Patent ID: 8076909

Claim:
A method of monitoring the operating condition of an electric generator, said method comprising: locating a triad sensor array on a stator bar of the generator, said triad sensor array comprising a group of sensors including first, second and third sensors formed within a predetermined section of a fiber optic conductor; producing a triad signal indicative of the operating condition of a stator bar in the generator, said producing a triad signal comprising: producing a first, base measurement signal indicative of a stress level in the stator bar; producing a second, adjustment signal indicative of an adjustment to the base measurement signal and based on a measurement taken at the stator bar; and producing a third, dynamic measurement signal of substantially cyclically varying value and indicative of a stress level in the stator bar; supplying optical radiation to said fiber optic conductor for providing said triad sensor array with optical radiation for producing said first, second and third signals; and receiving said first, second and third signals from said triad sensor array for effecting a first stress level determination, and for effecting a second stress level determination substantially simultaneously with and independently of said first stress level determination.