TEMPERATUE RISE OF

AN ELECTRICAL MACHINE

Instructed by

: Dr. Udayanga Hemapala

Name

: R.M.C.M Rathnyaka

Index No

: 110470A

Group No

: G-20

Date of Per

: 09/09/2015

Date of Sub

: 16/09/2015

OBSERVATION SHEET
Name

: R.M.C.M Rathnayaka

Index No

: 10470A

Practical Name

: Temperature rise of an electrical machine

Group Name

: G-20

Date of Per

: 09-09-2015
Time (min)

Winding
the motor
rated

Resistance ()

Instructed By

7.1

: Dr. Udayanga

7.8

Hemapala

10

8.0

15

8.2

20

8.3

25

8.4

30

8.8

35

9.2

40

8.7

the resistance at t=0.

Rated current of the motor 2.8 A.

resistance of
operated at
current
Winding
resistance
value under
ambient
temperature is

CALCULATIONS
1. ambient temperature is 300C,

Assumptions:

2. Fall of temperature while taking readings is negligible

Data taken at 5 min,
Temperature of the winding,
Winding Resistance (R2) = 7.8
Ambient temperature (t1) =300C
Winding Resistance at ambient temperature (R1) =7.1
Time (min)
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
R
t 2 (235 t1 ) 2 235
R1

Winding Resistance ()

Temperature of the
windings (0C)

7.1
7.8
8.0
8.2
8.3
8.4
8.8
9.2
8.7

30.00
56.13
63.59
71.06
74.79
78.52
93.45
108.38
89.72

( 30+235 ) 235
( 7.8
7.1 )

t2 =

56.13

Temperature rise = 56.130C 30 0C =29.86 0C

Calculated values of temperature rises

Temperature
Rise (0C)
0.00
26.13
33.59
41.06
44.79
48.52
63.45
78.38
59.72

Temperature rise Vs Time

Time (min)

Temperature Rise (0C)

0.00

26.13

10

33.59

15

41.06

20

44.79

25

48.52

30

63.45

35

78.38

40

59.72

Temperature Rise (0C) Vs Time (min)

From the graph;

The final temperature rise m= 71.75 C

At t=0,
d 200
=
=2.86 C /min
dt 70

m
d
at t =0
dt

71.75 C
=
2.86 C /min

25.11 min

DISCUSSION
1. Methods of measuring the temperature of windings
Thermal replica device
Thermal replica device is designed to simulate the winding temperature of the transformer
under load. It is a combination of a heater coil and a temperature sensor. The device is submerged
in the top layer of the transformer oil. The heater coil is supplied from a current transformer
installed in the LV winding. Because of that the thermal replica is subjected to the true current
variations in the LV side and calibrated to give an exact image of the coil winding temperature.
This temperature is measured by the temperature measuring device located in the thermal replica
device.
Infra-Red cameras
A thermal image can be obtained using IR sensors. In that image certain areas with different
temperatures are shown with different colors. By analyzing the picture we can detect whether
machine is operating beyond its rated temperature.
Thermistors
Thermistors are installed in the stator windings of the motors during the winding of the stator.
The outputs of the thermistors are fed in to a thermal protection relay. In the over-temperature
situations the thermal protection relay operates and disconnects the motor. This will protect the
motor from overheating and damage its windings.
Fibre optic temperature measurement method
A fibre optic temperature sensor is placed in the winding. The signal is fed to the controller
unit through fibre optic cable. The optical signal is then converted into an analogue or digital
signal. This is widely used since it is less expensive, more accurate and more reliable than other
methods.

Importance of the class of insulation

A critical factor in the reduced life of electrical equipment is heat. The type of insulation used in a
motor depends on the operating temperature that the motor will experience. Average insulation life
decreases rapidly with increases in motor internal operating temperatures.
NEMA has established safe maximum operating temperatures for motors based on an average
20,000 hour lifetime. These maximum temperatures are the sum of the ambient and maximum
temperature rise ratings of the motor.

Comparison between obtained results and machine ratings

The motor that we used for the practical has the insulation class F. According to NEMA

standards the maximum allowable operating temperature and the allowable temperature rise at full
load are 155C and 105C respectively. But the values that we obtained in the practical for
maximum temperature and the temperature rise are the 82.75C and 52.75C respectively. These
values are very much lower than the values mentioned in the standards. This is mostly because of
the ambient temperature which very low than the reference 400C.
4. Necessity of knowing the parameters estimated by the practical
From the practical thermal time constant and the maximum temperature rise was obtained.
Thermal time constant is a measure of thermal mass and thermal resistance and also its the rate at
which the machine is heated up. Knowing the thermal time constant we can decide to what extent
and for how long we should load the machine.
During normal continuous operation of an electrical machine, its temperature rises above the
ambient temperature. This may to variations in the thickness of insulation, no uniformity of
cooling, etc. The accumulation of dirt on the surface of insulation and in the ventilating duct
reduces the dissipation of heat, raises the temperature and causes thermal degrading of the
insulation. Maximum temperature rise help to ensure above mentioned facts. Hence it direct to
maintenances required in order to ensure that the operating temperature doesnt go beyond the
maximum allowable temperature rise. Even when designing the nearby equipment and enclosures
for the machines knowing this parameter is vital.
5

Various methods of cooling general purpose machines

Air cooling
This is the simplest method of cooling. Air can be natural or forced. Used for dry type
transformers, small motors and generators. Normally indicate as (AN-Air natural). The cooling
can be non-uniform due to variation in air flow.

Oil cooling

Used in oil immersed transformers. Air is also used in combined. Various methods can be used
such as oil natural air natural (ONAN), oil natural air forced (ONAF), etc. widely used in power
transformer cooling.
Water cooling
Water is used as a heat exchanger from oil. Radiator is used in extracting heat from the water. This
method can be seen in transformers with large power ratings. Normally used pumps and hence the
term Water Force (WF).
Hydrogen cooling.
This method is used for machines greater than 50MW. The frame of the machine should be strong
to withstand the high pressure and avoid gas leakages. This method increases the cooling
efficiency. The size of the cooler is also smaller compared with the other alternatives.

Direct cooling.

In this method the stator and rotor is made hollow. And a coolant is pumped through the hollow
space of the machine. The heat is dissipated to the coolant traveling in the hollow space.
Hydrogen, oil or water can be used as the coolant. This method is used for machines of about
300MW capacity