SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING BEARING INSULATION AND GROUND BRUSH HEALTH IN A GENERATOR

• Main Authors: Wagoner, Robert Gregory, Jha, Kapil, Mukherjee, Rupam, Tiwari, Arvind Kumar, Huh, Kum Kang
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 06.10.2022
• Subjects: CONTROL OR REGULATION OF ELECTRIC MOTORS, ELECTRIC GENERATORSOR DYNAMO-ELECTRIC CONVERTERS; CONTROLLING TRANSFORMERS, REACTORS OR CHOKE COILS; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER; DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES; ELECTRICITY; GENERATION; MEASURING; MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES; PHYSICS; TESTING

A method for preventing damage in a bearing of a generator of an electrical power system includes monitoring one or more electrical signals of a power conversion assembly of the electrical power system. The method also includes estimating an impedance path of common mode current from a terminal to ground using the operating parameter(s) of the power conversion assembly. Further, the method includes determining a one or more magnitudes and/or a one or more phase angles of the impedance path at different frequencies, such a switching frequency and/or harmonics. Moreover, the method includes determining whether the impedance path is indicative of degradation in at least one of bearing insulation or a ground brush of the generator based on a change in the one or more magnitudes and/or the one or more phase angles. In addition, the method includes implementing a control action when the impedance path is indicative of degradation in the bearing insulation and/or the ground brush of the generator.