Method and system for on-line monitoring of bearing insulation in an electrical generator

摘要

The present invention monitors an electrical generator (10) to provide an indication of a problem in the generator's bearing insulation (26), such as insulation damage or insulation bridging, and sets an alarm to warn an operator of the problem, thereby avoiding damage to the electrical generator (10). Methods and systems consistent with the present invention identify problems with bearing insulation (26) by monitoring the naturally occurring shaft voltage on the generator rotor (12) and by setting an alarm if the shaft voltage drops below a predetermined value.