Running vertical motor in horizontal position 1

[Sajivarghese]

We have a recently repaired motor (3300 V, 360 kW, 1000 rpm, vertical sq. cage induction motor). Is it safe to take no load test run of the motor, keeping it in horizontal position? This is required since we do not have the right jig / fixture to mount the motor in our workshop in vertical position.

 

[jbartos]

Suggestion: Check with the motor manufacturer tech support. Vertical motors have a different bearing design than horizontal motors.

 

[electricpete]

Are there any oil-filled bearings? If so yo will make a mess when you put it on it's side.

Is there an upper thrust bearing? If so it may skid when you run the motor on it's side.

 

[Sajivarghese]

Thanx for the replies. The motor does not have oil-filled bearings. But there is a thrust bearing.

 

[rhatcher]

electricpete is right (star), running a vertical motor in the horizontal position is not recommended because of the thrust bearing.

 

[jbartos]

Suggestion: Personal computer disk drive motors run in vertical and horizontal position since I see that some procesors are position horizontally and then turn vertical. The disk drive that includes a motor seems to ve working o.k.

 

[aolalde]

The construction of electric motors has many variants based on the size and requirements of the load applied. Certainly the construction for 360 kW, 1000 rpm, with thrust bearing, vertical motor of this thread is far apart from that into a PC disk driver. Hopefully this is not an oil lubricated bearing.

You should disassembly the motor and replace the thrust bearing (if several, one will be replaced) with an equivalent size deep groove ball bearing, this will provide radial stability to the rotor-shaft assembly during the test while the motor is horizontal. Some motors have back to back angular contact bearings on the thrust side, if so you are lucky and the motor will run horizontally with no problem. After test, the original assembly must be restored. Be careful handling bearings since them deteriorate easily.

This is expensive but other way the rotor will rub against the stator with possible permanent damage to the windings and core lamination.

 

[Sajivarghese]

We took up with the motor manufacturer and he confirmed that it cannot be run in horizontal position exactly due to the reasons mentioned by aolalde and others. We managed to run the motor in vertical position itself yesterday, by making suitable arrangements.

Thanks one and all of you for giving your valuable suggestions.

 

[jbartos]

Comment to the original posting: Generally, larger motors or generators may be designed for changing positions. Applications vary from planes to submarines where the horizontal position is somewhat changed. Apparently, the motors and generators have special bearings to enable them to operate in different positions, e.g. magnetic bearings.