Condition monitoring of electrical machines in ScottishPower

With privatisation ScottishPower, Technology Division has effectively become a consultancy service to divisions within ScottishPower and Scottish Nuclear Ltd. Both of these companies are committed to routine testing of HV rotating plant in an endeavour to maintain the high availability of generation and integrity of rotating plant. ScottishPower, Technology Division and its predecessors, have provided an electrical test service for all ScottishPower and Scottish Nuclear high voltage drives and main generators since 1976. Since then all machines have been ´fingerprint´ tested. Against these and consequent test results from the routine test programme, the condition of the plant is regularly assessed. Tests are also undertaken for ´external´ customers. This paper demonstrates the extent of the test programme and summarises the test techniques employed and also describes the details of some case histories