Measures and technologies to enhance the insulation condition monitoring of large electrical machines

The utility of condition monitoring of the stator insulation structure of large machines has been enhanced substantially by the use of computer-based analysis of partial discharge signatures. A number of indices are examined through tests in a multistress aging facility to assess their promise in describing insulation degradation in machine insulation. In transitioning such tests to the field environment, an operational test is also described which offers some promise in identifying degradation without prior baseline data for a machine. On the basis that most electrical failures have mechanical precursors, acoustic methods are described for assessing stator bar mechanical integrity. This includes both using the conductors as waveguides and also employing acoustic emission for the location of large discharges.