US2006057727A1PendingUtilityA1

System for monitoring the health of electrical generators and method thereof

42
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Sep 16, 2004Filed: Nov 22, 2004Published: Mar 16, 2006
Est. expirySep 16, 2024(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:A. John Speranza
G05D 21/02H02K 9/26G05B 23/0283H02K 15/00
42
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Claims

Abstract

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.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A method for determining a hydrogen leak in an electrical generator comprising: 
 measuring a first hydrogen flow rate;    measuring a second hydrogen flow rate;    determining a first rate of change of hydrogen flow from said first and second hydrogen flow rates; and,    generating a signal in response to said first rate of change of hydrogen flow exceeding a predetermined value.    
     
     
         2 . The method for determining a hydrogen leak of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 comparing said second hydrogen flow rate to a predetermined maximum flow rate.    
     
     
         3 . The method for determining a hydrogen leak of  claim 2  further comprising: 
 comparing said maximum flow rate to a ventilation flow rate.    
     
     
         4 . The method for determining a hydrogen leak of  claim 3  further comprising: 
 stopping the flow of hydrogen to said generator if said maximum flow rate is greater than said ventilation flow rate.    
     
     
         5 . The method for determining a hydrogen leak of  claim 3  further comprising: 
 reducing the flow of hydrogen to be equal to or less than said ventilation flow rate if said maximum flow rate is greater than said ventilation flow rate.    
     
     
         6 . The method for determining a hydrogen leak of  claim 5  wherein the flow of hydrogen is reduced by limiting the current flow to an electrochemical cell.  
     
     
         7 . A method for determining a preventative maintenance schedule in an electrical generator comprising: 
 measuring a first hydrogen flow rate;    measuring a second hydrogen flow rate;    determining a first rate of change of hydrogen flow from said first and second hydrogen flow rates; and,    determining a first time value, said first time value representing the amount of time remaining until preventative maintenance is required.    
     
     
         8 . The method for determining a preventative maintenance schedule in an electrical generator of  claim 7  wherein said first time value is calculated from said first rate of change of hydrogen flow and a predetermined maintenance flow rate.  
     
     
         9 . The method for determining a preventative maintenance schedule in an electrical generator of  claim 8  further comprising: 
 generating a signal representative of said time remaining.    
     
     
         10 . The method for determining a preventative maintenance schedule in an electrical generator of  claim 9  further comprising: 
 transmitting said time signal to a remote computer.    
     
     
         11 . A method for operating a hydrogen cooled electrical generator comprising: 
 generating hydrogen gas;    flowing said hydrogen gas to an electrical generator located in an enclosure;    measuring the gas pressure in 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 is decreasing.    
     
     
         12 . The method for operating a hydrogen cooled electrical generator of  claim 11  further comprising: 
 generating a signal representative of the flow rate of the ventilation system for said enclosure;    generating a signal representative of the flow rate of hydrogen into said generator.    
     
     
         13 . The method for operating a hydrogen cooled electrical generator of  claim 12  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.    
     
     
         14 . The method of operating a hydrogen cooled electrical generator of  claim 11  further comprising: 
 generating a second signal if said hydrogen flow rate is equal to a predetermined maximum flow rate and said gas pressure is decreasing.    
     
     
         15 . A 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 the 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.    
     
     
         16 . The computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method for monitoring the operation of a hydrogen cooled electrical generator of  claim 15  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.    
     
     
         17 . The computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method for monitoring the operation of a hydrogen cooled electrical generator of  claim 16  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.    
     
     
         18 . The computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method for monitoring the operation of a hydrogen cooled electrical generator of  claim 15  further comprising: 
 receiving a ventilation signal; and,    comparing said ventilation signal with a predetermined ventilation value.    
     
     
         19 . The computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method for monitoring the operation of a hydrogen cooled electrical generator of  claim 18  further comprising: 
 generating a alert signal if said ventilation signal is less than said predetermined ventilation value.    
     
     
         20 . The computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method for monitoring the operation of a hydrogen cooled electrical generator of  claim 19  further comprising: 
 reducing the flow of said hydrogen gas if said ventilation signal is less than said predetermined ventilation value.    
     
     
         21 . The computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method for monitoring the operation of a hydrogen cooled electrical generator of  claim 19  further comprising: 
 stopping the flow of said hydrogen gas if said ventilation signal is less than said predetermined ventilation value.

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