Normal Power Supply System of a Nuclear Power Plant – Modelling and Simulation
Studies for Fast Bus Transfer
M. Prasad
Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University
JNTUK, Kakinada
Andhra Pradesh, India.
ramprasadmajji@gmail.com
Abstract— Nuclear power plants have Normal and
Emergency power supply systems. Both the power supply
systems are to be reliable for safe operation of the plant.
Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) coming up at
Kalpakkam is a single unit 500MWe project. The normal
power supply system consists of two Station Buses and two
Unit Buses. The station buses are fed from grid through a
Station Transformer (ST). The Unit buses are fed through
Unit Auxiliary Transformers(UATs) either from plant
generator or grid .The UATs are normally fed by generator
while plant is in operation .When plant generator is not
available the UATs are fed from grid through generator
transformer.
Normally unit buses and station buses supply the
loads connected to them. In the event of a need on supply
interruption to one unit bus, the loads supplied from this bus
can be transferred to a designated station bus and vice-versa
for continuity of power supply to the loads. The ST and UAT
are adequately sized for this. This paper covers the modeling of
turbine generator, ST, UAT and the loads connected to the
station and unit buses of this system to analyze the bus transfer
of loads from a unit bus to station bus and vice-versa which
keeps the plant loads running on fast transfer mode.
Keywords: Bus Transfer ,Turbo-Generator, Induction Motors,
ETAP.
1.0 INTRODUCTION
The objective of a bus transfer scheme is to transfer the station
loads between power sources safely while maintaining support
to the nuclear steam supply system, the turbine generator, and
plant auxiliary loads ensuring either continued unit operation or
safe shutdown.
In PFBR Normally 6.6kV unit buses and station buses supply
the loads connected to them. In the event of a need on supply
interruption to one unit bus, the loads supplied from this bus
can be transferred to a designated station bus and vice-versa for
continuity of power supply to the loads
Bus transfer scheme provided permits fast transfer, slow
transfer and parallel transfer modes. They will be adopted to the
plant operating conditions suitably.
978-1-61284-379-7/11$26.00 2011
c IEEE
N. Theivarajan
Power Plant Control Division
Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR)
Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, India.
theiva@igcar.gov.in
Normally an automatic fast transfer scheme is in service
during normal operation and if it fails the mode changes over
to slow transfer. For fast transfers, the electrical
characteristics of the specific bus loads are determined by
calculation or test, in conjunction with the relay and breaker
operating time, to ensure that the voltage and phase-angle
displacement of the bus residual voltage will not cause
equipment damage.
A fast transfer incorporates the use of fast-acting, stored-
energy breakers (such as 5 cycles or less opening time)
That disconnects the normal source and reconnects the
alternative source before phase-angle displacement of the bus
and residual voltage can change appreciably. A fast transfer
has no intentional time delay. The transfer is based on the
conditions that the two sources are in synchronism.
This paper covers the modeling of the PFBR normal power
system having the provision of auto transfer, simulation of the
system and assessment of bus electrical profiles with the
realistic loads .This will be helpful during site commissioning
tests since transfer performance expected is available
beforehand to correlate with test results.
2.0 PLANT DATA AND SYSTEM ARRANGEMENT
Class IV normal AC power supply scheme for PFBR is
shown in Figure1.0. This power system derives its power
from different sources of supply as mentioned below:
1) From the grid through 220 kV/6.9 kV/6.9 kV station
transformer.
2) From the grid through a 235 kV/21 kV generator
transformer and two numbers of 21kV/6.9 kV unit
auxiliary transformers with the generator circuit breaker
kept in open position.
3) From the terminals of the Turbo-Generator through the
two numbers of 21 kV/6.9 kV unit auxiliary transformers
when the Generator circuit breaker is closed during
power generation.
The UATs are rated for 35MVA each. The ST is rated for
70MVA with each secondary winding rated for 35MVA .The
estimated station auxiliary load is around 55MVA. Total
station auxiliary loads can be supplied either by the UATs or
by the ST.
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Normal class IV power supply to station loads at 6.6 kV are
supplied by two numbers unit buses and two numbers station Table.2: Individual Motor load details
buses. Two separate unit auxiliary transformers supply the Equivalent Inertia
two unit buses. One three winding station transformer with Constant
MOTOR KW KV
H
two secondaries supply the station buses. Similarly between (MW-sec/MVA)
the Unit bus-2 and Station bus-2 another tie circuit breaker is CEP-2 800 6.6 1.5
provided. The tie breaker one unit bus and a station bus NSWP-2 400 6.6 2
facilitates bus transfer one transformer to the other. The bus CWP-2 3600 6.6 1.5
CEP-1 800 6.6 1.5
transfer modes provided are:
NSWP-1 400 6.6 2
a. Auto bus transfer (fast and slow changeover) ASWP-2 550 6.6 1.5
Changeover in this takes place in auto mode through CWP-1 3600 6.6 1.5
auto transfer scheme. ASWP-1 550 6.6 1.5
b. Manual bus transfer (parallel transfer) NSWP-3 400 6.6 2
CEP-3 800 6.6 1.5
Changeover in this mode is made manually done after LML 1000 6.6 1.5
ensuring synchronism of the sources from MCR LML-1 1000 6.6 1.5
c. Manual bus transfer (fast and slow changeover) LML-2 10000 6.6 2
Changeover in this mode is made manually initiated LML-3 10000 6.6 2
through the auto transfer scheme from MCR/ Auto
transfer panel. The most important parameter in conventional fast - transfer
There are two separate auto bus transfer techniques is drive inertia. In general, the higher-inertia
panels one associated with the bus transfers between drives have a much better chance of success than do the
Unit Bus 1 and Station Bus 1 and the other associated lower - inertia drives. Also, in many instances, the high -
with the transfers between Unit Bus 2 and Station Bus 2 inertia drives act as generators to support the low - inertia
respectively. Auto Fast Transfer is planned to be drives as motors through the open-circuit transfer period.
operational during normal operation. Thus, not only are the individual drive inertias important but
so is the aggregate or equivalent inertia for all drives on the
transferred bus. In this paper an inertia constant, H used for
the motors and driven equipment combination are based on
the preliminary data sheets of the suppliers and estimation.
They will be fine tuned on the as manufactured equipment
supply.
3.0 SYSTEM MODELLING
Presently, advanced modeling and digital simulation
techniques can be used to analyze the dynamic behavior of
electrical systems. Digital simulations can accurately
represent the dynamics Turbine -generator unit, including the
governor and exciter/voltage regulators, grid, as well as the
load dynamics. The digital simulation is done using ETAP.
ETAP is a commercial Power System
analysis package. The transient stability module is used for
modeling and simulation for simulation of electrical transient
phenomena of the system. ETAP has several built-in models
of controller for generator excitation system and speed
governing control systems based from IEEE standard. Table:
Figure.1: System Arrangement.
4 shows the modeling basis used in the analysis.

Table: 4 (MODELLING BASIS)

Table1: Load Description MODEL ETAP PARAMETERS

MOTOR LOAD DESCRIPTION Generator As per vendors Data

Machines User- interface
CEP Condensate Extraction Pump
NSWP Normal Service Water Pump Excitation System Generic Data
Library Model
CWP Circulating Water Pump
Speed Governing Generic Data
ASWP Auxiliary Sea Water Pump
System Library Model
LML Lumped Motor Loads
Induction Motor Generic Data
Machines User-interface
Loads

2011 1st International Conference on Electrical Energy Systems 295

A.Synchronous Generator Model: The Excitation system is taken from ETAP library models.
This type of exciter and AVR system represents alternator-
The Generator Model is designed from ETAP machine user rectifier excitation systems with non-controlled rectifiers
interface.The used sub-transient model and is represented by and exciter field current feedback. There is no self-
two equivalent rotor windings on the direct axis and two excitation and the source of voltage regulator power is not
equivalent rotor damper windings on the quadrature axis. The affected by external transients. The parameters are given
generator parameters are given below table 5. in table 6.
Table 6: Parameters of the Excitation system
Parameter value unit
KA 400 pu
KC 0.2 pu
KD 0.38 pu
KE 1.0 pu
Figure.2: Generator Model (field circuit plus one damper KF 0.03 pu
circuit on Direct -axis and two damper circuits on Quadrature-
TA 0.02 sec
axis)
Table 5: Generator Parameters TB 0.0 sec
P 500 MW TC 0.0 sec
V 21 kV
TE 0.8 sec
Ra 0.002686 ohm
TF 1.0 sec
Xl 11 %
TR 0.0 sec
Xd 210 %
SEmax 0.1 -
Xd’ 24.1 %
Xd” 17.2 % 0.75*Efd
0.03 pu
max
T’do 9.14 sec
Efd max 4.18 pu
T”do 0.04 sec
VRmin -14.5 pu
Xq 108 %
Xq’ 61 % VRmax 14.5 pu
Xq” 19.12 %
C. Speed Governing System:
T’qo 2.5 sec
T”qo 0.2 sec
Poles 2 -
H 0.525 MW-sec/MVA
B. Excitation System:

Figure. 4: Single-Reheat Steam-Turbine (ST1).

Figure.3: IEEE Type AC1-Alternator-Rectifier Exciter
System with Non-Controlled Rectifiers and Field Current
Feedback (AC1) – Applicable for Brushless Excitation
System
This type of governor-turbine system represents a two-stage
steam turbine with a reheat and speed governing system. It
consists of a speed relay, a control amplifier, a steam chest,
and a reheater.It is taken from ETAP library models. The
Transfer block diagram is given in fig. 4. And the parameters
are given in below table 7.

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 Table.7: Governor Parameters Many schemes allow a dead-bus time of up to 9 or 10 cycles.
Parameter value unit After this period, transfer is blocked.
DROOP 5 %
Fast bus transfer may be one of three types: 3 cycle, 6 cycle,
Pmax 500 MW
or parallel fast transfer.
Pmin 0.0 MW
Fhp 0.7 pu The requirement in a graphical form is given below [2]
Tsr 0.1 sec
Tc 0.1 sec
Tch 0.15 sec
Trh 5.0 sec
D. Load Modeling:
The Induction Motor Model is a double squirrel cage with
independent bars and its equivalent circuit is shown in figure.5.
It is designed from ETAP machine user interface. The motors
name plate data and load parameters are given table 2.

Figure.6: Acceptable reclosing phase angle for maximum

125-percent rated voltage.

Some of studies establishing and elaborating the requirements

are given in Ref [3] & [4]

Case Studies:

Figure.5: Induction Motor Equivalent Circuit Model. (Typical to
all motors)
4.0 FAST TRANSFER REQUIREMETS , CASE STUDIES &
SIMULATION
Requirements of Fast Transfer:
The broad requirements of fast transfer are given below [1]
A fast transfer is defined in ANSI C50.41 [B2] as one that
occurs within 10 cycles where the phase angle between the
motor residual volts and the system equivalent volts does not
Exceed 90° and the resultant volts per hertz between the
motor supply bus volts per hertz and the alternate. A source
volt per hertz, at transfer, does not exceed 1.33 p.u. volts per
hertz.
For a 3 cycle delay, studies show the angular
displacement to be 22° to 30°. Under this condition, the
resultant voltage is less than rated motor voltage. For a 6
cycle delay, the displacement is 40° to 60°. Under this
condition, the resultant voltage will be equal to or exceed
motor rated voltage. Although the resultant voltage may
exceed the rated voltage, it is not expected to exceed the
recommended value of 1.33 p.u. It should be noted that the
above values of angular displacement are approximate.
Four study cases were simulated for fast transfer. The
command to trip the normal breaker and close the alternate
incoming breaker on proper logic is issued simultaneously.
With the ordered breakers this results in approximately 3
cycle dead bus time for fast transfer. One advantage is that
transfer time is too brief to allow residual bus voltage to slip
significantly out of phase with the source voltage
The cases analyzed with the plant loads are:
(1) Bus Transfer from Station bus-1 to Unit bus-1.
(2) Bus Transfer from Unit bus-1 to Station bus-1.
(3) Bus Transfer from Station bus-2 to Unit bus-2.
(4) Bus Transfer from Unit bus-2 to Station bus-2.
Case 1: Bus Transfer from Station Bus-1 to Unit Bus-1:
During normal operation, when station transformer supply to
station bus1 is interrupted by the incoming CB tripping on
ensuring no bus fault, bus tie breaker will close and enable
unit bus1 to supply the station bus 1with a break time of about
3 cycles (60ms). The voltage, frequency and phase angles are
given in Fig.7 & Fig. 8

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 .
Figure.7: Voltage of Station Bus-1. Figure.10: Phase Angle of Unit Bus-1.

Case 3: Bus Transfer from Station Bus-2 to Unit Bus-2:

During normal operation, when station transformer supply to
station bus2 is interrupted by the incoming CB tripping on
ensuring no bus fault, bus tie breaker will close and enable
unit bus2 to supply the station bus 2 with a break time of
about 3 cycles (60ms). Simulation results are shown in Fig.11
& Fig.12

Figure.8: Phase Angle of Station Bus-1.

Case 2: Bus Transfer from Unit Bus-1 to Station Bus-1:

During normal operation, when unit auxiliary transformer
supply to unit bus1 is interrupted by the incoming CB
tripping on ensuring no bus fault, bus tie breaker will close
and enable station bus1 to supply the unit bus 1with a break .
time of about 3 cycles(60ms) Simulation results are shown in Figure.11: Voltage of Station Bus-2.
Fig.9 to Fig.10.

Figure.9: Voltage of Unit Bus-1. Figure.12: Phase Angle of Station Bus-2.

298 2011 1st International Conference on Electrical Energy Systems

Case 4: Bus Transfer from Unit Bus-2 to Station Bus-2:
During normal operation, when unit auxiliary transformer
supply to unit bus 2 is interrupted by the incoming CB
tripping on ensuring no bus fault, bus tie breaker will close
and enable station bus2 to supply the unit bus 2with a break
time of about 3 cycles (60ms) Simulation results are shown in
Fig.13 Fig.14.
Figure.13: voltage of Unit Bus-2.
Figure.14: Phase Angle of Unit Bus-2.
5.0 SYSTEM ANALYSIS
The simulation resulnts are presented and analsed below:
Case1: The Station bus-1 voltage magnitude before load
transfer to Unit bus -1 decayed from 100.5% to 85% and
change in phase angle at 3 cycles is approximately 38 degrees.
On transfer, the voltage is restored to 98% in about 120ms.
Case2: The Unit bus-1 voltage magnitude before load transfer
to Station bus -1 decayed from 100.5% to 85% and change in
phase angle at 3 cycles is approximately 36 degrees. On
transfer, the voltage is restored to 98% in about 180ms.
Case3: The Station bus-2 voltage magnitude before load
transfer to Unit bus2 - decayed from 100% to 86% and change
in phase angle at 3 cycles is approximately 36.5 degrees. On
transfer, the voltage is restored to 98% in about 150ms.
2011 1st International Conference on Electrical Energy Systems
Case4: The Unit bus-2 voltage magnitude before load transfer
to Station bus -2 decayed from 99.5% to 84.5% and change in
phase angle at 3 cycles is approximately 32 degrees. On
transfer, the voltage is restored to 98% in about 180ms.
In all the cases above, the requirements for fast transfer
stipulated by IEEE standards are met .
6.0 CONCLUSION
Presently, advanced modeling and digital simulation tools
help in modeling and simulation of complex auto fast transfer
scheme .They are used to analyze whether the conditions are
met to adopt fast transfer with the realistic loads.
The preliminary assessment assures successful fast transfer
for the estimated transfer time and the inertia constants based
on the preliminary data sheets from the vendors and the
generic modeling of turbine generator excitation and
governing system. The analysis will be updated models of the
generator AVR, governor, and load inertias.
7.0 ACKNOWLEGEMENT
The permission and facilities provided in IGCAR
by Shri. S.C.Chetal, Director, Reactor Engineering Group,
Shri K.Madhusudhanan, Head, Power Plant Control Division
(PPCD), Shri R.Srinivasan, Head Electrical Power Section
(EPS) for this study and support provided by Kum. Swati
Burewar of EPS coordinating ETAP package usage are
gratefully acknowledged.
8.0 REFERENCES
[1]IEEE Design Guide for Electric Power Service Systems
for Generating stations, IEEE Std 666-2007.
[2]Gerald W. Bottrell,”Motor Behavior Through Power
system Disturbances”IEEE Trans. on industry
applications,Vol.1A-16,No.5.september/october 1980.
[3] T.A.Higgins,W.L.Snider,p.L.young,H.J.Holley, Report
on Bus Transfer Part1-Assessment And Application”
IEEE Transaction on Energy Conversion, Vol.5, No.3,
September 1990.
[4]R. D. Pettigrew and P. Powell, “Motor bus transfer—A
report prepared by the motor bus transfer working group
of the power system relaying committee,” IEEE Trans.
Power Delivery, vol. 8, pp. 1747–1758, Oct. 1993.
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