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Black start in power system — A case study in Western Region, India

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DOI: 10.1109/ICEAS.2011.6147118

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 Black Start in Power System
- A case study in Western Region, India.
U K Verma, Member, IEEE, S R Narasimhan Member, IEEE, A Gartia, Member, IEEE, P A R Bende,
Aditya P Das and A K Gupta
Abstract--Electrical power system comprising transmission,
sub-transmission and distribution networks is one of the critical
infrastructures for any country. Blackouts are events that put the
electrical power system into a state of severe crisis in no time and
the restoration of normalcy post the event is a challenging task.
All efforts are made by power system operators worldwide to
avoid a scenario that may invite blackout in any form. Never-the-
less blackouts do occur in selected parts of the power grid of a
state or a region or a country due to several unforeseen factors
including natural calamities, inclement weather, technical failures
and more. All efforts are made to restore the system post blackout
in the minimum possible time. Black start exercise in an islanded
real time sub-system, comprising loads and generating stations
capable of self start, is a learning exercise to gain experience and
accordingly ensure preparedness to deal with all forms of
blackouts. Such exercises are beneficial for reducing the time
during actual system restoration following a disturbance and also
to address systemic deficiencies detected during the process. This
paper discusses on the procedure adopted during the black start
exercise carried out at Indira Sagar Hydro Power Station (ISP)
located in Madhya Pradesh, India on 22nd May 2011 along with
learning experience gained during the event. The exercise has
been jointly carried out by engineers from the Western Regional
Load Dispatch Centre (WRLDC) Mumbai, State Load Dispatch
Centre (SLDC) Jabalpur and ISP.
Index Terms--Blackout, Black Start exercise, Self start, Sub-
system.
I. INTRODUCTION
A blackout in a power system can be conceived as the total
failure of power supply in an area due to failure of
associated generation or transmission facilities [1]. The
restoration of the area blacked out in the least possible time
assumes highest precedence for a power system operator post
the event since the impact of a black out multiplies with the
duration of the event. The strategy for restoration depends on
the degree of system failure. A blackout might be a partial one
U K Verma (email: ujwalkumar.verma@gmail.com), S R Narasimhan
(email: srnarasimhan@gmail.com), A Gartia (email: agartia@gmail.com),
Aditya P Das (email: adityapdas@yahoo.com), A K Gupta (email:
abhishek_all@yahoo.com) are with Power System Operation Corporation
Ltd. (POSOCO), a 100% subsidiary of Power Grid Corporation Of India Ltd.
P A R Bende is with the State Load Dispatch Centre, Madhya Pradesh
Power Transmission Company Ltd., India. (e-mail:parbande@gmail.com).
978-1-4673-0136-7/11/$26.00 ©2011 IEEE
covering a certain pocket of the large power system or in the
worst case it could be a complete system blackout.
Accordingly the strategy adopted may be a ‘top-down’
approach where in start-up power is extended from
neighboring healthy system up to the nearest generating unit in
the affected area, else it may be a ‘bottom-up’ approach where
in the generating units capable of self start are black-started
[generally with local diesel generator(DG) sets] and sub-
systems are gradually built around the self started units with
some radial load , expanded gradually by synchronization of
those small sub-systems among themselves and finally with
the main grid. During a black start exercise attempts are made
to create these scenarios so as to examine the preparedness of
the various grid elements for an actual black out scenario. The
Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC), India also
mandates such exercises biannually [1].
II. METHODS OF BLACK START ADOPTED WORLD WIDE
A. Northern Region, India
Northern India have conducted several black start exercises
mainly from available hydro electric power stations at
Bhakra(BBMB), Chamera, Bairasiul, Tehri, Jhakri, Salal etc.
[2]. They have followed basically bottom-up approach of
restoration during those exercises.
B. Virginia Tech and George Mason University
Virginia Tech and George Mason University along with
IRD Corporation have proposed an analytical method and
adopted in a 12 bus test system in a Mid- western utility for
maximizing reactive power capability of a twin combustion
turbine(CTS) for black start of a remote steam electric unit [4].
C. Tianjin University, China
Yue Shumin, Yu Jiancheng, Liang Baoquan, of Tianjin
University have proposed to apply DEA / AHP method –
combining data envelopment analysis (DEA) with analytic
hierarchy process (AHP) – to assess and sort the power system
black-start schemes [5]. They have demonstrated the effect
and feasibility of the method by doing the complete sorting of
the black-start schemes for the practical power system of a
northern city of their country.
D. Black Start based on VSC-HVDC
A new method of black start based on VSC-HVDC has been
proposed by Li Li Mingxia Zhou Sheng Li Yinhui Li, Hunan
Inst. of Eng., Xiangtan, China, in a paper appearing in the
IEEE conference on Computing, Control and Industrial on a real time power system adopting the ‘bottom-up’
Engineering (CCIE), 2010 [6]. This paper provides an analysis approach, a small sub-system is identified for separating out
from the main grid. The selected sub-system must have at least
TABLE-I one generating unit (generally a hydro or gas based generator)
GENERATING UNITS IN WESTERN REGION, INDIA WITH having self-start facility, some radial load which could be fed
SELF START FICILITY from that unit with minimum reactive power support. The sub-
Name of Power Installed Unit type Self start
system is carefully chosen so as to ensure minimum
Station Capacity source interruption of power supply to the consumers in terms of
(MW) quantity and quality due to the is-landing.
Madhya Pradesh During the exercise the identified sub-system is separated
Indira Sagar 8 x 125 Hydro DG set out from the main grid and allowed to operate independently
Omkareswar 8 x 65 Hydro DG set
with its own generation and load. A black-out in the is-landed
Pench 2 x 80 Hydro DG set
Bansagar Stage-I 3 x 105 Hydro DG set sub-system is created by closing down all the generation in
that area. The black start process is initiated by self starting
Maharashtra one or more generating unit(s) in that area with help of start-up
Koyna I & II 4 x 65 + 4 x Hydro House (auxiliary) power from a stand-alone source such as a local
75 Generator DG set. There after the tie line is charged to reach up to the
Ghatghar 2 x 125 Hydro DG set
Bhira PSS 1 x 150 Hydro DG set
nearest substation (S/S) with load. Gradually the island is built
Trombay – 7A 1 x 120 Gas Turbine(GT) DG set with addition of load. The island is allowed to operate for
some time till the parameters like voltage and frequency get
Trombay – 7B 1 x 60 Steam DG set stabilized. Finally the island is synchronized with the main
Turbine(ST) grid at a suitable pre-identified location.
Gujarat
Since the is-land operates with reduced standards of grid
Ukai Hydro 4 x 75 Hydro DG set
Kadana 4 x 60 Hydro DG set parameters (voltage and frequency), due care is exercised in
Sugen 3 x 382.5 Gas Turbine DG set selecting the loads to ensure that sensitive loads are least
A E Company 500 Gas Turbine DG set affected. The tie lines that are energized from the black started
GIPCL Stage –II 160 Gas Turbine DG set unit must be of minimum length and those having reactive
support (in the form of line reactor etc.) at the remote end are
Chhattisgarh
Hasdeo Bango 3 x 40 Hydro DG set
preferred so that the generator is relieved of the reactive
burden of the unloaded transmission line.
Narmada Control Authority (NCA) Black start drill requires extensive coordination among the
SSP (RBPH and (6 x 200) + Hydro DG set personnel at the load dispatch centre(s), substations and the
CHPH) (5 x 50) generating station involved in the exercise. The switching
National Thermal Power Corporation(NTPC)
diagrams of the substations involved need to be checked and
Kawas 656 GT and ST DG set updated to identify the circuit breaker positions during the
Gandhar 657 GT and ST DG set various stages of the exercise. Special diagrams in SCADA
are developed to monitor the digital status (for circuit breakers
on the advantages of VSC-HVDC as black start power and / isolators) and analog values (for measurement of frequency,
discusses the control strategies of VSC-HVDC in different voltage, MW and MVAR flows) during the exercise. The
operating conditions. existing switching arrangements, protection settings,
availability of synchronizing facilities at the identified
E. Sharif University of Technology, Iran locations are also checked.
A detailed procedure explaining the various steps in the
S. A. Nezam-Sarmadi, S. Nourizadeh, S. Azizi, R. Rahmat- exercise along with the roles and responsibilities of everyone
Samii and A. M. Ranjbar of Sharif University of Technology, involved needs to be developed and communicated to all
Iran have described the impact of observability of is-lands on concerned well in advance. In the past the utilities in India
power system restoration using ‘build-up’ strategy [9]. They were bundled and coordinating black start exercises at
have used the New England 39 bus power system to simulate 220/132 kV level was relatively easier. The situation has
the approach and introduced an islanding algorithm of power changed with unbundling of utilities into generation,
system restoration in a PMU installed network that would lead transmission and distribution utilities. Further large hydro
to optimal observable islands for minimum restoration power stations located remotely and connected to the grid over
duration. 400 kV system have been one of the distinguishing features of
today’s grid. The black start exercises in such a situation
III. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS OF BLACK START IN ‘BOTTOM- involve greater efforts in planning and coordination.
UP’ APPROACH
A black start is the process of restoring a power station to IV. BLACK START SOURCES IN WESTERN REGION, INDIA
operation without relying on the external electric power The Western Regional (WR) Electrical Power Grid of India
transmission network [3]. For carrying out black start exercise covers geographically the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat,
Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa, and union territories of during the exercise. The final procedure along with targeted
Daman & Diu (DD) and Dadra and Nagar Haveli (DNH). The time line for each step was released on 21st May, 2011. The
regional grid operates as a decentralized power pool where switching arrangements at different substations involved in the
each state operates its own power grid with a State Load exercise are given under in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3.
Dispatch Centre (SLDC) at the helm for the state control area The black start exercise was suitably planned on 22nd July,
while integrated operation with the regional grid is ensured by 2011(Sunday) in consultation with all concerned. That day
the Regional Load Dispatch Centre (WRLDC) which is the being a holiday, alternative supply to the loads fed from 132
apex body for power system operation in the region. Western kV Jetpura bus could be ensured without any major constraint.
regional power grid has a good number of power stations that The black start plan was executed in 4 major steps viz. (1)
are capable of self start as listed in table -I. Preparatory activities such as bus splitting and shifting of
identified elements on to the desired bus, (2) Formation of the
V. CASE STUDY ON BLACK START AT ISP is-land (Fig. 1) by separation of the sub-system with one unit
Indira Sagar hydro power station (ISP) is located at at ISP feeding identified radial load at Jetpura via Indore S/S,
Narmada Nagar, 10 km away from the village Punasa in (3) Self-Starting one unit with a stand-alone DG set at ISP and
Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh. It is a multipurpose gradually building up the Is-land after complete blackout of
project on the river Narmada with installed generation
capacity of 1000 MW (8 x 125 MW). In order to create a total
black out scenario at ISP, a detailed procedure based on the
‘bottom up’ strategy for black start exercise was prepared by
WRLDC. A small area around ISP was identified to be is-
landed from rest of the grid. The planned is-land comprised of
one 125 MW unit at ISP, radially feeding identified block
loads at 220/132/33 kV Jetpura S/S through 400/220 kV
Indore S/S in Madhya Pradesh.
The above sub-system thus created was planned to be
synchronized with rest of the grid at Indore S/S. Since Indore
S/S was having facility for check-synchronization with its 400
kV bus-couplers, the same was identified as the point of
synchronization of the island with rest of the grid. Availability
of one 50 MVAR line reactor (L/R) on 400 kV ISP-Indore line
at Indore end was an added advantage for reactive power
management during the exercise. Further the shorter line
length of 400 kV ISP-Indore (80kms each circuit) lines Fig. 2. Switching diagram for the black start exercise at Indira Sagar(ISP).
compared to 400 kV ISP – Nagda (188 kms each circuit) lines

Radial Load to be fed from the black

also went in favor of selection of Indore for the exercise Jetpura 220/132/33 kV S/S

instead of Nagda (Fig. 2). The schematic diagram of the is- LEGEND:
Rama Phosphate

400 kV :
land is given in Fig. 1. The transmission and distribution 220 kV :
Dharampuri

132 kV :
operators involved in the black start exercise were kept in
Dhaturia
33 kV :
Sanwer
BPCL

Transformer:

started unit
Indira Sagar Island 400/220 kV
during Black Start Main Bus-B Indira Sagar
North Zone-I&II Ujjain-I&II Depalpur-I&II
Mock Drill Substation(ISP)

Unit# 5 40 MVA,132/33 kV 63 MVA,132/33 kV

80Km ISP-Indore-II
TELK make transformer BBL make transformer
400 kV Bus-I 400/220 kV
Indore sub-station
315 MVA, 160 MVA,220/132 kV Jetpura 160 MVA,220/132 kV
400/220 kV Indore ICT-II(AREVA make) Jetpura ICT-I(CGL make)
ICT-I 220 kV Bus-I
220kV Main
Indore-Jetpura-II 220kV Main Bus-II B/C Bus-I
30Km
220 kV Main Bus-I 220/132/33 kV
Jaitpura sub-station Indore-I Indore-II
160 MVA, Ujjain-II Ujjain-I
220/132 kV Jetpura
ICT-I 132 kV Jetpura Bus

LEGEND: 63 MVA,220/33 kV Fig. 3. Switching arrangements at 220/132/33 kV Jetpura S/S.

BBL make transformer
400 kV :
at Jetpura
220 kV :
132 kV : the is-landed sub-system., (4) Synchronization of the sub-
33 kV :
Transformer: Radial Load at Jetpura( feeding BPCL,Rama-
system with rest of the grid at Indore 400/220 kV S/S. These
Generator: Phosphate,Dharampuri,Dhaturia,Sanwer)
steps are discussed in the following sections.
A. Preparatory Activities
Fig. 1. Schematic diagram for ISP is-land for the black start exercise.
The preparatory activities primarily comprised of splitting
synchronism with the modus operandi of the entire exercise, of buses at various sub-stations and shifting of the feeders to
well in advance to avoid any inadvertent switching operation appropriate buses with bus-couplers in closed condition. All
the 3 substations involved in the exercise were having double
main and transfer bus scheme of switching arrangement.
Starting with 220/132/33 kV Jetpura S/S (Fig. 3), the areas
being fed from 132 kV Jetpura bus were provided with
alternate source of power supply and the corresponding
feeders (North Zone-1&2, Depalpur 1& 2, Ujjain 1&2 etc.)
were switched off from Jetpura along with all other elements
that were redundant for the exercise. Then the identified
elements for the exercise (Fig. 1) were kept on 220 kV Jetpura
bus-I and all other feeders were shifted to the other bus i.e.
220kV bus-II and switched off followed by opening of the
220 kV bus-coupler (B/C). Similarly at Indore (Fig. 2) 220 kV
Indore - Jetpura-II, 220 kV side of 400/220 kV ICT-I etc. were
kept on 220 kV bus-I and 400 kV ISP-Indore -II, 400 kV side
of ICT-I were kept on 400 kV bus-I and rest all feeders and
ICTs were shifted to the other bus (i.e. bus-II). Bus couplers
on both 400 and 220 kV sides at Indore were kept in closed
condition.
At Indira Sagar(ISP) (Fig. 2) unit #5 & 6, 400 kV ISP-
Indore-II were kept on 400 kV Main bus-B and all other
generating units and feeders were shifted to the other bus.
Though unit #5 was identified for the black start exercise, unit
#6 was kept as a stand-by to take care of the eventuality of
failure of unit #5. The 400 kV bus-coupler of ISP was kept
closed. Subsequently two major switching operations were
carried out at Indore. 220 kV B/C was opened followed by
opening of 400 kV B/C at Indore. Immediately after opening
of the B/Cs, the corresponding B/C-isolators were opened to
avoid re-striking across the breaker contacts on account of
potential difference that may develop across the contacts
during the black start exercise.
B. Formation of the is-land by separation of the identified
sub-system
Unit #5 at ISP was started after a change in its turbine
governor droop setting to operate over a wider frequency
range (45 – 55 Hz) so as to accommodate the fluctuations in
frequency during separation from the grid. At this moment the
only point where the proposed is-land was connected to the
main grid was the 400 kV Bus-coupler (B/C) at ISP (Fig. 2).
The flow on the ISP B/C was gradually reduced by matching
the generation of ISP unit #5 to the load at Jetpura and when
that flow approached zero MW, the B/C was opened. This
caused separation of the is-land (from the main grid) with unit
#5 at ISP and radial load of 16-18 MW (approximately) at
Jetpura. Though the is-land successfully separated out from
the main grid, it collapsed within 70 seconds when the unit
tripped on low frequency (less than 45 Hz), while the
operators at ISP were trying to stabilize the island by manually
controlling the governor, since there was no primary response
from the generator.
C. Self-Starting of ISP unit with DG set
After the is-land collapsed with tripping of the sole ISP unit,
preparations were made for re-building the is-land. The circuit
breakers (CBs) of all the feeders / ICTs identified to be
energized from the black started unit were opened from both
the ends so as to ensure smooth build up of the is-land. The
CB of 400 kV ISP-Indore circuit –II was kept closed along
with the 50 MVAR L/R in line at Indore end to ensure the
simultaneous charging of 400 kV Indore bus-II with charging
of 400 kV ISP-Indore circuit-II from ISP end. In order to self
start unit #5 at ISP, one 1000 kVA local DG set was started to
feed start up power to the unit. Keeping the generator voltage
control function in ‘manual mode’, unit #5 was started at a
reduced terminal voltage i.e. at 4 kV against a rated voltage of
11 kV at the primary side of 11/400 kV GT (generator
transformer). The objective was to avoid any secondary
collapse due to high voltage during build-up of the is-land.
The generator circuit breaker of unit #5 was closed,
charging the 400 kV dead bus at ISP which registered a
voltage of 160 kV (approximately). 400 kV ISP-Indore-II was
charged from ISP end. This caused charging of the 400 kV
Indore bus-I along with the 50 MVAR L/R at Indore. The
receiving end voltage observed at Indore was 150 kV
(approximately) which was inadequate for charging of the ICT
(400/220 kV ICT-I) at Indore. Hence the generator terminal
voltage (of ISP unit #5) was gradually increased so as to
achieve the minimum voltage required (200 kV
approximately) on 400 kV bus-I at Indore to charge 400/220
kV ICT-I. The ICT was charged followed by the 220 kV bus-I
at Indore. There after 220 kV Indore-Jetpura-II was charged
followed by charging of 220 kV Jetpura main bus-I, 160
MVA, 220/132 kV Jetpura ICT-I, 132 kV bus, 63 MVA,
132/33 kV transformer and 33 kV Jetpura bus in the same
order.
Before addition of load on 33 kV Jetpura bus, the generator
excitation and turbine speed were gradually increased till a
voltage of around 370 kV was achieved at 400 kV Indore bus-
I and the is-land frequency reached around 52 Hz so as to
ensure smooth addition of load to the is-land. Then load was
added gradually in steps by charging the identified 33 kV
feeders one by one at Jetpura with proper communication
between the generator and substation control centers. The first
load added was 0.7 MW (approximately) at 12:15 hrs causing
the frequency to dip to 51.89 Hz. Every time a new block load
(a 33 kV feeder) was added the generator output (MW) was
manually adjusted so as to maintain frequency between 50-51
Hz.
D. Synchronization of the is-landed sub-system with rest of
the grid
After successfully operating the is-land for close to one
hour, preparations were made at Indore S/S to synchronize the
is-land with rest of the grid. The active power output of the
generator (unit #5 at ISP) was adjusted so as to bring down the
frequency of the island closer to that of the main grid. The
generator terminal voltage was gradually increased to increase
the voltage level at 400 kV Indore bus-I (part of the is-land)
till it became close to the voltage on the other 400 kV bus
(part of main grid) at Indore. The frequency, voltage
magnitudes and phase sequences of both the buses were
monitored and the bus coupler was check-synchronized at
13:12:37 hrs when the grid frequency was 49.92 Hz. The is-
land got successfully synchronized with rest of the grid. But
immediately after the check-synchronization, the generator
experienced jerk and tripped on excitation protection. The unit
was normalized subsequently. All the interim arrangements in
protection system, generator governor droop etc. were also tripped on excitation protection. Such surprises in respect of
normalized. the facilities available for system restoration at important
substations enable the operators to identify and address the
E. Observations and analysis of the exercise
deficiencies in equipments. This also emphasizes the need for
The graphical plots in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, based on the regular check on the readiness of the equipments as well as the
archived data at WRLDC indicate the various observations personnel involved in the exercise.
made during the exercise. The sub-system operated The exercise also tested the various capabilities of the
successfully for almost one hour (12:15 hrs to 13:12 hrs). The generator and transmission system. The capabilities of the
frequency of the is-land touched a maximum of 53.39 Hz at generator that got tested include the capability to self start
12:12 hrs and minimum of 49.17 Hz at 12:10 hrs. There was from a DG set, to regulate the active and reactive power output
complete load interruption at Jetpura S/S for close to 2 hours. so as to operate the is-land at reduced standards of frequency
and voltage, to operate in partial loading condition without
54.00 losing stability etc. The transmission capabilities that were put
Frequency(Hz)

Is-landed operation

53.00
of ISP unit #5 At 12:15 the first load (0.7MW
approx.)connected on 33 kV
to test include the ability of switch gear to charge dead bus,
10:12:48 hrs : Jetpura bus

52.00
400 kV ISP B/C
opened creating
Is-land Frequency 13:12:37 hrs:
Subsystem was
healthiness of bus coupler breakers, capability of reactive
the is-land.The is-
land collapsed at
synchronized with
the main grid
resources (line reactor etc.), flexibility available in protection
51.00 10:13:58 hrs Grid Frequency through 400 kV
B/C at Indore. systems in terms of operating at other than normal settings for
50.00 a temporary period, healthiness of synchronizing facilities
49.00
Indore220_Bus-I_Frq(Hz)
ISP_400 BusA_Frq(Hz)
available at important substations etc.
48.00
Total duration of 220 kV bus dead at During the exercise it was observed that the restoration of
Jetpura on account of mock exercise
was from 10:15 to 11:52 [1hr & 27mins]
Time(hh:mm:ss)
power supply at Jetpura post the blackout took almost two
47.00

:0
0 00 00 :0
0
:0
0 0 0 00 00 00 00 0 0
hours. This helped in identifying the constraints that need to be
00 0: 0: 30 00 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0:
9: 9 :3
10
:0
10
:
11
:
11
:3
12
:0
12
:3
13
:0
13
:3
14
:0
removed to expedite the restoration process in real time. One
of the reason for longer restoration time was the apprehension
Fig. 4. Frequency plots during black start exercise at ISP. of tripping and collapse of the is-land on high voltage during
energization for which the 400 kV system was energized at
The generator took 24 minutes to start with local DG set
very lower level (160 kV approximately) and the voltages
after its auxiliary supply from the grid was cut-off. It took 16
were raised close to nominal levels just before connection of
minutes to check-synchronize the 400kV bus coupler at Indore
load at 33 kV Jetpura bus. Since a 50 MVAR, L/R was
S/S and thus integrate the is-land with rest of the grid after
available for the 400kV ISP-Indore line at Indore S/S, later it
instruction for the same was passed from WRLDC.
was felt that the restoration time could be considerably
reduced if the 400 kV system was charged in the range of 360-
10:13:58 hrs : The is-
land collapsed due to
Indore_Bus-I_Voltage(400kV) 370 kV. The SCADA / EMS facilities, the healthiness of
Voltage(kV)

tripping of ISP unit # 5. telemetry and communication systems, authenticity of

410
switching diagrams at the concerned substations, data archival,
310 13:12:37hrs : data retrieval and scenario replaying facilities at control
400 kV Indore
bus-coupler centers also got tested during the exercise.
check-
210
synchronised.

110
VI. CONCLUSION
Time(hh:mm:ss) Blackout in real time power grid is the worst kind of
10
contingency and brings new surprises every time it occurs.
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Since the power systems worldwide are evolving every day

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both in size and complexity, the conventionally adopted

Fig. 5. Plot of voltage of 400 kV bus-I at Indore which was a part of the is-
land during the exercise. restoration procedures need to be upgraded, tested and
validated continuously. As per Charles Concordia, “Another
The frequency and voltage fluctuations for the small sub- aspect of robustness can be illustrated by the fact that a weaker
system were much wider than those of the main grid due to the system that has a well-tested plan for emergency procedures
low inertia of the island. The is-land did not survive after and for restoration may be more reliable than a stronger
separating out from the grid due to lack of primary response system with no such plan” [10]. The black start exercises
from the is-landed unit. These facts do high-light the assume paramount importance for any large interconnected
advantages of a larger inter-connection and at the same time power system since they not only testify the existing
makes the operators appreciate the importance of primary restoration facilities but also prepare the operators to restore
response and AVR control in a generator. Specifically the the power system in minimum possible time by identifying
generator identified as a potential black start source must be systemic deficiencies and suggesting scopes for improvement.
capable of operating in speed control mode during normal
operation. VII. REFERENCES
While synchronizing the sub-system with rest of the grid the [1] CERC, Indian Elctricity Grid Code – 2010.
is-landed unit (ISP unit #5) experienced perceptible jerk and [2] V. K Agrawal, R. K. Porwal, Rajesh Kumar, Vivek Pandey, “Mock
Blackstart Drills – An Excellent Learning Experience for Power System
 Operators”, CBIP 5th International conference on Power System
Protection and Automation, 6-9 Dec 2010.
[3] Knight, U.G. Power Systems in Emergencies - From Contingency
Planning to Crisis Management John Wiley & Sons 2001 ISBN 978-0-
471-49016-6 section 7.5 The 'Black Start' Situation.
[4] Mike Adibi, Igor Griva, Roman Polyak, Sami Ammari, Lamine Mili,
“Remote Black start of Steam Electric Station Using Modified Barrier-
Augmented Lagrangian Method”, 14th PSCC, Sevilla, 24-28 June 2002.
[5] Yue Shumin, Yu Jiancheng, Liang Baoquan, “Research on based
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O&M of Thermal Power Plant and Integrated Operation of Power System.
Mr. Aditya P Das, born in 1982, is currently working as
Senior Engineer at Western Regional Load Dispatch
Centre, POSOCO, India. He did his graduation in
Electrical Engineering from Indira Gandhi Institute of
Technology, Odisha (India) in 2004. His areas of interest
include real time power system operation & reliability
studies, electrical protection systems, power system
restoration and post disturbance analysis.
Mr. A K Gupta, born in 1978, is currently working as
Senior Engineer at Western Regional Load Dispatch
Centre, POSOCO, India. He did his graduation in
Electrical Engineering from Motilal Nehru Regional
Engineering College, Allahabad (India) in 2002. He has
worked earlier in Larsen & Toubro Ltd. His areas of
interest include power system operation, SCADA, EMS
and Data Base Management Systems.

VIII. BIOGRAPHIES

Mr. U K Verma (M’2007) born in 1958 and currently

heading Western Regional Load Dispatch Centre
(WRLDC), Power System Operation Corporation
(POSOCO), India as General Manager, had his
graduation in Electrical Engineering from Birla Institute
of Technology Ranchi in 1980. He is a member of IEEE.
He has worked earlier in Southern Regional Load
Dispatch Centre, POSOCO and prior to that in NHPC
Ltd. (India) and in addition to power system operation, has rich experience in
Operation & Maintenance of Hydro Power Plants.

Mr. S R Narasimhan (M’2010) has a Bachelor’s

degree in Electrical Engineering from Delhi University,
India and a Master’s in Business Administration. He
has over twenty two years experience spread across the
Northern and Western Regional Load Dispatch Centres
in India and is working presently as Deputy General
Manager at National Load Dispatch Centre. He is a
member of IEEE, PES and CIGRE. His area of
expertise includes operational planning, reliability, metering and settlement
system administration and regulatory affairs. He has authored several papers
and also contributed to several committees at the Regional Power Committee
level set up after grid disturbances.

Mr. A Gartia (M’2009) born in 1961 has done post

graduation in Electrical Power System from Indian
Institute of Technology, Kharagpur in 1986. He is
presently working as Deputy General Manager at
Western Regional Load Dispatch centre Mumbai. He
has worked for the unified load dispatch schemes for
southern and western regional grids in India. He is a
Member of IEEE and PES and CIGRE. His fields of
interest are SCADA and power system stability.

Mr. P A R Bende born in 1957 and presently working

as Additional Chief Engineer at State Load Dispatch
Centre, Madhya Pradesh (MP) (India), did his
graduation in Electronics & Telecommunication
Engineering from Jabalpur University in 1977. He has
worked in MP Power Generating Co. Ltd. and MP
Power Transmission Co. Ltd. and has rich experience in

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