Generator retaining ring inspections
KEMA has a cheap alternative to perform a reliable condition assessment: the KEMA Inspection system for Retaining Rings (KIRR)
A generator retaining ring has a long lifespan. It can even be used throughout the life of the generator. But, even a small crack in the retaining ring may have disastrous consequences and will result in safety risks and damage that involves major costs. In order to prevent this, retaining rings are often replaced by new ones. Quite an expensive, and in most cases, a unnecessary operation. The KEMA generator inspection system for retaining rings (KIRR) detects and characterizes flaw indications. This will tell you whether you have -or have not- to replace the retaining ring. Furthermore, you will be able to continue monitoring newly detected cracks that are still acceptable for continued operation.
THE advantage of this inspection tool is that it is not necessary to disassemble the rotor and the retaining rings. When the retaining ring geometry is known, it takes less than 24 hours two measure two retaining rings. The KIRR system can be applied on generators with a ring diameter from 500-2,000 mm. The in-situ test characteristics are:
• minimum gap between rotor and stator: 9 mm
• apllied scanning techniques: UT and ET
• surface: 360 round circle and 5-100 mm pitch per step
• defect detection: 1 mm and larger is guaranteed
Over 300 generators in 20 countries have already been inspected by the KIRR system to the full satisfaction of the owners!
More generator NDT-services
Keep your generator in good condition by applying in-situ non-destructive testing, diagnostics and inspections
KEMA diagnosis vibration problems of stator end windings by bump testing services
KEMA applies these examinations to any generator field that is deemed suspect to produce stray high-energy currents