2026, Vol. 7, Issue 1, Part A
Condition monitoring of electrical machines using basic electrical parameters: A data communication perspective
Author(s): Thabo Johannes Mokoena, Nomvula Grace Ndlovu, Sipho Michael Van Der Merwe and Lerato Elizabeth Botha
Abstract: Electrical machine reliability represents a critical concern for South African mining and industrial operations where unplanned downtime carries substantial economic consequences. This research investigated condition monitoring approaches utilizing basic electrical parameters with emphasis on data communication architectures enabling real-time fault detection across geographically distributed installations from February 2023 through November 2023. Field deployment encompassed 47 induction motors rated between 15 kW and 450 kW operating at mining facilities in Gauteng and North West provinces. Current signature analysis combined with vibration measurements achieved fault classification accuracy of 94.7% across five fault categories when processed through a combined monitoring approach incorporating edge computing and cloud analytics. Bearing failures represented the dominant fault mode at 41.3% of all documented failures, followed by stator winding faults at 23.7% and rotor defects at 12.8%. Communication system design employed industrial Ethernet and Modbus protocols for primary data transport, supplemented by LoRa wireless connectivity for remote installations lacking wired infrastructure. System latency averaged 47 milliseconds from sensor measurement to fault indication, enabling protective actions before catastrophic failure propagation. The data communication architecture successfully transmitted 2.4 terabytes of monitoring data during the observation period with 99.6% reliability across challenging mining environment conditions including electromagnetic interference, dust, and temperature extremes. Economic analysis demonstrated return on investment within 14 months through avoided unplanned downtime and optimized maintenance scheduling. These findings establish practical framework for condition monitoring implementation across South African industrial facilities seeking to improve equipment reliability through data-driven maintenance strategies.
DOI: 10.22271/27083969.2026.v7.i1a.97
Pages: 61-67 | Views: 39 | Downloads: 18
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How to cite this article:
Thabo Johannes Mokoena, Nomvula Grace Ndlovu, Sipho Michael Van Der Merwe, Lerato Elizabeth Botha. Condition monitoring of electrical machines using basic electrical parameters: A data communication perspective. Int J Electr Data Commun 2026;7(1):61-67. DOI: 10.22271/27083969.2026.v7.i1a.97
