Hydrogen-cooled generatorIn 1941, the first hydrogen-cooled electrical generator for outdoor installation in the U.S. was put into operation. Built by the General Electric Company for the city of Glendale, Cal., it was rated 20,000 kW and cost $391,669. It was mounted on an open deck. (The first GE-built, hydrogen-cooled indoor generator started operation started on 12 Oct 1937). In modern hydrogen-cooled turbo-generators, hydrogen is used as a coolant fluid. The stator core is direct cooled with hydrogen, for example, at a pressure of 3-6 bar. The advantage of hydrogen is a high thermal conductivity and lower friction than air-cooled generators, thus more efficient operation, lower fuel consumption, highest output capacity, and lowest operating cost.* |
