Artesis e-PCM on Hydro and Steam Turbines: Turbo-Generator Monitoring Without Shaft Sensors

On a turbo-generator, bearing failure, shaft misalignment or winding degradation means forced outage, lost generation and costly repair. Bently Nevada vibration remains the benchmark on high-speed steam machines, but it does not fully cover generator electrical faults and needs extensive shaft instrumentation.

Artesis e-PCM complements the picture: it analyses three-phase current and voltage at generator output to detect turbine and coupling mechanical faults plus stator/rotor electrical issues — no turbine shaft sensors.

Where it applies

Site	Unit	e-PCM role
Hydro	Francis, Kaplan, 5–50 MW	Bearings, imbalance, misalignment
Pumped storage	Reversible sets	Mode-change monitoring
Thermal plant	Steam turbines 60–300 MW	Turbine + generator + coupling
CHP / auxiliaries	Small steam turbines	Own-needs generation

→ Artesis industry map

What e-PCM monitors

Steam / gas turbine (prime mover)

• Rotor imbalance
• Turbine–coupling–generator misalignment
• Bearing wear (journal, thrust — via signature)
• Looseness, foundation issues
• Gearbox wear if fitted

Synchronous generator

• Stator/rotor winding degradation
• Eccentricity, air gap
• Phase unbalance, harmonics
• Indirect excitation / AVR clues

Hydro specifics

• Low speed — vibration harder; ESA often more sensitive to bearings
• Load/head changes — models built per power band
• Gate / oil-pump auxiliaries → e-MCM

Fault	Typical lead time
Imbalance	2–4 weeks
Misalignment	1–3 weeks
Bearings	4–8 weeks
Windings	weeks–months

e-PCM vs vibration

Criterion	Vibration (Bently)	e-PCM
High-speed steam turbine	Benchmark	Complement
Generator electrical	Weak	Full
Small hydro, low RPM	Harder	Strong
Shaft install	Probes, long cables	Generator panel only
DCS link	Via CMS	Modbus / OPC UA

Thermal plant pattern: Bently on main steam shaft + e-PCM on generator output. Hydro without full CMS: e-PCM as primary online channel.

BOP on the same unit

Asset	Product
Turbine + generator	e-PCM
Feed / circulation pumps	e-MCM — cavitation
ID/FD fans	e-MCM — fans
3500/42M auxiliaries	Bently + e-MCM — CHP guide

Architecture

Turbo-generator → CTs + voltage → e-PCM → Modbus/OPC → DCS / Artesis IoT

Install in excitation or generator switchgear — typically 2–4 hours.

Typical steam-plant scenario

1. Turbine vibration within alarm — “watch”.
2. e-PCM trends misalignment and generator bearing drift 6 weeks ahead.
3. Planned 48 h outage — alignment and DE bearing swap.
4. Avoided emergency trip with winding damage.

ROI

One unplanned outage on a 60–150 MW unit can cost hundreds of millions of tenge in lost output and repair. e-PCM pays back on the first outage moved to a planned window.

e-PCM family

Asset	Guide
Hydro / steam	this article
Gas	Gas turbines
Wind	Wind farms
DGS	Diesel gensets
All uses	e-PCM navigator

Summary

Artesis e-PCM bridges turbine and generator: electrical signature at generator output gives early warning on bearings, misalignment and windings without shaft sensors on the turbine.

→ 90-day e-MCM pilot · Industry map

KEG TRK — official Artesis and Bently Nevada distributor in Kazakhstan. Contact