Vibration detection instrumentation for turbine-generator stator endwindings

Stator endwinding vibration has been a major deterioration concern on large turbine-generator windings for almost 50 years. The capability of endwinding support systems has evolved upward during this period, but still there remain periodic failures due to high general vibration and/or local resonant vibration conditions. This paper will discuss industry experience relating to generator vibration problems on stator endwindings, evolution of stator endwinding support systems, historic efforts for measurement of endwinding vibration, and finally, experience with the modern fiber-optics vibration monitoring equipment.