Transient electromagnetic field, losses and forces in a synchronous turbogenerator rotor

Abstract

PurposeThe paper seeks to present a methodology of computer simulation of 3D transient electromagnetic fields, losses and forces due to negative sequence currents in fragments of large synchronous turbogenerator rotors. The methodology allows for the preparation of initial data for further computations of thermal and mechanical behaviour of rotors.Design/methodology/approachThe governing equations for 3D negative sequence transient electromagnetic fields with the Coulomb gauge using magnetic vector potential and scalar electric potential A, V – A are solved by the nodal finite element method in a Cartesian coordinate system moving synchronously with the rotor.FindingsThe presented methodology of 3D transient electromagnetic phenomena computation seems to be effective because the electromagnetic field in the rotor of a synchronous generator is generally three dimensional, and therefore 2D field‐computation approaches and software are not able to simulate intrinsically 3D electromagnetic processes in turbogenerator rotors.Research limitations/implicationsCurrently it is difficult to carry out accurate numerical simulation of 3D transient electromagnetic fields and therefore losses and forces within the whole structure of the rotor because of the resulting huge computational expenses. This paper is devoted to the finite element analysis of electromagnetic fields, losses and forces in separate structural parts of the rotor. As an example of practical utilization of the developed technique, the computer simulation of electromagnetic phenomena in junctions of nonmagnetic rotor slot wedges of a 300 MVA class synchronous turbogenerator is carried out.Practical implicationsThe methodology can successfully be used during the design process of modern large synchronous turbogenerators.Originality/valueThis paper presents numerical analysis of intrinsically 3D transient electromagnetic phenomena in large turbogenerator rotors.