Recurrent Surge Oscillograph (RSO) For Rotor Winding Shorts Detection
Recurrent Surge Oscillograph (RSO) For Rotor Winding Shorts Detection
Recurrent Surge Oscillograph (RSO) For Rotor Winding Shorts Detection
Abstract— Detection of inter turn shorts in rotor windings of result. Detection and location of inter turn shorts is the key
high voltage turbine generators (TG) has emerged as one of the approach in condition monitoring of TGs which enable pro
important diagnostic measures in condition monitor (CM) for active plans of rectification to minimize further deterioration.
uninterrupted power generation. Conventional test methods
cannot identify the location of defects. Recurrent Surge This paper deals with Recurrent Surge Oscillograph (RSO)
Oscillograph (RSO), an off-line novel technique method has test method to effectively detect and locate inter turn shorts of
widely supported the quality of decisions of diagnosticians to
rotor windings. Traditional test methods and disadvantages are
locate the shorts in rotor windings.
This paper begins with traditional techniques in use to observe
narrated. Effects of inter turn shorted field windings are
inter turn shorts of the field windings. Principle of time domain mentioned. Owing to the benefits of the novel approach, RSO
reflectometer ( TDR) is presented. Methodology of applying RSO test has been viewed as mandatory for condition assessment
technique for rotor windings is detailed. Wave patterns for diagnosis (CAD) of TGs in recent years. Time Domain
possible inter turn shorts with a demo delay unit are depicted. Reflectometry, the principle behind RSO is briefed.
Case study on faulty windings of TG is presented. This novel Waveforms of various faults are depicted by delay unit demo.
detection technique benefits the customers to avoid sudden Case study on 15MW TG is presented and rectification
outages. methods to isolate the fault is recommended.
Keywords- Excitation winding, inter turn shorts, recurrent surge II.TRADITIONAL DETECTION OF INTER TURN SHORTS
oscillograph(RSO), time domain reflectometry Assessing the condition of field winding which is hidden in
I.INTRODUCTION rotor slots and end bells is a challenging domain. Incorrect
decisions may result into power plant shut down for long time.
EXCITATION winding (Fig.1) of turbine generators (TG)
is a highly stressed component and prone to inter turn Traditional methods to observe inter turn shorts of field
shorts during service life. Operating the rotors with shorted windings are
turns 1) Open circuit (OC) and load current (LC) test
2) Ohmic resistance measurement
3) Impedance measurements in static and running
condition
4) Pole and turn to turn volt drop test
5) Vibration analysis
6) Flux probe analyzer
1
A rotor slot contains 10 to 15 turns and no. of coils are 6 to
7 per pole. The order of resistance is in hundreds of milli
ohms. One turn short due to damaged insulation may result in
no variation in resistance. DC winding resistance
measurement will not provide data on inter turn shorts.
2
VI.TRAVELLING AND REFLECTION WAVES
Voltage of incident wave is
e EU t
A transmission line possess two wires of distributed Z1 Z ; Z 2 LS
resistance, capacitance and inductance all along its length. A
Coefficient of reflection
LS Z
high frequency surge wave when applied at one end of the line
travels at approximately speed of light to the other end
LS Z
through the characteristic impedance of the symmetrical R-L- Voltage of the reflected wave,
Z
e ' e 1 2 exp t EU t
C network.
Z0
L L
C Exponential decay of the reflected wave exists at the junction.
Where Z 0 = Characteristic impedance of transmission line VII.APPLICATION OF RSO FOR SHORTS DETECTION IN WINDINGS
L= Inducatnce per unit length Application of time domain reflectometer (TDR) for rotor
C= Capacitance per unit length windings inter turn shorts detection is referred as recurrent
surge oscillograph ( RSO).
For an open ended transmission lines, the incident surge
current will reflect back in succession to the sending end as a A signal generator produces step voltage of 5 to 10 volts
reflected wave. For a length of one mile cable line, with a magnitude of high rise wave front. This high frequency
propagation velocity of 66% of speed of light, a time of 8.146 rectangular pulse is directed into the characteristic impedance
sec s. is needed for signal to travel from one end to dead of the distributed R-L-C circuit of the rotor winding through
end. Double the time ( 16.292 sec . ) is required to complete the slip rings against earthed shaft in succession( Fig. 5).
the circuit for the reflected signal. Time domain reflectometer
(TDR), a special instrument is used to observe the transit time
of the reflected pulse which is useful to determine the length
of the conductors. This art is used to determine shorts in
cables and now it is adopted to TG field windings to locate
hidden inter turn shorts and earth faults.
3
pole category. 15MW,11KV TG rotor was excited and as the
Resulting reflected signals at the shorted turns due to sudden DC energy was increasing, vibration levels were shooting up.
change in impedance travels back to the front end of the Generator was loaded and vibration were at alarming position.
winding. It can be observed on duel channel oscilloscope as Excitation energy was not matching with the protocols and
two different waves with kinks(Fig.7). A comparison between field winding was drawing higher excitation current . Machine
the super imposed incident and reflected waves will be used could not be loaded to rated capacity due to excess energy
for finding out the abnormal contacts of turns. levels.
A shut down had been taken and condition assessment
diagnosis tests were conducted. RSO waveforms ( fig.10 )
revealed inter turns shorts in the winding overhang zone
beneath end bells.
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possible with this method. It has been recognized a condition REFERENCES
based diagnostic tool by asset managers of power plants. [1] Isidor Kerszenbaum ,Clyde Maughan, ―Utilization of Repetitive
Maintenance staff will be relieved of surprise shut down of the Surge Oscillograph (RSO) in the Detection of Rotor Shorted Turns
machine by introducing RSO test as mandatory diagnostic test in Large Turbine Generators ‖, 2011 Insulation Conference
in service. The case study on one of the TG by RSO identified [2] ―Generator Rotor Shorted Turn Analyzer for Turbo- Generator DC
–Field Windings‖, Instruction Manual,Sumatron, Inc.
the fault location and rectification has been carried effectively.
[3] ―Generator Field Winding Shorted Turns:Observed Conditions
and Causes‖, DJ Albright and DR Albright,Generatortech Inc.
[4] ―High Voltage Engineering‖, MS Naidu,V Kamaraju
[5] Test Report of Condition Assessment and Diagnosis on 15MW
TG,MRTG Power Diagnostic Tests Pvt. Ltd.