update on las lagunas project, page-39

If you read the announcement they said it was over heating which means it's very likely to be some sort of over current issue (ie to much current passing throught the stator or rotor windings of the motor.

It's possible that it's due to something simple like a poor connection causing increased resistance and therefore higher heating (due to P=I^2*R) but this is unlikely as a simple resistance test on the windings, or a volt drop test, can confirm this.

Therefore this almost certainly means that it is drawing to much current. This could be due, in my opinion, to some of the following:
1) Poorly spec'd motor that just can't handle the load. That would be a bit pathetic as most motors are designed with some slack and a good engineer should always spec a motor that has at least 25% spare capacity over the assumed normal full load rating.
2) Problems with the drive system (some sort of VVVF drive) that is putting to much current into the motor. This means that it's more of an automation issue and replacing the motor won't help.
3) Incorrect motor configuration - could be a number of things here such as unbalanced windings, wrong electrical configuration etc
4) Incorrect mechanical set up - Ie drive shaft not connected, poor gearing etc
5) Overzealous protection system that is tripping the motor out on over heating when it's not really the case (this is resolved very easily and anyone who has a basic knowledge of protection could work this out)
6) Faulty motor (ie not designed to spec)

Out of all these reasons it's only the first or last that would require a new motor. If it's the latter then the company should be able to sue the motor manufacturer for the lost revenue etc. If it's the former then it's just poor engineering.

Pity they don't give a bit more detail.

I'd add that commissioning problems are quite common and sometimes are not fully resolved prior to start up. If it's unusual loadings or a fault motor design that is only evident when it is running at full load that may be hard to test during commissioning.

Cheers all.

Twinsen