Apparatus and method for testing stator core of generator

• US 10,502,787 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2017
• Issued: 12/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Energy Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Energy Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Gamboa, Gustavo, Lau, James F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Huy Q
• Assistant Examiner(s): Frederiksen, David B
• Application Number:
  US15/609,561
• Publication Number:
  US 20180348302A1
• Time in Patent Office: 923 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/34 Testing dynamo-electric machines

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for testing a stator core of a generator are presented. The apparatus includes a power supply. The power supply provides an excitation current having a base frequency. A frequency convertor is connected to the power supply. The frequency convertor converts the base frequency of the excitation current to an excitation frequency that is greater than the base frequency. An excitation cable connects the frequency convertor to a rotor at two axial ends. The rotor is excited by the excitation current with the excitation frequency as a single excitation winding for simulating an operation state of the generator causing hot spots on the stator core without overheating the rotor.

Claims

1. An apparatus for testing a stator core of a generator comprising:

a power supply configured to provide an excitation current having a base frequency;

a frequency convertor connected to the power supply, the frequency convertor is configured to convert the base frequency of the excitation current to an excitation frequency that is greater than the base frequency;

a rotor installed within the stator core; and

an excitation cable connected to both axial ends of the rotor forming an excitation winding, with a single loop, between the excitation cable and the rotor,

wherein the frequency convertor is connected to the excitation winding

wherein during testing the excitation current is transmitted from the power supply onto the excitation winding by way of the frequency converter,

wherein the frequency convertor is configured to convert the base frequency of the excitation current to an excitation frequency that is greater than the base frequency, and

wherein the rotor is excited by the excitation current with the excitation frequency as a single excitation winding for simulating an operation state of the generator increasing a temperature of the stator core without overheating the rotor during testing.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the excitation cable is connected to a rotor shaft of the rotor at the two axial ends in a location beyond a rotor retaining ring.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base frequency of the excitation current is at 50 Hz or 60 Hz.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a loop test is performed.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the simulated operation state of the generator causes a hot spot on the stator core.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the excitation frequency of the excitation current is greater than the base frequency of the excitation current to reduce an intensity of the excitation current to an amount such that the excitation current is able to be transmitted to the rotor without overheating the rotor for the simulated operation state of the generator.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein an Electromagnetic Core Imperfection Detection (ELCID) test is performed.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a thermal sensor to monitor the temperature of the stator core during testing.

9. A method for testing a stator core of a generator comprising:

providing an excitation current having a base frequency by a power supply;

converting the base frequency to an excitation frequency by a frequency convertor, wherein the excitation frequency is greater than the base frequency;

transmitting the excitation current with the excitation frequency over an excitation winding, with a single loop, formed by a connection of an excitation cable at both axial ends of a rotor installed within the stator core, and wherein the frequency convertor is connected to the excitation winding; and

exciting the single excitation winding to perform the testing of the stator core that simulate an operation state of the generator increasing temperature of the stator core without overheating the rotor during testing.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the excitation cable is connected to a rotor shaft of the rotor at the two axial ends in a location beyond a rotor retaining ring.

11. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the base frequency of the excitation current is at 50 Hz or 60 Hz.

12. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein a loop test is performed.

13. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein an Electromagnetic Core Imperfection Detection (ELCID) test is performed.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the simulated operation state of the generator causes a hot spot on the stator core.

15. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the excitation frequency of the excitation current is greater than the base frequency of the excitation current to reduce an intensity of the excitation current to an amount such that the excitation current is able to be transmitted to the rotor without overheating the rotor for the simulated operation state of the generator.

16. The method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising monitoring the temperature of the stator core by a thermal sensor during testing.