This example shows the simulation of fault detection of a DC motor using
QFIRE Studio
.As presented in [1], a DC motor can be modeled as in the diagram of Figure 1:

Figure 1 - Model of a DC motor diagram
The motor parameters in Figure 1 are listed in Table 1.
Table 1 - Parameters of the DC Motor model in Figure 1
Variable | Symbol | Value |
| Armature Resistance | ||
| Armature Inductance | ||
| Magnetic Flux | ||
| Voltage Drop Factor | ||
| Inertia Constant | ||
| Viscuos Friction | ||
| Dry Friction |
The input and output signals are listed in Table 2.
Table 2 - I/O signals in the DC motor model in Figure 1
Variable | Symbol | Type |
| Armature Voltage | Input | |
| Friction | Input | |
| Armature current | Output | |
| Speed | Output |
In Figure 1, there is a block for a non-linear function. This function is the

Figure 2 - Non-linear friction torque
Finally, using the block modeled in Figure 2, it is possible to create the whole model from Figure 1 in
QFIRE Studio
as follows in Figure 3.
Figure 3 - Diagram from Figure 1 using
QFIRE Studio
Still in Figure 3, there are some inputs that are responsible for simulating failures, for example,
Aiming to simulate a failure detector presented by [1], the diagram from Figure 3 was used as the plant and the
QFIRE CTR-101
was used as the fault detection system.
Figure 4 - DC Motor and
QFIRE CTR-101
In Figure 4, the green blocks are the inputs from Table 2 and the red blocks are the step blocks that allow to simulate failures. In [1], there are residual filters used to detect faults in the motor.
The residuals need the signals from the Table 2 and their derivates. To obtain the derivatives of the signals we use a butterworth low-pass filter arranged as a state-variable filter.

Figure 5 - Butterworth filter
Using the state-variable filter and the residual filters, the fault detection system was completed as shown in Figure 6 and detailed in Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10.

Figure 6 - Fault detection system

Figure 7 -

Figure 8 -

Figure 9 -

Figure 10 -
In Figures 11 and 12, it is possible to see the behavior of the DC Motor starting and having an Armature Resistance fault at time of 8s.

Figure 11 - Armature current behavior

Figure 12 - Speed behavior
The behavior of the residuals after fault injection at 8s can be seen in Figure 13.

Figure 13 - Response of the residuals to the fault injected into motor resistance at 8s
[1] Isermann, R., 2005.
Fault-diagnosis systems: an introduction from fault detection to fault tolerance.
Springer Science & Business MediaAbout MWF
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