Part 2: Motor Features Based on Process Criticality Without Sacrificing Reliability

Solutions Podcast Series

In this episode of the ABB Solutions Podcast, host Mike Murphy continues the discussion with Abel Cavazos and Wayne Paschal from ABB’s High Power Division. This second installment focuses on how environmental conditions, enclosure selection, and proper monitoring can significantly impact motor life and reliability, especially in high-power and high-criticality applications. Tune in to hear insights on:

• Motor Enclosure Selection: How WP2, TFC, TX, and TWAC designs differ, when each is appropriate, and how contamination, cooling efficiency, and horsepower size influence enclosure choice.
• Environmental and Cooling Considerations: Why airborne contaminants, restricted airflow, dirty cooling tubes, and clogged filters can lead to overheating, and which enclosure types help mitigate these issues.
• Maintenance Practices: Practical steps facilities can take to maintain high-power motors, including differential pressure monitoring, tube cleaning, fin maintenance, and planning for long turnarounds.
• Monitoring for Reliability: How stator RTDs, bearing RTDs, vibration checks, and temperature delta tracking help plants shift from reactive to predictive maintenance.
• Criticality and Feature Selection: How CR1 through CR4 ratings influence the level of monitoring required, and why adding diagnostic features helps reduce unplanned downtime.
• PCIC Presentation Insights: Background on the paper titled The Cost of Specifications Reducing Motor Features Based on Process Criticality Without Sacrificing Reliability, how it ties into API 541, API 547, and IEEE 841, and why it sparked new thinking around criticality at PCIC.

References:

Transforming industry with energy-efficient motors and reliable power generators: https://new.abb.com/motors-generators