Main Cooling Technologies For Turbogenerators

Main Cooling Technologies for Turbogenerators

There are three main cooling technologies used for utility scale generator cooling today. They are as follows:

Air Cooling
Hydrogen Cooling
Hydrogen – Hydrogen-Water Cooling

The International Standards do not impose any restrictions on the type of cooling to be used in relation to the machine's size/MVA rating.

Each of the technologies listed above is well-proven and dependable, but each has advantages and disadvantages.

A generator cooled solely by hydrogen gas has several advantages over a water-cooled generator, including reduced maintenance due to cooling system simplification, elimination of inherent problems commonly found with water-cooled stator bars, such as water leakage or plugging of hollow conductors, and elimination of water cooling unit auxiliary components.

A compact water-cooled generator has a lower initial cost, but it is nearly equal to a simplified structure hydrogen gas-cooled generator. In terms of operating costs, both types of generators use the same amount of fuel and have nearly the same efficiency. In terms of labor costs, the hydrogen gas-cooled unit is less expensive than the water-cooled generator. The hydrogen gas cooled unit is technically superior to the water-cooled unit because it does not have stator water leaks or flow restrictions. Water leaks and flow restrictions, on the other hand, can be avoided with careful monitoring and vigilance.