Radio frequency monitoring of Turbine-Generators Project

This report summarizes the activities of the Radio Frequency (RF) Monitoring of Turbine-Generators Project for the period of fiscal year 1983 to fiscal year 1985. The project objective was to determine if RF monitoring would provide early detection of abnormal arcing in turbine-generators. RF measurements have been performed on selected generators within the Division of Fossil and Hydro Power and the Office of Nuclear Power of the Tennessee Valley Authority. The only known problem on a machine that has been monitored is on the Paradise unit 3A. This problem involved vent space sheet migration into the slots, and it was suspected of causing winding insulation damage. RF measurements were made before and after the repair. When repaired, the insulation was found not to be severely damaged. The RF signal levels decreased slightly after the repair. The data base developed so far for the other machines consists of RF-spectrum signatures of the respective turbine-generators. No known problems exist on these machines.