure a rapid response to any emergency repair issues.

Discover Our Wind Turbine Services
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Water & Wastewater

In the water and wastewater industry, motors are often running around-the-clock for purification systems, pump stations, treatment plants, and more, and 95 percent of the cost of electricity at these facilities is due to pumping. It’s been shown that the proper management and maintenance of the pump motors can help reduce energy costs by up to 40 percent, saving the company money and helping you establish yourself as more eco-conscious in a world of consumers who are putting more and more value on environmental responsibility.

At Renown Electric, we’ve worked with a variety of different pumps and pump motors, and we offer pump repair, balancing, vibration analysis, laser alignment, and motor drive repairs with unmatched customer service and capabilities both in-shop and on-site for your convenience. In addition to complete on-site consultations and inspection services, we offer client training programs and no-charge pick-up and delivery in the Ontario area.

Learn About Our Water & Wastewater Services
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Oil & Gas Drilling

Electric motors run air compressors, pumps, and fans and allow oil and gas companies to drill wells, power drawworks, pump fluids, separate cuttings, and more. Motor failure can be both costly and catastrophic, depending upon the impacted system and other environmental conditions.

All systems on an oil rig must be functioning optimally for both safety and production. With preventative and predictive maintenance, we can spot potential problems before they occur. With a selection of motors (as well as synchronous motors and generators) for both onshore and offshore platforms, along with services like oil and vibration analysis, dynamic balancing, laser alignment, and motion amplification, Renown Electric has the inventory, capabilities, and skilled team you need to keep your motors running well.

Learn How We Help The Oil & Gas Industry
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Municipal & Government

In government facilities, electric motors power generators, elevators, and more. Keeping these systems running smoothly isn’t only a matter of safety and convenience for the people who work in those buildings, it’s also about ensuring a positive impression for citizens who visit for a tour or on official business.

Renown Electric offers modernization surveys for old government buildings that may be operating with outdated equipment and systems, as well as on-site machining, analysis, and testing using top-of-the-line equipment. A modernization survey can help your organization understand the cost, safety, and efficiency benefits of updating your systems while creating a plan for those upgrades. On-site machining services, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for emergencies, include milling, line boring, turning, welding, and more.

Government Services
Aggregate-bg

Aggregate

The modern world as we know it would not exist without aggregate. Aggregate refers to the raw material used for construction (e.g., stone, sand, and gravel). Once it is mined, washed, processed, and/or combined with a binding medium and other important compounds, it can be used to create building materials for roads, bridges, buildings, and other structures critical to our present society.

Electric motors play an essential role in aggregate mining, processing, and handling operations. Since aggregate is so vital to our day-to-day lives, it is important to keep these machines properly maintained and repaired. Otherwise, we risk an aggregate shortage, which puts many critical construction projects at risk.

Our Aggregate Industry Services
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Manufacturing

Manufacturing encompasses a broad range of industries that turn raw materials into processed goods. This process powers industries such as automotive, pharmaceuticals, pulp and paper, textiles, and food and beverage.

Motors and generators are essential to run manufacturing and material handling equipment. For example, industries that focus on consumable goods, such as beverages and pharmaceuticals, use motors in the processing and bottling stages. For these reasons, motors and generators must be reliable and regularly inspected.

Renown Electric is a trusted leader in motor and generator services across many industries. Learn more about why motor maintenance is crucial for every manufacturer and how we serve diverse industries across consumer, commercial, and industrial markets.

Our Manufacturing Industry Services

 

Contact Our Experts for All Your Electric Motor & Generator Needs

Since 1984, Renown Electric has dedicated itself to helping customers overcome motor and generator challenges and achieve their goals. We’re committed to serving industries ranging from hydroelectric and wind power to municipality and water management with high-performance electric motors and quality motor and generator repair services. As an authorized service representative and dealer for most motor brands, our privately owned company employs over 60 employees with backgrounds in mechanical and electrical rotating equipment repair and engineering support.

We offer a range of preventive and predictive maintenance services to provide you with comprehensive solutions so that you can operate your business with confidence. In addition to winding analysis, we also specialize in vibration and oil analyses, dynamic balancing, laser alignment, infrared thermography, and motion amplification, as well as extensive field and shop services. We strive for excellence in everything we do, as evidenced by our many certifications, such as ISO 9001:2015.

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To discuss your motor winding service needs and how the Renown Electric team can help drive success in your operations, contact us today.