Magazine | Issue 1 2023 and Engineering Partner for rotating machine monitoring in the oil and gas industry in Malaysia. How did you find out about the MONGEMO continuous PD monitoring system for rotating machines? We first became aware of the MONGEMO system in 2019 when we attended an OMICRON PD workshop in Malaysia. Coincidentally, at the same time, I had a request from a customer in the oil and gas industry for a PD monitoring and trending system for nine of their gas turbine generators at one of their refineries in Malaysia. We asked the OMICRON colleagues at the workshop for more information about the MONGEMO system to determine if it would meet our customer’s needs. After our initial discussions and system evaluation, we were convinced that MONGEMO was the right solution for our customer. Please describe the types of generators your customer uses, and why they decided to add a continuous PD monitoring system. Our customer uses 13.5 MVA generators, also known as alternators, driven by gas turbines to produce power for various processes at their oil and gas refineries, which separate crude oil into its various components. One of the byproducts is natural gas, which is used to fuel gas turbines. The high demand for energy at these refineries necessitates that their generators operate with a high level of reliability and efficiency and minimum operational downtime. Our customer’s generators are already designed for high performance and reliability. The performance of the materials used for electrical insulation has increased over the years, but the insulation dimensions have decreased. Even though it can withstand the operating voltages it is exposed to, various conditions, such as load, temperature, humidity, and wear-and-tear in harsh industrial environments, eventually cause defects and aging in the insulation. This results in a generator life expectancy of only about 10 to 15 years. Increasing PD activity levels indicate these developing insulation defects that can eventually lead to premature failure. Therefore, our customer wants to ensure the reliability of their fleet of generators and always be aware of The oil & gas refinery in Malaysia produces natural gas as a byproduct used to fuel gas turbine generators that produce power for critical plant processes. 13
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