System for monitoring the health of electrical generators and method thereof
View Patent ↗A method and apparatus is provided for a system for maintaining hydrogen purity in an electrical power generator where the system monitors the health of the electrical generating system by calculating the time remaining until preventative maintenance is required based on hydrogen usage. The system also monitors the health of the system by detecting the occurrence of major leaks within the electrical power generator and adapting the operation of the system to maintain a desired operating environment.
1. A method for operating a hydrogen cooled electrical generator comprising: generating hydrogen gas;
flowing said hydrogen gas at a first flow rate to an electrical generator located in an enclosure;
measuring said gas pressure in said electrical generator;
measuring said rate of hydrogen gas flow to said generator; and,
generating a first signal when said rate of change of hydrogen flow is increasing and said gas pressure is decreasing.
2. The method for operating a hydrogen cooled electrical generator of claim 1 further comprising:
generating a signal representative of a second flow rate of a ventilation system for said enclosure;
generating a signal representative of said first flow rate.
3. The method for operating a hydrogen cooled electrical generator of claim 2 further comprising:
comparing said second flow rate signal with said first flow rate signal; and,
generating an second signal if said second flow rate is less than a required value for said first flow rate.
4. The method of operating a hydrogen cooled electrical generator of claim 1 further comprising:
generating a second signal if said first flow rate is equal to a predetermined maximum flow rate and said gas pressure is decreasing.
5. A non-transitory tangible computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method for monitoring the operation of a hydrogen cooled electrical generator, said method comprising:
receiving a first signal representative of said rate of hydrogen gas flow to an electrical generator;
determining the rate of change of hydrogen gas flow from said first signal;
generating a second signal if said rate of change of hydrogen gas flow exceeds a predetermined value; and
generating a third signal representing operating time remaining until preventative maintenance is required.
6. The non-transitory tangible computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method for monitoring the operation of a hydrogen cooled electrical generator of claim 5 further comprising:
receiving a fourth signal representative of the hydrogen gas pressure is said hydrogen generator; determining the rate of change of the hydrogen gas pressure in said electrical generator.
7. The non-transitory tangible computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method for monitoring the operation of a hydrogen cooled electrical generator of claim 6 further comprising:
generating a fifth signal if said rate of change of hydrogen gas pressure exceeds a predetermined value;
and, generating a sixth signal in response to said second signal and said fifth signal.
8. The non-transitory tangible computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method for monitoring the operation of a hydrogen cooled electrical generator of claim 5 further comprising:
receiving a ventilation signal; and,
comparing said ventilation signal with a predetermined ventilation value.
9. The non-transitory tangible computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method for monitoring the operation of a hydrogen cooled electrical generator of claim 8 further comprising:
generating a alert signal if said ventilation signal is less than said predetermined ventilation value.
10. The non-transitory tangible computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method for monitoring the operation of a hydrogen cooled electrical generator of claim 9 further comprising:
reducing the flow of said hydrogen gas if said ventilation signal is less than said predetermined ventilation value.
11. The non-transitory tangible computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method for monitoring the operation of a hydrogen cooled electrical generator of claim 9 further comprising:
stopping the flow of said hydrogen gas if said ventilation signal is less than said predetermined ventilation value.
12. A method for operating a hydrogen cooled electrical generator comprising:
disassociating water into hydrogen and oxygen gas with an electrochemical cell;
flowing said hydrogen gas to an electrical generator;
measuring the differential gas pressure between said electrochemical cell and said electrical generator;
measuring the rate of hydrogen gas flow to said generator;
generating a first signal if the rate of change of hydrogen flow is increasing and said gas pressure differential remains constant.
13. The method for operating a hydrogen cooled electrical generator of claim 12 further comprising:
generating a signal representative of the flow rate of an electrical generator ventilation system;
generating a signal representative of the flow rate of hydrogen into said electrical generator.
14. The method for operating a hydrogen cooled electrical generator of claim 13 further comprising:
comparing said ventilation flow rate signal with said hydrogen flow rate signal; and,
generating an second signal if said ventilation flow rate is less than a required value for said hydrogen flow rate.
15. The method of operating a hydrogen cooled electrical generator of claim 14 further comprising:
generating a second signal if said ventilation flow rate is insufficient at the hydrogen flow rate to maintain hydrogen levels at less than 50% of the lower flame limit of hydrogen in air.
16. The method of operating a hydrogen cooled electrical generator of claim 12 further comprising:
calculating the rate of change of hydrogen flow into said electrical generator;
comparing the rate of change of hydrogen flow with a predetermined value; and,
generating a warning signal if said rate of change of hydrogen flow exceeds said predetermined value.
17. The method of operating a hydrogen cooled electrical generator of claim 16 further comprising:
calculating a time to preventative maintenance based on the hydrogen flow rate; and,
comparing said time to preventative maintenance to a predetermined maintenance time.
18. The method of operating a hydrogen cooled electrical generator of claim 17 further comprising the step of generating an alarm signal if the time to preventative maintenance is less than or equal to zero.
19. The method of operating a hydrogen cooled electrical generator of claim 17 further comprising the steps of:
generating a signal indicative of said time to preventative maintenance; and,
transmitting said time to preventative maintenance signal to an operator.
20. The method of operating a hydrogen cooled electrical generator of claim 19 further comprising the step of storing said time to preventative maintenance.