A non-intrusive method for estimating motor efficiency using vibration signature analysis

An accurate method of estimating the efficiency of in-service motors is needed in order to determine the performance of installed motors without disrupting the motor driven process. In this paper, the motor efficiency is estimated using a non-intrusive implementation of the compensated slip method. The motor speed is accurately estimated using motor vibration signature analysis. A few other efficiency estimation techniques are implemented and their performance is compared to the proposed method. It was found that the non-intrusive compensated slip method produced relatively accurate results without having an adverse impact on the availability of the motor under test. This method provides an attractive alternative to highly intrusive techniques that offer similar accuracy.

► A non-intrusive efficiency estimation technique for induction motors is developed.
► The performance of the technique is compared to other estimation techniques.
► The proposed estimation technique is found to be accurate and easy to implement.
► A speed estimation technique based on vibration signature analysis is developed.