Westinghouse Electric Corporation

Siemens Energy, Inc.

Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation

Michael Joseph Rasinski

Owen R Snuttjer

Randy Edward Whitener

Robert Gore

Avelino J Gonzalez

Kurt H Steinebronn

Barry Mathewson

William Francis Hannan

Robert Ervin Ashley, Iii

A radial lead seal assembly of a generator and a method for sealing a radial chamber from an axial chamber of a generator using a radial lead seal assembly are presented. The radial lead seal assembly includes sealing elements disposed around a radial lead to seal an annular space between the radial lead and the radial chamber and thereby seal the axial chamber fluidically from the radial chamber. Conical springs are disposed annularly around the radial lead between the sealing elements and a junction between the radial lead and the axial lead. The radial lead seal assembly includes a nut for exerting a compressive load on the radial lead seal assembly in a radially inward direction such that the conical springs are only partially compressed.

Radial lead seal assembly for a generator and method incorporating the same

A retrofit method for modifying a radial lead seal assembly of a generator and a radial lead seal assembly of a generator are presented. The radial lead seal assembly seals a radial chamber from an axial chamber. The radial lead seal assembly includes sealing elements disposed around a radial lead to seal an annular space between the radial lead and the radial chamber, a coil spring disposed around the radial lead between the sealing elements and a junction between the radial lead and the axial lead, and a nut. The retrofit method includes removing one or more of the sealing elements to define a radial space between the remainder of the sealing elements and the coil spring. Conical springs are inserted in the radial space and only partially compressed under a radially inward compressive load exerted on the radial lead seal assembly via the nut.

Radial lead seal assembly for a generator and a radial lead seal assembly of a generator

An exciter ( ) for starting a power generator having a thermally isolated diode wheel ( ) and methods of removing a diode wheel ( ) from an exciter rotor shaft ( ) are provided. The exciter ( ) preferably includes an exciter rotor shaft ( ), a thermal insulation layer ( ) mounted to the exciter shaft ( ), and a diode wheel ( ) having a wheel hub ( ). The wheel hub ( ) of the diode wheel ( ) is preferably mounted by an interference fit to overlie and abuttingly contact the thermal insulation layer ( ) positioned on the exciter rotor shaft ( ). The thermal insulation layer ( ) is positioned on the exciter rotor shaft ( ) and between the shaft ( ) and the diode wheel ( ) in a location where electrical insulation is not necessary. A method of removing a diode wheel ( ) mounted by an interference fit to an exciter rotor shaft ( ) of an exciter ( ) preferably includes heating a diode wheel ( ) positioned on an exciter rotor shaft ( ) having a thermal insulation layer ( ) positioned thereon to a desired temperature which enhances removal of the diode wheel ( ) from the shaft ( ), quenching the exciter rotor shaft ( ) with a liquid coolant at a temperature less than air ambient temperature, delaying the heat transfer from the diode wheel ( ) to the exciter rotor shaft ( ) during the quenching of the exciter rotor shaft ( ) by the thermal insulation layer ( ), and applying a force to the diode wheel ( ) to thereby remove the diode wheel ( ) from the shaft ( ).

Exciter having thermally isolated diode wheel and method of removing diode wheel for same

A brushless exciter diode wheel system includes a diode wheel and an electrical connection apparatus that is coupled to the diode wheel. The electrical connection apparatus includes a fuse support block, a diode support block, and a connector for electrically connecting the fuse support block to the diode support block. This connector permits the system to carry at least about 2000 amps of current, which is far in excess of the current capacity of conventional systems of this configuration.

Low resistance current transfer device for a circuit of a brushless

A system for providing seal oils to a gland seal that surrounds the shaft of a generator with the temperature differences between the oils minimized, as well maintained at a temperature which is greater than that for a bearing lubrication oil supply system. The temperature of the air-side seal oil is used as a reference and then the difference between the air- and hydrogen-side seal oil temperatures is used to control the hydrogen-side seal oil temperature. The air-side temperature is controlled by a separate controller using the bearing oil temperature as a reference. The system advantageously prevents thermal differential expansion from occurring in the generator shaft and gland seal, and eliminates the need for operator attention for seal oil temperature control.

Generator sealing oil temperature control method and apparatus utilizing

A system for providing seal oils to a gland seal that surrounds the shaft of a generator with the temperature differences between the oils minimized. The temperature of one of the seal oils is utilized as a reference for controlling the oil temperature of the other seal oil. In particular, the temperature of the air-side seal oil is determined and utilized as a reference. The temperature of the hydrogen-side seal oil is determined, and a differentiator produces a signal based upon the difference between the air-side and hydrogen-side seal oils to control either the water flow rate to the hydrogen-side cooler, or to control mixing of cooled and uncooled oil in the hydrogen-side of the system. The system advantageously prevents thermal differential expansion from occurring in the generator shaft, and allows for the elimination of a controlled cooler in the air-side oil system. Further, the air-side oil can be suplied from the main lube oil system.

Seal oil temperature control method and apparatus

An apparatus for monitoring hydrogen leakage from a generator frame into the stator coil water cooling system. The monitor is designed to alert the operator should leakage exceed a rate of twenty cubic feet per day (20 cfd). A pressure relief valve set at four (4) psig and orifice are provided, along with a second relief valve having a higher setpoint than the first, such that pressure will increase in the holding tank if leakage exceeds 20 cfd setpoint of the orifice. A high pressure alarm, set at a level higher than the first relief valve but less than that of the second, will then sound to alert the operator to protect the system from an overly large or gross failure of the system. By continusouly monitoring a relatively small steady state leakage rate, the operator can be aware of a minor problem which can be corrected at a scheduled maintenance outage, before a gross failure of the system, requiring a costly shutdown of the turbine-generator, would otherwise occur.

Stator coil water system early alert hydrogen leakage monitor

A conventional hydrogen-cooled electric generator having gland seals prevents the escape of hydrogen gas from the generator housing. A conventional seal oil system provides the gland seals with the necessary oil so as to perform their sealing function. Diagnostic apparatus is provided for the arrangement and includes a plurality of sensors which provide output signals indicative of certain parameters such as temperatures and pressures throughout the seal oil system. The output signals are provided to a diagnostic computer which, in a preferred embodiment, utilizes an expert system diagnostic routine for examining the sensor signals and deriving certain conclusions relative to the operating condition of the seal oil system. Various conclusions are additionally reached using operator-entered information from off-line sensors.

Growing community of inventors

Winter Springs, FL, United States of America

Michael Joseph Rasinski