PSSR-TS

FEED BACK 10 , 97-98

PROJECT : NORTH CHENNAI TPP - 3X210 MW UNIT NO. : 1,2 & 3 PROBLEM : GENERATOR CONDITION MONITORING DEVICE REQUIREMENT:

Although considerable research development and designs have been done to produce safe, efficient and reliable generators, nevertheless abnormal or fault conditions can occur during its operation with grid. Considerable importance is given to monitor their performance online especially for larger ones worldwide to forewarn. Accordingly, BHEL/Hardwar has supplied GCM to the following projects, importing them from M/s. ENVIRONMENT/ONE CORPORATION, USA. 1. 2. 3. NORTH CHENNAI TPP 210 MW DADRI TPP 210 MW BSES TPP 250 MW

BHEL-Corporate R&D also developed the instrument and installed at Vijayawada TPS and the same is under observation. WORKING PRINCIPLE: The system monitors continuously the generator cooling gas (Hydrogen) which is going through it and acting as carrier of particular emission, if any from generator due to any fault or overheating. The predetermined flow of gas, first processed through ionising section and then in an electric field which is sufficient to carry most of the ions attracted to collecting electrodes. when particles are present in the gas, some of the ions will become attached to them. These particles even though invisible under a microscope are many times larger than the ions. Therefore the charge to mass ratio of the particles on combination is very much reduced (by a factor of a thousand or so) and the mobility is very low. This means that only very few are now attracted to the collecting electrode, resulting in a reduced current to the amplifier. Tests have shown that the current is reduced by about 50% when an area in the order of 13 square centrimeters of core material is heated inside a typical generator sufficiently to discolour the enamel coating. On ensuring the particle present in the hydrogen by comparing output levels for filtered and unfiltered hydrogen, the instrument automatically collects sample which can be analysed separately for identifying source of overheating.

PROBLEM FACED AND ACTION TAKEN: At North Chennai TPP, few teething problems were experienced in the system: * We could not establish adequate flow and the same was made good by shifting the instrument and rerouting the pipeline, to reduce pressure drop. Failure of power supply module (a) due to overvoltage and was resolved by changing the power supply to UPS and (b) inadequate capacity of the module - it was replaced with higher capacity module received recently through supplier representative. With the assistance of supplier representative, the GCM of unit-2 and 3 are put into operation.

SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT: 1. To provide 2 drain valves at the inlet and inverted *W bend which will enable to drain off any oil collected, without disturbing the operation of the unit 2. To provide tapping point from exciter end also over and above the one which is available in the turbine side to have composite hydrogen sample for GCM (Refer enclosed sketch). 3. Locate GCM unit at turbine floor with the generator tapping point from stator body and end shield separately to prevent oil carry over.