METHOD FOR COOLING A GENERATOR

Abstract

A method for cooling a generator using cooling air flowing through the generator, wherein a density of the cooling air when the generator is idling and running passively at a mains frequency of a mains network to which the generator is connected is reduced relative to a density of the cooling air when the generator is operating under load.

Claims

1. A method for cooling a generator using cooling air flowing through the generator, comprising: reducing the density of the cooling air in idle mode of the generator, in which the generator rotates passively at a grid frequency of a grid to which the generator is connected, relative to the density of the cooling air in load mode of the generator; wherein the density of the cooling medium in idle mode is reduced by increasing the moisture of the cooling medium, wherein the density of the cooling air in idle mode is reduced by at least partially replacing the cooling air with nitrogen; wherein the density of the cooling air in idle mode is reduced by at least partially replacing the cooling air with hydrogen below a lower ignition threshold.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the density of the cooling air in idle mode is reduced by increasing the recooling temperature which is used to recool the cooling air.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the density of the cooling air in idle mode is reduced by creating a reduced pressure inside a housing of the generator.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the density of the cooling air in idle mode is reduced by creating a reduced pressure inside a housing of the generator.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

[0018] The above described embodiments of the method can be employed individually or in any desired combination or subcombination with one another in order to reduce the density of the cooling air.