Generator Diagnostics – From 100 failure modes to risk of forced outage

Based on our experience in servicing rotating equipment, we have identified approximately 100 failure modes that can cause a forced outage of a generator, and developed a diagnostics concept that supports condition-based maintenance of generators.

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Today’s generators are inherently reliable, yet technically complex items of machinery designed for a long life. A breakdown can therefore come as an unexpected and unwelcome surprise for the operator.

For this reason, it is very important to understand why generators fail and how this can be prevented. Fortum eNext has developed a diagnostics concept that supports condition-based maintenance of generators. Based on approximately 100 identified failure modes of a generator, individually tailored diagnostics are performed on the specific equipment in question.

The core of Fortum eNext’s concept is the ability to detect failure modes at different inspection levels. As expected, a major overhaul is clearly the most powerful method. If all available tests are performed, about 95% of the failure modes can be identified or detected. The second most powerful method is on-line diagnostics, where 55% of the failure modes can be identified or detected.

Download the white paper to learn:

  • What are the most common issues causing turbogenerator failures?
  • How are generator failure modes identified?
  • Which recommendations would our specialist give for risk reduction?