Abstract: A dynamoelectric machine with a monitoring system for monitoring a gas stream causes a sample of the gas stream to be collected if its characteristics indicate that a material in the dynamoelectric machine is being thermally degraded. The sampling device will collect a sample of large particles, small particulates, and vapors and gases. The sampling device offers a low resistance to the flow of the gas stream for improved particulate and vapor collection.

Abstract: A gas stream monitoring system monitors a gas stream of a power generator and causes a sample of the gas stream to be collected if its characteristics indicate that a material in the power generator is being thermally degraded. After verifying that the degradation indication is true, a sample is taken of the gas stream. In order to insure that the sample is representative, an expansion chamber approximately the same size as the ionization chamber of the monitoring device is placed in line prior to the sampling device. The sampling device has three sections which collect large particles, small particulates, and vapors and gases. The products collected can be analyzed to determine which material in the power generator was thermally degraded.