Hydrogen Generator Seal Plate for Scavenging and Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydrogen cooled generators face a high risk of explosion due to hydrogen leakage, particularly in the bottom part where electrical links are connected to the stator and guided away, as cooling air enters the lateral space and promotes hydrogen accumulation, leading to uncontrolled airflow and increased explosion risk.
Innovation Solution
A seal plate is placed over the lateral space to prevent cooling air from entering, with edges bordering the collection box at the same height as the top wall, and tubular structures guide cooling air along electrical links to ensure controlled airflow and reduce hydrogen accumulation, while allowing some air to enter for scavenging and maintaining accessibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If cooling air is allowed to enter the lateral space around the collection box, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but hydrogen accumulation risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lateral space is divided into a cooled zone (near the generator) and a protected zone (farther away) using a seal plate. This segmentation allows cooling air to remain in the critical area near the generator while preventing it from entering the lateral space where hydrogen accumulation could occur, thus resolving the contradiction between cooling effectiveness and hydrogen accumulation risk.
Solution Approach 2:
A seal plate is introduced as an intermediary element between the collection box and the lateral space. This seal plate acts as a barrier that controls the flow of cooling air, allowing it to cool the generator effectively while preventing it from entering the lateral space where it could promote hydrogen accumulation, thereby resolving the technical contradiction.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the seal plate is positioned at the same height as the top wall of the collection box, then hydrogen accumulation is reduced, but accessibility for maintenance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The seal plate is designed to be removable rather than permanently fixed, allowing it to be positioned at the same height as the top wall of the collection box during normal operation to prevent hydrogen accumulation, and then removed when maintenance access is required. This dynamic design resolves the contradiction between hydrogen accumulation prevention and maintenance accessibility.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution significantly reduces the risk of hydrogen accumulation and explosion by controlling airflow, ensuring that cooling air travels upwards past the generator, thereby minimizing the risk of hydrogen accumulation in hazardous areas and enhancing safety.
Implementation Method 1
cooling air enters the lateral space and promotes hydrogen accumulation, leading to uncontrolled airflow
Implementation Method 2
The solution significantly reduces the risk of hydrogen accumulation and explosion by controlling airflow, ensuring that cooling air travels upwards past the generator
Data Source
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AI summary
A hydrogen cooled generator assembly (1) if disclosed in which a hydrogen cooled generator (31) is mounted on a fundament (2), said fundament (2) including at least one cavity (6) underneath the generator (31). In this cavity (6) there is located, adjacent to the generator (31) and downwardly extending therefrom, at least one terminal box (8) for the collection of the electrical links from the generator (31). Furthermore in this cavity (6) there is located, essentially beneath said terminal box (8) at least one collection box (5), through which electrical links (14) from the terminal box (8) are guided in a further downwards direction, said electrical links (14) entering the collection box (5) through a top wall (16) thereof. Side walls (15, 23) of the collection box (5) and walls (32) of the cavity (6) in the fundament (2) are distanced from each other and defining a lateral space (4), and the lateral space (4) is covered by a seal plate (25) towards its upper side. Cooling air (18) is channelled into said at least one collection box (5) and leaving same through the top wall (16), the seal plate (25) eventually prohibiting the cooling air stream to enter the lateral space (4).