Health Index & Life Expectancy of Generators

Rotating machines are very vital parts of the industries. Reliability of machine depends on its health and condition. Life of rotating machines is critical in view of availability. Every machine has its own calculated life. Designed life can estimate by considering various factors such as insulation material used, operating condition of machine, environmental conditions etc. During life span if any severe fault occurs then remaining life will reduce or machine life ends. Fault withstand capacity depends on the machine present strength. If we can get information of machine present strength then we can estimate its life in view of certain stress due to fault of critical operating conditions. Strength of machine is strength of its insulation system. Mica is base material used in high voltage Rotating Machines. Here insulation related machine life will be discussed. Insulation aging behavior is depends on various factors such as Temperature, Moisture, Electrical stress etc. Strength of insulation become weaker as the age is elapsing. Stress to insulation is varying based on various condition of Load, Voltage quality, surges, sudden changes, mechanical stresses and chemical expose. To understand the life of machine, insulation system need to understand first, right from design, manufacturing and operation. Life curve of machine will be discussed and algorithm for life will be established. Further health index will be calculated based on various test of machine and health index will be correlate with life expectancy.