Industry: Hydropower
Application: Secondary RPM Feedback for Turbine Monitoring
Challenge: Replace aging rotary tacho generator with a high-speed, non-contact solution
Solution: Di-soric OGUL Laser Fork Sensor (10,000 Hz switching frequency)
Background
A customer operating a hydroelectric facility approached us to help modernize their turbine monitoring system. Their existing solution—a rotary tacho generator—was becoming increasingly unreliable due to wear and aging components. The generator was used to provide secondary RPM feedback, a critical input for performance monitoring and control systems.
Challenge
The hydroelectric turbine in question operates at high rotational speeds, which posed several challenges:
- The aging rotary tacho generator required frequent maintenance and posed a risk of mechanical failure.
- The customer needed a non-contact sensor to eliminate wear-related issues.
- The solution had to support very fast switching to keep pace with the turbine’s high-speed operation.
Our Solution
After assessing the operational requirements, we recommended the Di-soric OGUL laser fork sensor—a compact, high-performance optical sensor specifically designed for non-contact detection at high speeds.
Key features of the OGUL sensor:
- 10,000 Hz switching frequency – ideal for detecting fast-moving targets
- Non-contact operation – eliminates mechanical wear and increases reliability
- Easy integration – compact form factor and flexible mounting options
By positioning the sensor to detect a reflective or interrupting target on the rotating element, the system can generate a precise pulse train, translating directly into real-time RPM data.
Results
- Improved reliability: No moving parts means significantly reduced maintenance.
- Increased accuracy: The high-frequency response ensures precise RPM tracking even at high turbine speeds.
- Future-ready system: The non-contact solution supports digital monitoring strategies and remote diagnostics. The Di-soric OGUL laser fork sensor not only met the demanding speed requirements of the application but also delivered long-term benefits in reliability and performance monitoring.
If your facility is facing similar challenges with outdated sensing technology, contact us to explore how we can modernize your systems with innovative sensor solutions.