Turbine Generator Unit Vibration Fault Thesis Research

High efficiency is important in the modern administration of hydropower. New technologies to promote improvements include "Condition - Based maintenance". New management systems for "unattended" stations should provide improved levels of automation, reliability, security and stability. Stable operation is an important aspect of equipment performance, which is assessed through vibration analysis. The Dynamic Fuzzy ISODATA method provides a means of diagnosing abnormal vibrations. ISODATA is the abbreviation of " Iterative self-Organizing Data Analysis Technique A".Progress has been made with advanced fault diagnosis techniques in the chemical industry,in aviation and in equipment manufacture. As yet the application to hydro-power station has been limited. Unfortunately, there is a big difference between the vibration of water turbo-generators and other rotating machines. The nature of the coupling arised by hydro -. mechanical and electrical factors, no unique relationship between the specific faults and associated vibration features and additionally the super-imposing of various vibrations at a certain position of a unit make it difficult to ascribe the severity of vibration in accurate words.By applying fuzzy mathematical concepts, more precise meannings can be given to "existing faults", to "severity of faults" and to "heavy vibration" by membership than by traditional two values logic in this thesis. With such a model, the Dynamic ISODATA software offers opportunity for vibration analysis. So far, the most successful applications have included fault diagnosis of diesel engines and of vibration in steam turbine rotors.The feasibility of applying similar techniques to hydropower is confirmed in relation to a specific station. Results correspond with on-site inspections.