Why The Hydrogen Is Used For The Cooling Of Large Generators Instead Of Air?

Why the hydrogen is used for the cooling of large generators instead of air?

Because of its high heat capacity and low density, hydrogen is utilized to cool the windings of large power plant generators.

How does the power generation industry use hydrogen?

In order to move heat from the power-generating winding enclosure to the heat exchangers known as H2 coolers, many power generators with capacities more than 150 MW use hydrogen as a cooling mechanism.

In comparison to their air-cooled siblings, hydrogen-cooled power generators are more efficient and use less material for construction.

Because hydrogen gas has a density of 1/14th that of air and is 7 times more efficient as a heat transfer medium, there are fewer friction losses and more fuel can be turned into electricity.

What is the average use of hydrogen in power plants?
The capacity of the power generator and the state of the hydrogen seals in the generators determine how much hydrogen is utilized daily in general. The greater hydrogen pressure necessary for adequate heat transfer is inversely correlated with capacity.

In order to sustain the pressure necessary for ideal heat transfer, a larger hydrogen flow is necessary because higher pressure causes a higher leakage rate.

In combined cycle power plants, generators in the 150 to 250 MW range linked to steam turbines or gas turbines typically use 200 to 600 scf/day (1 to 3 cylinders equivalent), or 5 to 16 Nm3/day.

Power generators of 400 to 1,200 MW can utilize up to 1,000 scf/day (4 or more cylinders per day), or 25 Nm3/day, for steam turbines attached to thermal plants (coal-fired or thermonuclear).