Westinghouse Electric Corporation

Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation

Siemens Energy, Inc.

Siemens Corporation

Siemens Power Generation, Inc.

Mark William Fischer

George F Dailey

James Alan Bauer

Charles Crawford Moore

Harry L Sill

Michael J Metala

Waheed A Abbasi

James W Shelton

James W Alford

Shaohua Kevin Zhou

Jingdan Zhang

Paul Guenther

Xuefei Guan

Wilbert B Rethage

Scott A Karstetter

Gerald R Alkire

Michael P Jaszcar

Michael Charles Moore

John E Noll

Paul E Morrison

Alan A Marfin

Vincent Berryman, Jr

William B Lutz

Patricia A Bosco

Philip M Arbogast

George H Stout

Dwight Owen Willaman

Hans Diebäcker

Joshua R Miller

Mark D Guthrie

Olaf Froede

Waldemar Spruda

Christopher John William Adams

Lukas Demsey

Charles Moore

Eddy current inspection of the step iron region of a generator stator core lamina insulation is performed while the rotor is in situ, with inspection system (). The system () excites the stator core () and then measures any eddy currents indicative of a damaged region. The inspection system carriage () and its pivoting extension arm () are inserted within the rotor gap () while the rotor () remains in situ within the generator (). The EL CID system's eddy current sensing coil assembly () includes a Chattock coil (), which is mounted in a coil housing () that is in turn pivotally mounted on a distal end of the extension arm (). A sensing surface () of the coil housing () remains in abutting contact with the generator core circumference in the step iron region (), despite the step-like profile of the core circumference in that region.

System and method for inspection of a generator stator core step iron region with the rotor in-situ

In a general methodology for insulation defect identification in a generator core, a Chattock coil is used to measure magnetic potential difference between teeth. Physical knowledge and empirical knowledge is combined in a model to predict insulation damage location and severity. Measurements are taken at multiple excitation frequencies to solve for multiple characteristics of the defect.

Insulation defect detection of high voltage generator stator core

An automated EL CID inspection technique for the stator core of an electrical machine is provided. The inspection device includes a rail, a pickup coil and a coil support assembly. The coil support assembly includes a first part movable along the rail, and a second part where the pickup coil is actually installed. The second part is movable jointly with the first part along the rail, while also being movable relative to the first part in a direction towards or away from the stator core. A motor actuates a motion of the coil support assembly. During inspection, the motor is activated, upon which the coil support assembly moves along the rail while a specified distance is maintained between the stator core and the pickup coil by the relative motion between the first and second parts. The technique is particularly applicable in a step-iron portion of the stator core.

Device and method for inspection of a stator core of an electrical machine

A remote-controlled dynamoelectric machine maintenance vehicle that can fit and travel within the air gap between a stator and rotor of a dynamoelectric machine. The maintenance vehicle has an effectuator that can remotely attach to an adjustable wedge within a coil slot of the stator and tighten the wedge in position and then move on to repeat the process until all the wedges on the stator are secured.

Automated remote carriage for tightening generator wedges

An inspection system is provided for inspecting a generator including a rotor and a stator substantially surrounding the rotor. The rotor has a first end with a first circumference, and a second end with a second circumference. The inspection system includes first and second retaining rings disposed at or about the first and second ends of the rotor, and first and second motion control modules movably coupled to the first and second retaining rings. The first and second motion control modules are interconnected and guide a carriage assembly therebetween in order to perform an operation on the generator. At least one of the first and second motion control modules is structured to receive the carriage assembly and to move around the corresponding first or second circumference of the generator rotor, in order to align the carriage assembly with stator slots of the stator of the generator.

Generator inspection assembly

A method and system for directly measuring the compression of a ripple spring () in a dynamoelectric machine through a corresponding wedge (). A compression-assessment tool () is provided that includes a carriage () for supporting a proximity sensor (). The carriage () enables the proximity sensor () to be passed over the length of the ripple spring (), which produces an output signal that is representative of the compression of the ripple spring ().

Method and system for ripple-spring compression assessment

A remote controlled inspection vehicle provides interchangeable modules, permitting the vehicle to be easily configured to perform a wide variety of tasks. The vehicle includes at least one frame module having a pair of drive modules on either side. Each drive module includes a continuous track surrounding a permanent magnet, and is dimensioned and configured to pivot around its longitudinal axis. The frame modules are dimensioned and configured to be hingedly secured to other frame modules, end effectors including various sensors for performing inspections, and tail units to assist in placing the vehicle in the desired environment.

Remote controlled inspection vehicle utilizing magnetic adhesion to traverse nonhorizontal, nonflat, ferromagnetic surfaces

An automated tool for performing an EL CID inspection of the step iron region of a generator stator that can be employed with the rotor in place. The tool has a track that is axially cantilevered at one end and supported magnetically within a stator slot adjacent the region to be monitored. The track has a smoothly rounded contour that approximately conforms to the profile of the stator step region. A carriage carrying a pickup coil is slideably mounted on the track and is driven back and forth along the track over the area to be inspected by a remotely-operated drive system. A video camera is mounted on the track and provides a remote visual indication of the location of the carriage relative to the stator.

Automated stator insulation flaw inspection tool and method of operation

A remote-controlled vehicle and method for performing a plurality of tasks in a location generally inaccessible to humans are provided. The vehicle may include a propulsion frame, and a platform attached to the frame or integral therewith for supporting an interchangeable accessory selected from a set of distinct interchangeable accessories. Each distinct interchangeable accessory may be configured to perform a distinct operational task. The platform includes at least one mechanical power takeoff, and each accessory includes at least one mechanical power receptor configured to interface with the mechanical power takeoff for coupling mechanical energy to the accessory. The platform constitutes a universal platform for the set of distinct interchangeable accessories.

Interchangeable accessories for a remote controlled inspection vehicle

An electromagnetic generator inspection system that employs a plurality of excitation frequencies and comprises one or more pickup coils that monitor a portion of the interior of a stator core to provide an output that identifies the location, severity and radial depth of any flaw in the insulation covering the laminations that are monitored.

Electromagnetic stator insulation flaw detector

An inspection apparatus ( ) for in-situ leak testing of the bell seal ( ) of a steam turbine ( ). The apparatus includes a pair of inflatable bladders ( ) for defining a sealed volume having the bell seal ( ) as its only leakage path. The mass flow rate of pressurized air ( ) at various pressures through the bell seal ( ) is compared to the known flow rates through a similarly designed bell seal having various degrees of degradation. A camera ( ) rotated by motor ( ) between the bladders ( ) provides an indication of the proper positioning of the inspection apparatus ( ) and facilitates a visual inspection of the bell seal ( ) and retaining nut ( ). The inspection apparatus ( ) may be inserted into an inlet to the turbine through a disassembled flow control valve without the need for any disassembly of the turbine.

Steam turbine inlet bell seal inspection apparatus and method

A machine ( ) that can clean and spray coat the inside of a hollow pipe ( ) can contain a support bar ( ) and associated motors ( and ) with a moveable carriage ( ) which mounts a thermal spray coating device ( ) and/or an abrasion cleaning/profiling head ( ) where a programmable controller external to the pipe is capable of controlling the motors ( and ).

Remote spray coating of nuclear cross-under piping

A system and method for testing an electrical generator of the type having a rotor (14) and a stator (12) includes or utilizes a movable carriage (22) having testing equipment which is sized to fit between the rotor (14) and stator (12) and is positionable over a selected stator (12) slot so as to be able to axially traverse the selected stator (12) slot, at least one sensor for sensing whether the movable carriage (22) is centered in an optimum position with respect to the selected stator (12) slot; and structure for centering the movable carriage (22) with respect to the optimum position if the sensor indicates the movable carriage (22) is not so centered, whereby accuracy of any testing by the testing equipment is optimized.

System and method for testing electrical generators

An improved apparatus for impact testing stator wedge tightness in an electrical generator includes a base assembly that has a vibration sensor mounted thereon and is adapted to temporarily attached to a stator core lamination in an electrical generator, an impact assembly for creating an impact against the stator core lamination; and a mounting system for mounting the base assembly to the impact assembly. The mounting system includes an isolating system for vibrationally isolating the base assembly from the impact assembly during use, so that the vibration sensor will receive vibrations from the stator core lamination, and not said impact assembly. The method of use is also disclosed.

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Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America

Mark William Fischer