Abstract
M.Tech. (Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technology)
World-wide, financial and environmental factors are necessitating the life management and life extension of power generating facilities. A crucial part of the power generating equipment prone to failure towards the end of design life is the stator winding insulation of generators. Due to this, Eskom is developing a life management system for stator winding insulation systems for the generators in coal fired power stations.
Eskom has leased condition monitoring equipment from Electricite de France (EdF), which monitors the partial discharge activity within the insulation of the stator windings. EdF uses the quadratic rate partial discharge test method, contrary to the conventional amplitude measurement of charge as released from partial discharges. This thesis will evaluate the EdF equipment and its claimed ability to quantify the difference
in insulation system condition between old and new stator winding. An evaluation of the
equipment will be performed on individual stator bars with simulated faults experienced by stator winding insulation, followed by on-site tests at various power stations.