Abstract: A method of measuring hydrogen leakage from a generator core into generator coolant water flowing through the generator stator windings comprising the steps of: providing a core hydrogen gas environment within the generator; flowing coolant water in a flowpath through the generator stator windings and a conduit to a coolant water reservoir; flowing air at a rate of less than 0.15 into the conduit and the coolant water after the coolant water exits the stator windings; measuring the quantity of air flowing into the conduit and into the coolant water; venting gas through a vent line from a contained vapor space over the coolant water within the coolant water reservoir; and measuring the hydrogen content of the gas vented from the reservoir; whereby hydrogen leakage from the generator core environment through the stator windings into the generator coolant water can be determined in amounts down to about 0.2 CFD.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for monitoring vibration of the stator core and/or the conductors of electrical machinery during its operation involves positioning vibration sensors at the stator bar ends and operatively coupling the vibration sensors to a central controller. The vibration sensors are axially disposed along the length of an optical fiber and form an interferometer with a reference reflector. The central controller receives a reflected signal from each sensor which represents a measure of the vibration occurring in the stator core and/or the conductors at the location of the sensor.

Abstract: A method of measuring hydrogen leakage from a generator core into generator coolant water flowing through the generator stator windings comprising the steps of: providing a core hydrogen gas environment within the generator; flowing coolant water in a flowpath through the generator stator windings and a conduit to a coolant water reservoir; flowing air at a rate of less than 0.15 into the conduit and the coolant water after the coolant water exits the stator windings; measuring the quantity of air flowing into the conduit and into the coolant water; venting gas through a vent line from a contained vapor space over the coolant water within the coolant water reservoir; and measuring the hydrogen content of the gas vented from the reservoir; whereby hydrogen leakage from the generator core environment through the stator windings into the generator coolant water can be determined in amounts down to about 0.2 CFD.

Abstract: A generator stator core has a plurality of axially extending radial slots arranged about the periphery thereof with windings in each of the radial slots. At least one adjustable wedge and slide assembly is located in each of the slots, arranged to restrain the windings, the assembly including a wedge component and a slide component which interface along respective sloped surfaces formed on respective sides of each of the wedge component and the slide component. The slide component is formed with a zone of laterally extending, discrete fingers on each side thereof that are angled relative to a longitudinal axis of the slide. The wedge component is slidably received in a pair of dovetail grooves in the radial slot with the slide component located between the wedge component and the windings such that the discrete fingers engage side walls of the radial slot.

Abstract: A generator stator core has a plurality of axially extending radial slots arranged about the periphery thereof with windings in each of the radial slots. At least one adjustable wedge and slide assembly is located in each of the slots, arranged to restrain the windings, the assembly including a wedge component and a slide component which interface along respective sloped surfaces formed on respective sides of each of the wedge component and the slide component. The slide component is formed with a zone of laterally extending, discrete fingers on each side thereof that are angled relative to a longitudinal axis of the slide. The wedge component is slidably received in a pair of dovetail grooves in the radial slot with the slide component located between the wedge component and the windings such that the discrete fingers engage side walls of the radial slot.

Abstract: Electric machines can be improved or uprated to reduce core-end losses using lower core loss material such as high grade iron silicon. A machine uprating entails removing at least a last one of the stacked lamination packages at each end of the stator core, and re-stacking the removed lamination packages with the lower core loss material.