Method for treating stator cooling water to prevent clogging of strainer in the cooling system of an industrial electrical generator

• US 6,596,175 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2001
• Issued: 07/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Rowe, Raymond Grant
• Primary Examiner(s): Hruskoci, Peter A.
• Application Number:
  US09/795,580
• Publication Number:
  US 20020117452A1
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• Field of Search: 210/696-701, 210/741, 210/742, 310/52, 310/54, 422/3, 422/12, 422/14, 134/3, 134/41
• US Class Current: 210/696
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/023 Water in cooling circuits
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/03 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 5/08 Treatment of water with complexing chemicals or other solubilising agents for softening, scale prevention or scale removal, e.g. adding sequestering agents
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 5/083 Mineral agents
• CPC Class Codes: C23G 1/103 copper or alloys of copper
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 9/26 Structural association of machines with devices for cleaning or drying cooling medium, e.g. with filters

Abstract

A method is disclosed to dissolve cupric oxide (CuO) deposits on a strainer in a stator water cooling system (SWCS) of an industrial electrical power generator. The method injects carbon dioxide (CO₂) into the coolant to increase the CuO solubility of the coolant. By increasing the solubility, the CuO level in the coolant is less than saturated. The unsaturated coolant dissolves the CuO deposits on the strainer.

Claims

1. A method to dissolve cupric oxide (CuO) deposits on a strainer of a stator winding cooling system comprising the steps of:

a. increasing a cupric oxide solubility level of coolant fluid flowing though the stator winding cooling system by injecting carbon dioxide (CO₂) into the coolant, and

b. dissolving cupric oxide deposits formed on the strainer by flowing the higher solubility level coolant through the strainer.

2. A method to dissolve cupric oxide deposits as in claim 1 wherein the step of increasing the cupric oxide solubility level reduces the solubility from a supersaturated level to a level no greater than a saturated level.

3. A method to dissolve cupric oxide deposits as in claim 1 wherein the carbon dioxide is injected at a concentration of between 3 to 20 parts per billion of the coolant.

4. A method to dissolve cupric oxide deposits as in claim 1 wherein the CO₂ is injected by injecting untreated air into the coolant.

5. A method to dissolve cupric oxide deposits as in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

c. detecting a coolant pressure drop across the strainer, and

d. initiating the step of increasing the cupric oxide solubility when the pressure drop exceeds a predetermined threshold pressure drop.

6. A method to dissolve cupric oxide deposits as in claim 1 further comprising the step of;

c. detecting a pressure drop as the cool ant flows through the strainer, and

d. starting the injection of carbon dioxide after the detected pressure drop increases to above a predetermined threshold level.

7. A method to dissolve cupric oxide as in claim 6 further comprising the step of ceasing the injection of carbon dioxide when the pressure drop across the strainer decreases to a second predetermined threshold pressure drop level.

8. A method to dissolve cupric oxide deposits formed on a strainer in a stator winding cooling system comprising the steps of:

a. circulating coolant fluid having a supersaturated concentration level of cupric oxide in the stator winding cooling system;

b. dissolving carbon dioxide into the coolant fluid to increase a solubility level of the cupric oxide in the coolant fluid until the concentration level of the cupric oxide is no greater than a saturated level, and

c. dissolving the cupric oxide deposits by flowing the higher solubility level coolant through the strainer in the stator winding cooling system.

9. A method to dissolve cupric oxide deposits as in claim 8 further comprising the step of:

c. detecting a pressure drop as the coolant flows through a strainer in the stator winding cooling system, and

d. injecting carbon dioxide into the coolant after the detected pressure drop increases to above a predetermined threshold level.

10. A method to dissolve cupric oxide as in claim 9 further comprising the step of ceasing the injection of carbon dioxide when the pressure drop across the strainer decreases to a second predetermined threshold pressure drop level.