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Excitation System

SUBODH KUMAR

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With large alternators in the power system, excitation plays a vital role in the management of voltage profile and reactive power in the grid .

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In the past, rotating amplidyne type control along with exciters was employed for the synchronous machines. The drawback faced: This system could not cope up with the increase in complexity and fast response required due to growth of the power network.

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Subsequently along with the development of electronics, the amplidyne regulators were replaced by solid state/electronic regulators. But the same AC / DC rotating exciter machines were retained.

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In order to have a stable system, it is more necessary that fast response excitation systems should be provided for large synchronous machines.

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Thyristorised, fully static excitation system with solid state regulators was the next step in the field of Generator excitation which was adopted.
The power network as well as the unit size had also increased. Thus the thyristor based solid state excitation system could further help the system stability due to their response.

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At the occurrence of a load change or fault, it is absolutely necessary to match the rotor excitation immediately, to the new operational condition of the synchronous generator, in order to keep the terminal voltage within the permissible range.
This is achieved by means of an Automatic Voltage regulator (AVR).

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Automatic Voltage regulator (AVR) is provided in the excitation system, one of its vital functions is to control and regulate the output voltage of the generator to the set point, by changing the firing angle of the thyristor bridge rectifier.

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AVR takes the feedback of Generator output voltage Generator Stator current Generator Rotor current Generator Stator voltage Generator rotor voltage (optional) System (Grid) voltage (optional)

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Other features incorporated in the excitation system are: Rapid de-excitation Contact less field forcing Reactive load sharing for parallel operation Follow-up circuit for smooth and bumpless change-over of channels Various Limiters

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Most AC generator manufacturers provide CAPABILITY CURVE' with their generators, which outlines the limits of operation.

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Capability Curve of a 210MW Generator

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EFFECT OF OPERATION OF GENERATOR OUTSIDE THE CAPABILITY CURVE

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Excessive stator heating (excessive mega watt--real power output), Excessive rotor heating (excessive MVAR output, "lagging" MVARs from the generator perspective), Excessive end-iron/end-turn heating (excessive MVAR inflow, "leading" MVARs from the generator perspective).

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Limiters Even under the extreme conditions a generator running in parallel with the power network must remain in synchronism without exceeding the maximum permitted load on the machine and without the protection system operating. The AVR tries to compensate the system voltage variation by appropriate changes of the reactive power, so that the terminal voltage of the generator remains constant.

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Limiters

For the optimum utilization of the generator, the voltage regulator is additionally matched by means of limiting over / under excitation, so that the machine runs within the capability curve.

This not only improves the stability of the parallel operation but makes the operation of the system easier.

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Limiters
However, it must be made clear that the limiters do not replace the protection system but only prevent the protection system from tripping the machine unnecessarily, under the transient conditions.

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Limiters Following limiter functions are normally provided:

Field (rotor) current limiter Stator current limiter Load angle limiter V/Hz limiter

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Limiters

Rotor and stator current limiters reduce the excitation in over excited operation.

Field forcing overcomes short lived faults in the network.

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Limiters

Under the limit conditions in the under excited operation of the machine, the load angle limiter and the stator current limiter (capacitive) increase the excitation without any delay.

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CARE !

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Utmost care is to be taken by the operating personnel so that the Generator operates within the capability curve of the machine.

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Types of Excitation:

Static Excitation Semi-Static Excitation Brushless excitation system

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Static Excitation System

Rectifier Transformer Thyristor Bridges Control Electronics Field Flashing Field Breaker and Field Suppression

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Rectifier Transformer The power transformer normally gets its input supply from the generator output terminals. The secondary is connected to the Thyristor Bridge, which delivers a variable DC output to the generator field. The transformer is housed in a ventilated cubicle. Normally, dry type transformer is provided. Protective devices are provided for the transformer.

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Semi Static Excitation System

Main Exciter Thyristor Bridges Control Electronics Field Flashing Field Breaker and Suppression

Field

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Thyristor Bridge

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There are two thyristor bridges (UM-1 & UM-2) for excite the generator field and two thyristor bridges (UN1 & UN2) for excite the aux. generator field. 36 thyristors are in each bridge (UM1 & UM2 bridge ) 12 thyristors are in each bridge (UN1 & UN2 bridge) . UM1 and UM2 both are parallel and feed the generator field current simultaneously. For feeding the aux. generator field current, either UN1 or UN2 in service. Other bridge is always in hot stand-by.

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Thyristor Bridges
UM1 & UM2 Bridges have adequate capacity to feed the generator field for full load output. Capable of meeting the field forcing conditions. Types of cooling Water cooling ( UM1 & UM2) Natural air cooling (UN1 & UN2)

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Field Flashing

Since it is not possible to start the excitation system with the residual voltage at nominal speed, a field flashing circuit is provided to overcome this problem.

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Field flashing is done by feeding the generator field from a station battery supply of 220 V.

The battery will be required to deliver approximately 25% of the no load current for 7 secs!

As soon as the generator output builds up, the excitation system starts working smoothly and the field flashing circuit is then automatically cut off.

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Blocking diodes are provided to prevent any back feed from the field to the battery when the generator voltage rises under excitation control by thyristors.

The station auxiliary supply of 415 V AC is stepped down by a small transformer, then rectified in a rectifier bridge and supplied to the aux. generator field through a breaker for field flashing (if Station DC is not available)

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Field Breaker and Isolator

In case of severe internal faults or a three phase short circuit at the generator terminals or short circuit on the slip rings, the field breaker and isolator provides protection by isolating the DC source from the field.

For isolation of exciter field winding , field flashing breaker is used.

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field Suppression
For rapid de-excitation of the synchronous machine and complete isolation of the field from the thyristor bridge, The inherent property of inversion of the thyrister is used for quick deexcitation.

The field energy is dissipated through a field discharge resistance by a field suppression breaker which gets connected across the field under such operation. Thus the field winding is shunted and remains same until the machine is excited.

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Over Voltage Protection

An additional over voltage protection circuit is provided across the field so that during faults on the stator side, the induced overvoltages on rotor side are limited to remain below the insulation level of the field winding.

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Interlocks In the event of failure of AVR/DVR or the tripping of PT breaker for AVR, interlock exists for a smooth change over from Auto to Manual channel (AVR) Or Auto-1 to Auto 2 channel ( DVR) of regulation.

Interlock to prevent the intentional tripping of Generator field breaker when the Generator circuit breaker is ON is incorporated.

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Installation The static excitation equipment should be normally mounted in a dust free atmosphere on a floor, free from vibration. Since the control circuitry involves electronic components / cards / modules etc., the complete excitation equipment should preferably be housed in non-humid, non-condensing, moisture free and cool environment.

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This type of excitation is used in stage-2 and stage-3.

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The Thyrister bridges equipment receives the input power supply from the permanent magnet generator (PMG) terminals. Thyrister output delivers the variable DC to the main exciter field.

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Thyristor Bridges The thyristor bridge (natural cooled) is configured in a three phase full-wave connection having individual snubber circuit and protective fuses in AVR panel. Redundant configurations depending on the project requirements can be adapted to increase the reliability and availability.

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Field Suppression

This feature helps faster decay in the generator terminal voltage after shutdown. In the event of any short circuit at the generator terminals or at the slip rings of the exciter field, the DC field discharge contactor protects by discharging the field energy through a discharge resistor provided for this purpose.

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Digital Voltage regulation

Automatic diagnostic features such as self-monitoring and fault detection, often required in presentday systems, are difficult to be incorporated in AVR. Also many number of modules are required for configuring a system with complex control features such as limiters, stabilizers etc.

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The outstanding features of Digital Voltage Regulator are:

Self Monitoring of the modules Ease of setting and measuring of the variables, using local micro terminal. Settings are digital i.e. they are exactly reproducible and are not subject to variation over a long period of time.

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Digital Firing and Control Module having stable behaviour even with distorted synchronous voltage. Significantly smaller different modules. number of

The software is organized in such a way that alterations as per equipment and project specific requirements.

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Easy adaptation to individual plants requirements. (changes in logic circuit ). The maximum converter output (ceiling) voltage can be reached in less than 20 milli seconds signifying a very fast control response.

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In the digital voltage regulator the control signal is computed periodically from the measured actual value and the reference values, therefore the calculation must be repeated at very short time intervals in order to meet the requirement.

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The input data / parameters after conversion to digital form are processed centrally in the main computing unit. Distributed microprocessors are used to perform different functions such as automatic voltage regulation, parameter limit settings, protection, monitoring, logic control and pulse generation.

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The pulses are generated digitally taking the control input from the voltage regulator and synchronized supply from the converter input. In case of 2 auto channel, the pulses of both channels are continuously matched through additional signal lines thereby providing bump-less transfer of control.

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The digital input and output modules are checked periodically. The pulse outputs from the Digital firing and control module are checked for short circuits. The output voltages of the power supply modules of DVR are monitored.

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Excitation fault LED indications are provided in the regulation cubicle. All the desired parameters can be set for optimizing the controls or normal setting requirements. Various settings and their values can be read, set or downloaded via printer.

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Main functions of excitation system

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To provide variable DC current with short time overload capability, Controlling terminal voltage with suitable accuracy, Ensure stable operation with network and/ or other machines, Contribution to transient stability subsequent to a fault, Communicate with the power plant control system and To keep machine within permissible operating range

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