Abstract
Refurbished or newly constructed utility-scale turbo-generator rotors requires stringent
acceptance testing before commissioning and subsequent operation thereof. Conventional
methods of testing are inadequate in detecting and locating thermally induced
problems. This paper presents a thermographic method for carrying out thermal instability
testing of generator rotors. An experimental setup is used to map the thermal
distribution of the generator rotor. Implementation and testing of the method is carried
out in a laboratory setting using a down-scaled turbo-generator rotor.