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Hydrogen-cooled turbogenerator From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia A power plant turbogenerator A power plant turbogenerator; the yellow cylinder is the electrical generator, t he blue device is the steam turbine, the yellow rectangular object in front is t he excitation generator A hydrogen-cooled turbo generator is a turbo generator with gaseous hydrogen as a coolant. Hydrogen-cooled turbo generators are designed to provide a low-drag a tmosphere and cooling for single-shaft and combined-cycle applications in combin ation with steam turbines.[1] Because of the high thermal conductivity and other favorable properties of hydrogen gas this is the most common type in its field today. Contents [hide] 1 History 2 Design 3 See also 4 References 5 External links [edit]History Based on the air-cooled turbo generator, gaseous hydrogen went into service as a coolant in the rotor and the stator in 1937 at Dayton, Ohio, in October by the Dayton Power & Light Co[2] allowing an increase in specific utilization and a 99 .0 % efficiency. [edit]Design The use of gaseous hydrogen as a coolant is based on its properties, namely low density, high specific heat, and highest thermal conductivity at 0.168 W/(mK) of all gases; it is 7-10 times better coolant than air. Another advantage of hydrog en is its easy detection by hydrogen sensors. A hydrogen-cooled generator can be significantly smaller, and therefore less expensive, than an air-cooled one. Fo r stator cooling, water can be used. Helium with a thermal-conductivity of 0.142 W/(mK) was considered as coolant as w ell, however its high cost hinders its adoption despite its non-flammability.[3] Generally, three cooling approaches are used. For generators up to 300 MW, air c ooling can be used. Between 250-450 MW hydrogen cooling is employed. For the hig hest power generators, up to 1800 MW, hydrogen and water cooling is used; the ro tor is hydrogen-cooled, the stator windings are made of hollow copper tubes cool ed with water circulating through them. The generators produce high voltage; the choice of voltage depends on the tradeo ff between demands to electrical insulation and demands to handling high electri c current. For generators up to 40 MVA, the voltage is 6.3 kV; large generators with power above 1000 MW generate voltages up to 27 kV; voltages between 2.3-30 kV are used depending on the size of the generator. The generated power is left to a nearby station transformer, where it is converted to the electric power tra nsmission line voltage (typically between 115 and 1200 kV). To control the centrifugal forces at high rotational speeds, the rotor is mounte d horizontally and its diameter typically does not exceed 1.25 meter; the requir ed large size of the coils is achieved by their length. The generators operate t ypically at 3000 rpm for 50 Hz and 3600 rpm for 60 Hz systems for two-pole machi nes, half of that for four-pole machines. The turbogenerator contains also a smaller generator producing direct current ex citation power for the rotor coil. Older generators used dynamos and slip rings

for DC injection to the rotor, but the moving mechanical contacts were subject t o wear. Modern generators have the excitation generator on the same shaft as the turbine and main generator; the diodes needed are located directly on the rotor . The excitation current on larger generators can reach 10 kA. The amount of exc itation power ranges between 0.5-3% of the generator output power. The rotor usually contains caps or cage made of nonmagnetic material; its role i s to provide a low impedance path for eddy currents which occur when the three p hases of the generator are unevenly loaded. In such cases, eddy currents are gen erated in the rotor, and the resulting Joule heating could in extreme cases dest roy the generator.[4] Hydrogen gas is circulated in a closed loop to remove heat from the active parts then it is cooled by gas-to-water heat exchangers on the stator frame. The work ing pressure is up to 6 bar. An on-line thermal conductivity detector (TCD) analyzer is used with three measu ring ranges. The first range (80-100% H2) to monitor the hydrogen purity during normal operation. The second (0-100% H2) and third (0-100% CO2) measuring ranges allow safe opening of the turbines for maintenance.[5] Hydrogen has very low viscosity, a favorable property for reducing drag losses i n the rotor; these losses can be significant, as the rotors have large diameter and high rotational speed. Every reduction in the purity of the hydrogen coolant increases windage losses in the turbine; as air is 14 times more dense than hyd rogen, each 1% of air corresponds to about 14% increase of density of the coolan t and the associated increase of viscosity and drag. A purity drop from 97 to 95 % in a large generator can increase windage losses by 32%; this equals to 685 kW for a 907 MW generator.[6] The windage losses also increase heat losses of the generator and the associated cooling problems.[7] The absence of oxygen in the atmosphere within significantly reduces the damage of the windings insulation by eventual corona discharges; these can be problemat ic as the generators typically operate at high voltage, often 20 kV.[8] The bearings have to be leak-tight. A hermetic seal, usually a liquid seal, is e mployed; a turbine oil at pressure higher than the hydrogen inside is typically used. A metal, e.g. brass, ring is pressed by springs onto the generator shaft, the oil is forced under pressure between the ring and the shaft; part of the oil flows into the hydrogen side of the generator, another part to the air side. Th e oil entrains a small amount of air; as the oil is recirculated, some of the ai r is carried over into the generator. This causes a gradual air contamination bu ildup and requires maintaining hydrogen purity. Scavenging systems are used for this purpose; gas (mixture of entrained air and hydrogen, released from the oil) is collected in the holding tank for the sealing oil, and released into the atm osphere; the hydrogen losses have to be replenished, either from gas cylinders o r from on-site hydrogen generators. Degradation of bearings leads to higher oil leaks, which increases the amount of air transferred into the generator; increas ed oil consumption can be detected by a flow meter associated to each bearing.[9 ] Presence of water in hydrogen has to be avoided, as it causes deterioration to h ydrogen cooling properties, corrosion of the generator parts, arcing in the high voltage windings, and reduces the lifetime of the generator. A desiccant-based dryer is usually included in the gas circulation loop, typically with a moisture probe in the dryer's outlet, sometimes also in its inlet. Presence of moisture is also an indirect evidence for air leaking into the generator compartment.[10] Another option is optimizing the hydrogen scavenging, so the dew point is kept within the generator manufacturer specifications. The water is usually introduce d into the generator atmosphere as an impurity in the turbine oil; another route is via leaks in water cooling systems.[11] The flammability limits (4-75% of hydrogen in air at normal temperature, wider a t high temperatures[12]), its autoignition temperature at 571C, its very low mini mum ignition energy, and its tendency to form explosive mixtures with air, requi re provisions to be made for maintaining the hydrogen content within the generat or above the upper or below the flammability limit at all times, and other hydro gen safety measures. When filled with hydrogen, overpressure has to be maintaine

d as inlet of air into the generator could cause a dangerous explosion in confin ed space. The generator enclosure is purged before opening it for maintenance, a nd before refilling the generator with hydrogen. During shutdown, hydrogen is pu rged by an inert gas, then the inert gas is replaced by air; the opposite sequen ce is used before startup. Carbon dioxide or nitrogen can be used for this purpo se, as they do not form combustible mixtures with hydrogen and are inexpensive. Gas purity sensors are used to indicate the end of the purging cycle, which shor tens the startup and shutdown times and reduces consumption of the purging gas. Carbon dioxide is favored as due to very high density difference it is easily di splaced by hydrogen. Hydrogen is often produced on-site in electrolyzers, as this reduces the need fo r stored amount of compressed hydrogen and allows storage in lower pressure tank s, with associated safety benefits and lower costs. Some gaseous hydrogen has to be kept for refilling the generator but it can be also generated on-site. As technology evolves no materials susceptible to hydrogen embrittlement are use d in the generator design. Not adhering to this can lead to equipment failure.[1 3] [edit]See also Timeline of hydrogen technologies Precooled jet engine [edit]References ^ Development of world's largest hydrogen-cooled turbine generator ^ A chronological history of electrical development from 600 B.C. ^ http://www2.emersonprocess.com/siteadmincenter/PM%20Rosemount%20Analytical%20D ocuments/Gas_ADS_Hydro_Cooled_Generators_103-200_200803.pdf ^ http://www.freepatentsonline.com/3898491.html ^ TCD analyzer ^ http://www.gesensing.com/products/resources/application_notes/930_087A.pdf ^ http://protonenergy.com/backend/arc_contenido/archivo117.pdf ^ http://www.gepower.com/prod_serv/products/generators/en/hydrogen_cool.htm ^ http://www.control.com/thread/1267097548 ^ http://www.gesensing.com/downloads/hygrometers/downloads/910-170B1.pdf ^ http://www.powergenworldwide.com/index/display/articledisplay/183731/articles/ power-engineering/volume-107/issue-8/features/water-contamination-in-hydrogen-co oled-generators-lurks-as-serious-operational-threat.html ^ http://www1.eere.energy.gov/hydrogenandfuelcells/tech_validation/pdfs/fcm01r0. pdf ^ http://h2incidents.org/incident.asp?inc=102&cat=2&val=10 [edit]External links The turbogenerator A continuous engineering challenge View page ratings Rate this page What's this? Trustworthy Objective Complete Well-written I am highly knowledgeable about this topic (optional) Submit ratings View page ratings Rate this page What's this? Trustworthy Objective Complete Well-written

I am highly knowledgeable about this topic (optional) Submit ratings Categories: TurbinesElectric powerHydrogen technologies Log in / create accountArticleTalkReadEditView history Main page Contents Featured content Current events Random article Donate to Wikipedia Interaction Help About Wikipedia Community portal Recent changes Contact Wikipedia Toolbox Print/export Languages Deutsch Franais Nederlands This page was last modified on 4 August 2011 at 12:22. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; add itional terms may apply. See Terms of use for details. Wikipedia is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-prof it organization. Contact us Privacy policyAbout WikipediaDisclaimersMobile view