Development of a Multi-Channel Telemetry System with 256 Data Channels

A new telemetry system with 256 data channels was developed to measure stresses, temperature, etc. on generator rotors during normal operation. This system was developed because it is economically impossible to measure so many points using slip rings or standard commercially available telemetry systems which normally have a finite number of data channels. In the system reported here, the rotating sensors are sampled, digitized and their signals transmitted to stationary recording instrumentation. Preliminary tests confirmed that the system can be used to centrifugal accelerations of 4,800 G. with a data accuracy of better than ±0.5%.