RETURN

ME560
Burnout of No. 1 Main LO Pump Motor
Technical committee
Ship type VLCC
Date of build September 1992
Navigation route Japan ~ Persian Gulf
Trouble machinery
Category Electric motor
Name No. 1 main LO pump motor
Type 3-phase induction motor
Maker N. DENKI
Date of trouble January 17, 2006

1. Circumstances of breakdown
While the ship was on stand-by at anchor in Dubai, the No. 1 main LO pump starter panel circuit breaker
tripped and the pump was switched to the No. 2 unit. An inspection revealed that the No. 1 motor winding
had an insulation resistance of zero M and had burned out. Fortunately, the breakdown occurred off
Dubai, which allowed us to unload the motor in a timely manner.
The overcurrent relay was not in operation yet, so we replaced it with a new one. Because the No. 2 main
LO pump would be the only one available during the repair, we removed a motor from one of the two GS
pumps, installed it on the No. 1 unit and placed it on stand-by.
On January 29, the motor was repaired and loaded on board. On February 1, we removed the GS pump
motor, which had been used as an emergency measure, and replaced it with the repaired unit which was
then tested.

2. Probable causes
Judging from the photos (the only way we could make our assessment because the repairs had been
conducted overseas), we assumed that the damage was the result of short-circuit among stator coils that was
caused by defective stator coil varnish insulation (due to age-related degradation).

3. Action and countermeasures taken

We had a shore-based service company unload and repair the motor, for which the burned-out winding was
replaced and varnished.
We are now reviewing our maintenance plan for motors (including pumps).

1
The Marine Engineer Aug.2006
 RETURN

Photos. Showing repairs state of the burned-out motor after unloading

2
The Marine Engineer Aug.2006