Turbo generator

A Siemens-brand power plant turbogenerator

RP4 turbogenerator, a 500W/24V generator for a steam locomotive; dynamo on the left, turbine on the right

Engraving of Parson's first 1 megawatt "turbogenerator" alternator driven by a steam turbine. It was installed at a plant in Elberfeld, Germany.

A turbo generator is the combination of a turbine directly connected to an electric generator for the generation of electric power. Large steam powered turbo generators provide the majority of the world's electricity and are also used by steam powered turbo-electric ships.^[1]

Smaller turbo-generators with gas turbines are often used as auxiliary power units. For base loads diesel generators are usually preferred, since they offer better fuel efficiency, but on the other hand diesel generators have a lower power density and hence, require more space.

The efficiency of larger gas turbine plants can be enhanced by using a combined cycle, where the hot exhaust gases are used to generate steam which drives another turbo generator.

1 History
2 Hydrogen-cooled turbo generator
3 See also
4 References
5 External links

History [edit]

The Turbo generator was invented by a Hungarian engineer Ottó Bláthy.^{[citation needed]}

Turbo generators were also used on steam locomotives as a power source for coach lighting and heating systems.

Hydrogen-cooled turbo generator [edit]

Main article: Hydrogen-cooled turbo generator

Based on the air-cooled turbo generator, gaseous hydrogen went into service as a coolant in the rotor and sometimes the stator of hydrogen-cooled turbo generators in 1937 at Dayton, Ohio, in October by the Dayton Power & Light Co^[2] allowing an increase in specific utilization and a 99.0% efficiency, because of the high thermal conductivity, high specific heat and low density of hydrogen gas this is the most common type in its field today. The hydrogen can be manufactured on-site by electrolysis.

The generator is hermetically sealed to prevent escape of the hydrogen gas. The absence of oxygen in the atmosphere within significantly reduces the damage of the windings insulation by eventual corona discharges. The hydrogen gas is circulated within the rotor enclosure, and cooled by a gas-to-water heat exchanger.^[3]