Generator Reference Book

[ThePunisher]

I wouild like to inquire from our experts here for a good generator technical reference book.

Any links and ISBNs are also welcome.

Thanks

 

[pwrengrds]

For a testing reference, I like,

Electrical Insulation for Rotating Machines: Design, Evaluation, Aging, Testing, and Repair

 

[FreddyNurk]

If you're looking at Diesel generation then L.L.J. Mahon's Diesel generator handbook is excellent. ISBN references are below:

# ISBN-10: 0750611472
# ISBN-13: 978-0750611473

I'm not aware of other books that may be suitable for different generation applications, but no doubt others here will be able to advise.

 

[lansford]

A very good book on the subject is by Donald Reimert CRC Press.
JIM

 

[ThePunisher]

Thank you for all the references. Others are also welcome to contribute their post.

 

[catserveng]

Another if your looking for a diesel powered plant,

Diesel Plant Operations Handbook, by Clive T. Jones
ISBN0-07-032814-5, published by McGraw Hill

 

[esee135]

It depends on what aspect of the machine you are interested in. For base synchronous machine theory, any number of 3rd year engineering texts are sufficient (transient, sub-transient faults).

A good base for power-system theory is the Prahba Kundur book.

If your interest is in HV insulation, you may be best to purchase and IEEE Xplore membership. In depth Governor and Excitation theory is also best served by past IEEE transactions.

In short, the in depth knowledge is not found in text books, if it is, I found it is usually the base common knowledge you will find in all text books.

I found that the detailed generator engineering comes when you start receiving phone calls such as "should the surge ring be grounded, and should we have a break in the ring part way through to prevent circulating currents?". Or, "where are you supposed to run intentional grounds on the stator frame?"

 

[j3n5]

The book pwrengrds suggets has isbne code: ISBN 0-471-44506-1
(it's lying on my desk). I can recommend this one for a text on insulation systems of generators.

For a general text book on synchronous machines, I would suggest "Aternating current machines" by M.G. Say (isbn: ISBN-10: 0470274514 and ISBN-13: 978-0470274514). It may be hard to find though. This is the most exhaustive text on generators I have found.

On this subject, has anyone here studied Boldea's "The Electric Generators Handbook" (isbn: ISBN-10: 084931481X and ISBN-13: 978-0849314810)?

 

[electricpete]

I agree it depends on what you’re doing. Some areas are better covered/duplicated than others.

I agree the Electrical Insulation for Rotating Machinery is a “must-have” for anyone in Rotating Electrical Machinery test or repair. I don’t see similar info showing up in many other places.

I found that the detailed generator engineering comes when you start receiving phone calls such as "should the surge ring be grounded, and should we have a break in the ring part way through to prevent circulating currents?". Or, "where are you supposed to run intentional grounds on the stator frame?"

You have my curiosity up. Here are my guesses for your three questions.

1 - I’m guessing that a metal surge ring supporting the end turns should be grounded. It should float near neutral anyway, but I have never heard of anything in electrical equipment which is left floating.

2 - Break in the end ring? That one I really don’t have a clue. I would say do it. I can’t see what it would hurt as long as the edges of the break are smoothed to prevent voltage stress concentrations.

3 - “where are you supposed to run intentional grounds on the stator frame?"
Should connect to two diagonally opposite corners of the machine and run to the ground grid (in a power plant at least).

What are the correct answers?

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[electricpete]

Addition to answer #2 - there needs to be some support to prevent compromising the mechanical strength of the surge ring at the break - since mechanical strength is it's function.

Aren't some surge rings these days made of some kind of rope material that gets hard when impregnated?

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[ScottyUK]

"Operation and Maintenance of Large Turbo-Generators" ISBN 0-471-61447-5 is a pretty good reference, although biased toward large turbo machines and of American origin. Probably not as useful if you are looking at a small salient pole machine in Europe. You need to pin down what you're looking for a bit more: it's a big topic.


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If we learn from our mistakes I'm getting a great education!

 

[ThePunisher]

I am interested with Diesel Generator Sets 480VAC up to 13.8kV.

I'll be trying: L.L.J. Mahon's Diesel generator handbook
and Boldea's "The Electric Generators Handbook"

More suggestions are welcomed!

 

[esee135]

1 - I'm guessing that a metal surge ring supporting the end turns should be grounded. It should float near neutral anyway, but I have never heard of anything in electrical equipment which is left floating.
--- usually we will bond at one location only.

2 - Break in the end ring? That one I really don't have a clue. I would say do it. I can't see what it would hurt as long as the edges of the break are smoothed to prevent voltage stress concentrations.
--- This was an interesting case, where we had to analyze the cancellation in magnetic field to prevent a single turn closed loop. Today's spec is usually stainless with a factory b-stage mica taped ring with a seperation to prevent circulation current. The ring is usually supported by GPO-3 or similar, mechanincally fastened and lashed. Older 1920's units had steel surge rings, with a brazed copper section to seperate the ring, very puzzling.

3 - "where are you supposed to run intentional grounds on the stator frame?"
Should connect to two diagonally opposite corners of the machine and run to the ground grid (in a power plant at least).
--- Generally we ground the frame with a 4/0 ring, and provide two locations of physical bonding at diametric ends to attach to two different sections of the ground grid (ie: pit liner ground, and main station ground. In some cases we do not treat the core split as an adequate bonding device. We also do not rely on gravity of the stator frame to the pit liner as a designated ground.