CEEECoM Project Working On Condition Monitoring And Fault Diagnostics Of Electrical Machines
पुस ७, २०८२ ११:७
Generators used to produce electricity, transformers used to step voltage up or down, and electric motors used in industrial and EV equipment are expensive assets. In Nepal, generators installed in new hydropower projects cost anywhere from a few hundred thousand rupees to several billion rupees, depending on size and capacity. The price of transformers can reach Rs 20–30 million. Similarly, electric motors costing from a few hundred thousand rupees to Rs 20 million are widely used in the industrial and commercial sectors.
Electrical machines can be compared to the human body. With age and physical or mental strain, different parts of the human body weaken. Various diseases may develop, even though symptoms are not immediately visible. Often, problems are detected only after the condition becomes critical, when treatment may no longer be very effective.
This is why regular health check-ups are important. During such check-ups, indicators such as body temperature, heart rate, and breathing are monitored, and tests of blood, stool, and urine are conducted. Based on these results, it is determined whether there is a serious health issue or a risk of developing one in the near future. Preventive treatment is then carried out accordingly. This helps maintain health and avoids the high costs associated with major illnesses.
Electric machines can be treated in the same way. Modern electrical machines are complex systems composed of hundreds of components. Like the human body, their condition can be continuously monitored. During condition monitoring, indicators such as the current flowing through different parts of the machine, temperature in sensitive components, changes in vibration during motor or generator rotation, and the presence of fine water particles in transformer oil are observed.
Based on these indicators, the health of the machine can be assessed. Small components can be replaced or general maintenance can be carried out before a major fault occurs and the machine shuts down. This approach extends the lifespan of the equipment and is known as preventive maintenance. However, it differs from conventional preventive maintenance, where parts are replaced at fixed intervals without continuous measurement and monitoring. In such cases, unnecessary components may be replaced, while actual problems remain undetected.
If expensive equipment such as generators, transformers, and motors is operated without proper measurement and monitoring, it can suffer serious damage. Repairs may take a long time, or the equipment may become irreparable. In addition to repair costs, the losses caused by halted electricity generation, transmission, or industrial production can amount to crores or even billions of rupees.
Condition monitoring forms the foundation of preventive maintenance. It requires equipment that measures indicators such as current, voltage, temperature, and vibration, and provides data that can be processed by computers. Software is also needed to analyze this data. In cases where direct measurement is difficult, especially for internal components located at worksites, sensors can be installed and digital models of the equipment can be created. Developing such digital models also requires advanced and costly software.
Analyzing data obtained through condition monitoring to identify which part of a machine is faulty is known as fault diagnostics. Condition monitoring and fault diagnostics have been practiced in developed countries since the 1930s.
From the 1950s to the 1970s, SCADA systems became widespread. After the 1980s, condition monitoring advanced further with the use of sensors and data acquisition systems. Today, with rapid progress in computer and communication technology and the use of IoT, condition monitoring has become even more effective.
Despite these global developments, condition monitoring in Nepal is still at an early stage. Although SCADA systems are used in some hydropower plants, substations, and industries, the Nepali technical community generally lacks a clear understanding of the basic concept of condition monitoring and its benefits. Educational institutions in Nepal also lack the infrastructure needed to provide training and education in this field. Moreover, the high cost of building such infrastructure makes it difficult to establish independently.
The CEEECoM project has been addressing this gap for the past three years by introducing condition monitoring technology in Nepal and establishing essential infrastructure. The full form of CEEECoM is Capacity Enhancement in Electrical Equipment Condition Monitoring and Fault Diagnostics. The project is being implemented under the ERASMUS+ program of the European Union.
The CEEECoM project aims to build capacity in Nepal and Bhutan in the fields of condition monitoring and fault diagnostics. The project is coordinated by Aalto University, with Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) as the second European partner. The beneficiary partners include the Institute of Engineering under Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu University, and Jigme Namgyel Engineering College under the Royal University of Bhutan.
Through the technical expertise of Aalto and TalTech, and their long experience in teaching and research in this field, the CEEECoM project has focused on strengthening institutional and human capacity in Nepal and Bhutan.
The following outlines the work completed by the CEEECoM project in Nepal as part of this broader effort.
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Comprehensive Survey:
A comprehensive need-assessment survey was conducted among Nepali industries to understand their existing knowledge of condition monitoring and the skills they expect from electrical engineers and technicians. The survey covered a wide range of hydropower projects and manufacturing industries across Nepal.
The findings were discussed in detail during a workshop attended by representatives from key stakeholders in the electrical engineering sector. Experts from Finland and Estonia also participated. Based on the discussions and recommendations from this workshop, curricula, training programs, and laboratory infrastructure were planned. -
Curriculum Development:
An undergraduate-level curriculum has been developed to provide Nepali engineers with foundational knowledge of condition monitoring and fault diagnostics. In addition, a postgraduate-level curriculum has been introduced to produce specialized experts in this field. Students at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels have also been encouraged to pursue projects and theses related to condition monitoring and fault diagnostics. -
Training:
A capacity-building training program for engineers currently working in the industrial sector was organized in Kathmandu from September 22 to 24, 2024. The program saw active participation from representatives of major Nepali industries. Professors and subject experts from Nepal, Finland, and Estonia served as resource persons during the training. -
Online Training:
An intensive online training program was conducted from June 14 to 19, 2025, for engineers who were unable to attend the in-person sessions. Engineers from Nepal and Bhutan, as well as participants from several other countries, took part enthusiastically in the program. -
Laboratory Development:
Condition Monitoring and Fault Diagnostics laboratories have been established at the School of Engineering, Kathmandu University, and the Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University. These labs are equipped with essential hardware and software required for condition monitoring. They can be used for undergraduate-level experiments, postgraduate and advanced research, and professional training programs aimed at capacity development for engineers working in industry.
Based on these outcomes, there is strong confidence that Nepal’s technical education institutions and industrial sector will benefit significantly from the human resources and physical infrastructure developed under the CEEECoM Project.
पछिल्लो अध्यावधिक: पुस ७, २०८२ १२:१६
