Nitrogen-cooled dynamoelectric machine system and related method

Various embodiments of the invention include systems and methods for cooling a dynamoelectric machine 18. In some embodiments, a system is disclosed including: at least one of a nitrogen separation unit (NSU) 4 or an air separation unit (ASU) 3 for extracting nitrogen from an inlet air source; a nitrogen expander 8 fluidly connected with the at least one of the NSU or the ASU, the nitrogen expander for expanding the extracted nitrogen; and a dynamoelectric machine 18 fluidly connected with the nitrogen expander 8, the dynamoelectric machine 18 configured to receive the expanded nitrogen for cooling the dynamoelectric machine 18.