Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation

Siemens Energy, Inc.

Neil Leslie Kilpatrick

George F Dailey

Kevin Michael Light

Kevin P Bailey

Kalyan Kannan

Eddy current non-destructive examination and evaluation of physical properties of a component, such as a generator retaining ring, after experiencing potentially degrading thermal exposure during any stage of manufacture, assembly and service use, is performed to determine whether it is acceptable for service use, requires further modification (e.g., additional heat treatment processing) or whether is permanently unsuitable for service. Eddy current test measurements are correlated with component temperature exposure (e.g., absolute temperature and/or cumulative time-temperature heat absorption) and cumulative alteration of the component physical properties, such as, among others, material yield strength (YS), toughness, and tensile ductility. Using the eddy current test measurements and reference data correlating electrical conductivity with ring material thermal exposure, the component's physical properties are evaluated to determine its serviceability. The testing can be performed in situ in the field, such as for evaluation of generator rings within field serviced generators.

Generator retaining ring and other component thermal degradation evaluation by eddy current non-destructive examination

A wedge () and methods of using the wedge () for a power generator () are provided. The wedge () preferably has a wedge body () and at least one substantially hollow cavity () formed in the wedge body () so that the at least one hollow cavity () is substantially evenly distributed about a neutral axis of stress applied to the wedge body () when in use and so that the neutral axis of stress of the wedge body () having the hollow cavity () is substantially the same neutral axis of stress of a wedge body () having substantially the same shape as the wedge body () without a hollow cavity. A method of using a wedge () preferably includes increasing the mass of the contents of a slot () of a power generator () and positioning a wedge () having at least one longitudinally extending and substantially hollow cavity () formed therein and extending throughout major portions of the wedge () to overlie the slot () and retain the slot contents therein.

Low mass generator wedge and methods of using same

A process for repairing leaks in turbine generators that have water cooled stator coils with hollow conductor strands, wherein the lead ends of the conductor strands are joined to a header. First a vacuum enclosure is provided around a portion of one of the stator coils in proximity to the header. Then a vacuum is applied to the portion. Finally, a resin is injected into voids in the portion. In a second embodiment, the header first is cut into an outboard section, and into an inboard section that remains attached to the conductor strands. Then the exposed lead ends of the conductor strands and the attached inboard section are cleaned to remove oxidation. Next, a water-tight braze seal is applied over the lead ends of the conductor strands. Then the stator coil and the inboard section are joined to a new outboard section and a vacuum is subsequently applied to the inboard section. The resin is then injected into voids in the inboard section.

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Winter Springs, FL, United States of America

Neil Leslie Kilpatrick