Power generator and power generator auxiliary monitoring

• US 20070063859A1
• Filed: 08/04/2005
• Published: 03/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Energy Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation
• Inventors: Twerdochlib, Michael, Bateman, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,369,057 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/679
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 17/02 Arrangement of sensing elements
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 21/003 Arrangements for testing or measuring for measuring vibrations G01H
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2270/11 to prolong engine life
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2270/303 Temperature

Abstract

A generator monitoring system and method includes a plurality of sensors (12) disposed within a generator enclosure (18) to sense health conditions of a generator (10) housed within the enclosure. The sensors are interconnected to provide a single communication path (14) for allowing communication with the plurality of sensors. A monitoring device (16) outside the generator enclosure receives health condition information from each of the plurality of sensors via the single communication path. A sensor may be disposed within the generator enclosure to detect particulates emitted from a monitored portion (e.g., 52) of the generator housed within the enclosure. A sensor may be disposed proximate a bus bar connection (130) of the generator to sense a health condition of the bus bar connection and generate corresponding health condition information provided to the monitoring device.

Claims

1. A generator monitoring system comprising:

a plurality of sensors disposed within a generator enclosure to sense a plurality of health conditions of a generator housed within the enclosure and interconnected to provide a single communication path for allowing communication with the plurality of sensors; and

a monitoring device outside the generator enclosure receiving health condition information from each of the plurality of sensors via the single communication path.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of sensors comprises:

a detector generating a signal responsive to a health condition of the generator; and

a processor disposed within the enclosure processing the signal to generate health condition information.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising a memory disposed within the enclosure in communication with the processor for storing the health condition information.

4. The system of claim 2, further comprising a transmitter disposed within the enclosure in communication with the processor for transmitting the health condition information to the monitoring device via the single communication path.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the detector comprises an ion detector, an acoustic detector, a radio frequency detector, an ozone detector, or a temperature detector.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensors limit the respective health information provided to the monitoring device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensors limit the respective health information to health information indicative of a failure condition.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensors provide health information when requested by the monitoring device.

9. A generator comprising the system of claim 1.

10. A generator monitoring method comprising:

interconnecting a plurality of sensors disposed within a generator enclosure for detecting a plurality of health conditions of a generator housed within the enclosure so that a single communication path is provided for allowing communication with the plurality of sensors; and

providing a connection thru the enclosure for the single communication path to a monitoring device outside the generator enclosure.

11. A generator monitor comprising:

a sensor disposed within a generator enclosure to detect particulates emitted from a monitored portion of a generator housed within the enclosure.

12. The monitor of claim 11, wherein the sensor comprises an ion detector generating a signal indicative of a particulate concentration.

13. The monitor of claim 12, further comprising:

a fluid sampler comprising a first flow path and a second flow path in communication with the ion detector; and

a flow controller for selectively allowing an unfiltered sample and a filtered sample of a fluid to flow through respective flow paths to the ion detector.

14. The monitor of claim 11, further comprising a monitoring device outside the generator enclosure receiving the signal and providing an indication of a detected particulate concentration.

15. The monitor of claim 11, wherein the monitor comprises a collector comprising a plurality of inlet points disposed proximate a corresponding plurality of different portions of the generator for collecting respective fluid samples and delivering the samples to the sensor.

16. A generator comprising the monitor of claim 11.

17. A generator monitoring method comprising:

disposing a particulate sensor within a generator enclosure proximate a portion of a generator housed within the enclosure being monitored for heating;

generating, at the sensor, information responsive to a particulate emission indicative of heating of the portion of the generator being monitored; and

providing the information to a monitoring device outside of the generator enclosure.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising correlating the particulate information to a location of the sensor to determine the portion of the generator experiencing heating.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising providing an unfiltered sample of a fluid disposed proximate the portion of the generator to the sensor.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising providing a filtered sample of the fluid disposed proximate the portion of the generator to the sensor.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising determining when a particulate concentration of the unfiltered sample is higher than a particulate concentration of the unfiltered sample.

22. A generator monitor comprising:

a sensor disposed proximate a bus bar connection of a generator to sense a health condition of the bus bar connection and generate health condition information; and

a monitoring device receiving the health condition information from the sensor.

23. The monitor of claim 22, wherein the sensor comprises an infrared detector detecting an infrared radiation emission from the bus bar connection and generating a signal indicative of the infrared radiation emission.

24. The monitor of claim 23, wherein the infrared detector comprises a plurality of sensing zones, each zone configured to receive infrared radiation emitted from a respective connector strap comprising the bus bar connection.

25. The monitor of claim 23, further comprising a lens to focus infrared radiation emitted from each of the respective connector straps to a respective sensing zone of the infrared detector.

26. The monitor of claim 22, wherein the sensor comprises:

a detector generating a signal responsive to the health condition of the generator; and

a processor disposed proximate the bus bar connection processing the signal received from the detector to generate health condition information responsive to the signal.

27. The monitor of claim 26, further comprising a memory disposed proximate the bus bar connection in communication with the processor for storing the health condition information.

28. The monitor of claim 27, further comprising a transmitter disposed proximate the bus bar connection in communication with the processor for transmitting the health condition information to the monitor.

29. The monitor of claim 22, wherein the sensor is disposed in a wall of a bus bar enclosure proximate the bus bar connection.

30. A generator comprising the monitor of claim 22.

31. A generator monitoring method comprising:

disposing a sensor proximate a bus bar connection of a generator to sense a health condition of the bus bar connection; and

generating, at the sensor, information responsive to a sensed health condition of the bus bar connection; and

providing the information to a monitoring device remote from the sensor.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising sensing an infrared radiation emission of at least one connector strap of the bus bar connection.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

sensing respective infrared emissions of a plurality of connector straps of the bus bar connection; and

normalizing sensed values of the respective infrared emissions with respect to sensed values common among the respective infrared emissions.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein sensing the health condition comprises sensing a radio frequency emission, an ozone level, an acoustic emission, or a ultraviolet emission.