Generator Thrust Bearing Insulation and Oil Film Resistance: Facilities Instructions, Standards, & Techniques

FACILITIES INSTRUCTIONS, STANDARDS,
& TECHNIQUES
Volume 3-11
GENERATOR THRUST BEARING
INSULATION AND OIL FILM
RESISTANCE
Generator Thrust-bearing Insulation

and Oil Film Resistance
The thrust and upper-guide bearings of large When there is very high resistance with the
vertical generators are insulated from the machine running, it is a good indication that the
frame to prevent circulating current from bearing surfaces are free of high spots or
passing through the bearing surfaces which roughness, and the bearing is not grounded. This
might damage them. Test terminals are test can also be used when establishing an oil
provided for periodic ohmmeter checks across film with a high pressure lubrication system or to
the thrust bearing insulation. Some generators determine how quickly a complete oil film is
have three terminals A, B, and G (fig. 1 ), established on starting a unit, or how long it
which permit checking the insulation on both persists on stopping.
sides of the metal plate separately, as well as
measuring the thrust bearing oil film The insulation resistance between the bearing
resistance. Other generators have only the shoes and the frame should be checked first,
terminal A, which only permits checking the before the oil film resistance is checked;
thrust-bearing insulation to ground. because, since these resistances are in parallel,
a false impression of oil film resistance could be
This bearing insulation test should be obtained if the bearing insulation resistance is
performed annually on all Reclamation relatively low. When the generator is stationary,
generators. If the insulation resistance is the oil having been squeezed from between the
abnormally low, the cause of the trouble should bearing surfaces allows metal-to-metal contact,
be investigated. Before concluding that the and zero resistance between terminals B and G.
insulating sheets under the bearing supports When operating at normal speed the oil film
are causing the low resistance, check the RTD resistance should be from 100,000 to 500,000
leads, temperature device tube, or high ohms.
pressure oil connection to the bearing shoes.
On machines with a B terminal it is possible to Measurements of oil film or bearing insulation re
determine when the bearing shoes are sistance should be made using an ohmmeter
grounded through these accessories by operated from batteries of not more than 9 V d-c,
measuring the resistance between terminals B and connected only long enough to take the
and G with the machine running (provided reading. Under no circumstances should an a-c
there is a high oil film resistance, and the or d-c power circuit be connected to the test
bearing support insulation is good). The terminals, because damage could occur to
insulation on both sides of the metal plate can bearing surfaces if high current should pass
be checked separately by connecting the through them. As an added precaution,
ohmmeter between terminals A and G, and generators provided with the B terminal
between A and B. The thrust-bearing insulation connected to the bearing shoes, should have a
resistance should measure from about 10,000 red nameplate mounted adjacent to the terminals
ohms to infinity. Low resistance can indicate with the following inscription:
mechanical damage or damp insulation from
leaky cooling coils. Dampness in the oil pot,
due perhaps to a very slow cooling-coil leak,
can cause serious corrosion damage or
saturation of insulation, if allowed to persist. WARNING
These problems are difficult to detect except Do not connect any source of power over 9 V d-c
by this test. to these terminals. To check resistance, use an
ohmmeter operated from d-c batteries of not
An additional test may be periodically made on over 9 V, and connect only long enough to take
the thrust-bearing oil-film resistance while the the reading.
generator is running, and with the ohmmeter
connected across terminals B and G. Although
not entirely reliable, this test has indicated
metal-to-metal contact where the bearing was
slightly wiped, or a high spot had developed.
1 (FIST 3-11 5/91)

(FIST3-11 5/9 2

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What is the purpose of testing the thrust bearing insulation?

What measurements should the thrust bearing insulation test and oil film resistance test yield?

FACILITIES INSTRUCTIONS, STANDARDS,

GENERATOR THRUST BEARING

INSULATION AND OIL FILM

Generator Thrust-bearing Insulation

1 (FIST 3-11 5/91)

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