Method and apparatus for optically monitoring an electrical generator

摘要

A method and apparatus for monitoring the condition of an electrical generator formed of a stator core punching assembly having a plurality of winding slots for receiving a plurality of generator windings. The plurality of winding core slots lie along an interior cylindrical surface of the stator core punching assembly, and the stator core punching assembly has an outer cylindrical surface opposite the interior cylindrical surface. The stator core punching assembly also has a plurality of internal vent openings extending from the outer cylindrical surface toward the inner cylindrical surface. A first optical probe is disposed outside of the stator core punching assembly and is formed of a plurality of optical acquisition devices each of which is formed from at least one optical fiber strand. Each of the optical acquisition devices is disposed to acquire light generated at one of the winding slots and passing through one of the internal vent openings.