Ozone detection system provides operating benefits

Ozone plays a paradoxical part in a hydro plant. On the one hand, the colorless gas is a potent threat to safe and efficient operation of generating units. Even small quantities of ozone can hurt plant workers` respiratory systems and corrode generator windings. Looked at from another perspective, however, ozone is a potentially valuable tool for monitoring the condition of generating machinery. Ozone (O{sub 3}) is produced when molecular oxygen (O{sub 2}) decomposes, freeing single oxygen atoms to combine with paired ones. In air-cooled generators, this reaction is triggered by slot discharge, arcing brushes, and other forms of corona activity. Whatever the specific cause, it`s a safe assumption that if any significant level of ozone is present in a hydroelectric plant, something is wrong.