Today's large generatorsߞDesign, performance and operation

The increase in ratings of the largest generating units being placed in service continues to provide increasing challenges to the designers of large power generation equipment. These challenges have been met with design innovations in large steam turbinedriven generators resulting in a four fold increase in output in the past two decades, making possible the shipment of fully assembled generator stators in the largest ratings. The effects of increased power density on generator component design features and performance characteristics are described, and it is shown that proven design concepts supported by suitable monitoring devices have provided generators for the electric utility industry with excellent reliability and operating performance.