Features Specification

Robotic Inspection

Mitsubishi Electric has developed a dedicated robot capable of inspecting a turbine generator by passing through the narrow gap between the rotor and stator (air gap) to allow fast and reliable in-situ generator inspection.
Mitsubishi Electric’s robotic vehicle GenSPIDER® (Generator Smart & Precise Inspection Accomplished by Generator Dedicated Expert Robot) crawls along the stator core and performs visual inspection by utilizing a built-in high-definition camera. It can save on downtime by enabling the inspection of generator components without the rotor pulled out. Stator wedge tapping and EL-CID® (Electromagnetic Core Imperfection Detection) tests can also be performed by the robot as options.

Note: Power-generator business was transferred to Mitsubishi Generator Co., Ltd on April 1, 2024. Click here for details.

Advantages of GenSPIDER®

Condition-based inspection

GenSPIDER® can be used for all types of turbine inspection. Since GenSPIDER® inspection only requires a week's generator outage, inspection can be completed even during the combustor inspection period. This means customers can implement robotic inspections more frequently to accurately ascertain interior conditions and detect abnormalities more quickly.

Maintenance cost reduction

Frequent monitoring of interior conditions enables customers to plan appropriate periodic inspection schedules. This leads to shorter inspection periods and reduced loss from generator outage. By carrying out periodic inspections at the right timing, forced outages can be avoided on a continuous basis. Furthermore, extra expenses can be minimized by preparing the necessary spare parts in advance, and unexpected extensions of outages for major inspections with the rotor pulled out can be prevented.

Accurate troubleshooting and future maintenance planning

Robotic inspections by GenSPIDER® can provide valuable information on the condition of the generator without the need for costly rotor out inspections. This information can be used to plan corrective maintenance in more detail while reducing the probability of in-service failures.

* EL-CID is a trademark or registered trademark of IRIS Power LP.

Compact design

GenSPIDER® is designed to perform accurate inspections in air gaps. Thanks to a proprietary traveling mechanism comprising a crawler belt and flat plate, GenSPIDER® has the advantage of a thin 19.9-millimeter profile. It is capable of inspecting most medium to large Mitsubishi Electric generators and non-Mitsubishi Electric generators.

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Quantitative approach to wedge tapping

GenSPIDER® can accurately ascertain a full range of stator wedge tightness, from very tight to very loose. Tapping tests are preformed using original vibration analysis technology to accurately evaluate stator wedge tightness in five levels. As a result, GenSPIDER® is able to detect any looseness of stator wedges at an early stage as with inspections carried out manually.

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Enhancement of inspection items

The table below lists the inspection parts and items of a typical generator inspection compared with an “Advanced Simplified” inspection carried out by GenSPIDER®. The Advanced Simplified inspection mostly covers items that are generally included in a major inspection, as opposed to a simplified inspection.