Patent · US Expired

Detection of incipient faults in hydrogen-cooled generators

US4101277A · kind A · utility

6Cited by
3References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateOct 15, 1976
Grant dateJul 18, 1978
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 15, 1996

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T436/209163
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for the detection of incipient faults in large hydrogen-cooled dynamoelectric machines such as turbine generators. Such machines operate in a hydrogen atmosphere, for cooling, and unavoidably contain some air. The heating of organic insulation, or of metallic parts of the machine, associated with incipient faults results in oxidation or other reactions that reduce the amount of free oxygen present in the machine atmosphere. The occurrence of such incipient faults is detected by monitoring the oxygen content to detect any substantial reduction in the concentration of free oxygen. Since the amount of air in the machine may vary, it is preferred to monitor the oxygen content by determining the ratio of nitrogen to oxygen in the machine.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.