Synchronous Generator Theory 2011 Update

Synchronous generator
1 © Wärtsilä Synchronous Generator training 04.01.2012 DAABnn Made by: FEN005

Synchronous generator theory
Synchronous Generator
• Theory and operation principle of Synchronous Machine
• Generator operation with different type of loading:
– No-load
– Reactive
– Active
• PQ - Diagram
• Control Methods
• Design and Dimensioning criteria's

Synchronous Generator - Operation Principle

Based on basic rules of electromagnetism

• If a conductor loop is moving in a magnetic field
so that the magnetic flow (flux) in the conductor
loop is changing, then it will induce a voltage
during the movement. This is called induction.
• The level of induced voltage is varying by:
Density of magnetic flux
Lenght of conductor
Velocity of conductor
Amount of conductors
U=B·L·V·Z
U = Induced Voltage
B = Magnetic Flux Density
L = Lenght of Conductor
V = Velocity of Conductor
Z = Amount of Conductors

Based on basic rules of electromagnetism:

• A DC current flowing in the conductor will
create the magnetic field to the
surrounding medium. Conductor
• A rotating coil carrying DC current will
generate a magnetic field varying at the
frequency of rotation ( = 50/60Hz). Rotor
• The magnetic field will generate
magnetic flux in the surrounding material.
Brushes
DC-Current
Ue

Based on basic rules of electromagnetism:

• Electric voltage will be induced between
the ends of a phase element staying in
varying magnetic flux.
• AC current will generate a magnetic field
varying at the same frequency as the
current in the conductor.
• Mechanical force will affect to the
conductor carrying current in the
magnetic field.

Relation between Stator and Rotor
• The operation of the synchronous

machine is based on the interaction of the
two main windings
• Stator winding Rotor (Field) winding
• Rotation is based on the pulling force

between the two magnetic fields - rotor Section of a machine with salient poles.
(field) is rotating with the same angular speed
as the stator field i.e. in synchronism
• => Synchronous Machine
Section of a machine with full poles (Turbo-Generator)

Rotating 3-Phase System
• In order to be able to create the rotating field in the

stator, a 3 phase winding system is used.
• Phase windings are spatially adjusted in 120
degrees shift along the stator.
• The winding-ends of U2, V2 and W2 are linked to
the star point (Neutral point).
• Supplying the three phase winding with sinusoidal
three phase supply with 120 degrees phase shift
between the phases => rotating field

Relation between Poles and Speed

• The number of pole pairs p of the field
excitation winding is determining the rated
speed of the synchronous generator and is
defined as in following formula
number speed / rpm speed / rpm

of poles for 50Hz System for 60Hz System
4 1500 1800
6 1000 1200
8 750 900
10 600 720
12 500 600
14 428 514
16 375 450

Synchronous generator at no load / reactive load
• If the generator is feeding to a network with the fixed voltage US, it will result in different
operating conditions as shown in the simplified vector diagrams in Figure a,b,c. (Engine is
running idle, no active power in form of torque is provided)

Synchronous generator at no load
• In the synchronizing mode (Fig. a) the generator

with the voltage UP (voltage in rotor poles) will be
synchronised at the network with the voltage US
(stator voltage) and is idling (IN = 0A).

Synchronous generator at inductive reactive load
• By increasing the excitation current Ie (over-

excitation), and thus the no-load voltage UP as
shown in Figure b, the partial voltage of Ud = IJ* Xd
will cause the leading reactive current I.
The over-excited generator absorbs

capacitive reactive power respectively
delivers inductive reactive power to the
grid.
• This means, the reactive power Q is influenced by

the generator excitation.

Synchronous generator at capacitive reactive load
• By decreasing the excitation current Ie (under-

excitation) and thus the no-load voltage UP as shown
in Figure c, the partial voltage of
• Ud = IJ* Xd will cause the lagging reactive current I.
The under-excited generator absorbs

inductive reactive power or respectively
delivers capacitive reactive power to the
grid.
• This means, the reactive power Q is influenced by

the generator excitation.

Synchronous generator at active load

• The generator is running with rated speed in
idling mode
• Grid connection takes place if all synchronisation

conditions are met
• The Generator will be supplied with mechanical

(active) power from the prime mover
• The generator would accelerated, but a counter-

torque formed by the load of the electric
consumer in the grid is working against the
generator and counteracts the torque supplied
by the prime mover


• There runs a three-phase AC current (stator
current IS )
• the stator current IS causes a differential voltage

Ud at the synchronous reactance Xd (inductive
reactance of the stator winding; ohmic resistance
neglected)
• Because of the voltage drop at the synchronous

reactance Xd, a load angle q which is in relation
to the stator current, will be build up
• As a consequence of this, the rotor voltage UP will

move away from the fixed grid voltage US with the
same angle as the load angel q
• at constant torque (magnetic fields in stator and

rotor) the synchronous speed will stay unchanged

• The stator voltage US is load dependent. At

constant excitation current IE and constant speed, it
results in different characteristic curves for
capacitive, inductive and resistive loads.

Synchronous generator voltage control

• Capacitive load results in a voltage rise of U
• Therefore, capacitive load requires a strong decrease of excitation current IE


• Resistive load results in a light voltage drop of U
• Therefore, resistive load requires a slight increase of excitation current IE


• Inductive load results in a heavy voltage drop of U
• Therefore, inductive load requires a strong increase of excitation current IE

• The response curve of the generator shows how the

excitation current has to be controlled in
correspondence with the load.
• To keep the stator voltage constant, the excitation

current has to be controlled corresponding to the
load.

Synchronous generator at different load points

• The picture shows 5 curves P0 to P4
• In the bottom of the curve, only active

power is generated
• At right side, additional inductive

reactive power is generated
• At left side, additional capacitve

reactive power is generated
• P0 shows how the synchronous

generator is providing only reactive
power.

Synchronous generator at different load points

• By running the synchronous
generator with a constant stator(grid)
voltage, the V-curves can be
measured
• The synchronous generator can shift

as much reactive current from
over/under-excitation as there is
space until the limit of nominal
current IS has been reached

PQ-Diagram like e.g. shown in ABB manual
1. Nominal stator current

2. Nominal working point
3. Active power limit
4. Rated rotor current
5. Minimum excitation
6. Stability limit
7. Theoretical stability limit

PQ-Diagram with Power Shard

PQ-Diagram with Load Angel and Power Factor Angel

PQ-Diagram with Limitation of Operation

Control methods for diesel power plants

• Island System
On ships and power plants which are isolated from
other systems; mine sites and small islands.
System voltage is determined by generators and their
voltage control system. Generator reactive load varies
depending on system loading.
Control method is voltage control with or without droop
and voltage droop compensationcontrol.
• Utility System
On base load stations, power plants which are connected to
a big utility network where several bigger power plants are
determining the system voltage.
Generators usually cannot affect the voltage.
Control method is power factor control or reactive power
control.

Voltage Droop Control Mode

• In voltage droop control the intention is to control the system voltage by means of
controlling the generator field excitation and the droop is derived from the reactive load.
Definitions
U[kV] U/kV
= voltage reference
11.50
11.25
5% DR
OOP
Un 11.00 Vqcc
Voltage deviation
10.75
10.50
Limited time
Generator reactive load operation
2
I t<37.5
Underexcitation
limiter
100 80 60 40 20 20 40 60 80 100
S[%] Generator 1 Generator 2 S[%]

Voltage droop compensation control (VDC)

• In order to share equally the amount of reactive power between parallel connected
generators in island operation AVR has special feature called voltage droop
compensation control. Units are connected together with RS-485 bus. In VDC mode all
AVR’s operate in voltage droop (with droop setting 0%). Principle is that each AVR (with
its own ID number) writes the value of its own amount of reactive power to the RS-485
bus. Each unit reads these values and calculates a common average MVar setpoint, and
compensates the effect of voltage droop. Therefore, voltage level on the busbar is always
kept at 100% (not adjustable).
vdc principle
U[kV] n/rpm
= voltage reference
11.50
11.25 5% D
ROOP
Un 11.00
10.75
10.50
Reactive load
sharing error
-100 -80 -60 -40 -20 20 40 60 80 100

Sact-Save[%] Sact-Save[%]

Power Factor Control Mode PF

• Power factor control is a method of controlling the generator excitation and reactive load
when the generator is running in parallel with the grid
grid. When in PF control, the AVR is
trying to match the reactive load proportionally to the active load so that the Q/P ratio is
maintained.
Ro
P/Sn
to
rc
ur
re
n
t li
it 1.0
mi
lim
nt
t
e Engine
urr
to rc P=100% Overload
Sta
ili ty
0.8
tab
es
rqu
To
Under 0.6
excitaion
0.4
0.2
Minimum Short ciruict
excitation Q<limit If-limit
-1.0
-0.8
-0.6
-0.4
-0.2
0.0
0.2
0.4
0.6
Q/Sn
Reverse power

Reactive power control mode
• Reactive power control keeps the reactive power constant regardless of the output P
• Power factor control and reactive power control modes are possible only when a generator is
connected to a larger power system, where other synchronous machines (big majority of output)
determine voltage and can absorb reactive power.
• Note! before synchronizing to the network, the generator must always operate in voltage control
mode
p.f. = 1
P / kW
VAr - setting
Generator
Generator
underexcited
overexcited
p.f. = 0 (leading) p.f. = 0 (lagging)
Q / kVAr (Cap.) Q / kVAr (Ind.)

Voltage control mode (cross-current compensation)
• In island system voltage droop can be compensated by using cross-current compensation => line
voltage will not change as a function of reactive load
• All generators shall be provided by identical AVR’s and it is allowed to have only one ccc-loop in
one island network
G1 & G2 AVR1 AVR2

reactive power
balanced 2A 2A
G1 & G2 0A 0A
Reactive power
imbalance
G1 G2
3A 2A 2A 1A

Design and Dimensioning

• Power: The Generator has to be dimensioned so, that it is able to produce the required
apparent (SN) power without warming too much.


• Frequency & Speed: With equal power, the slower the speed, the bigger generator is
needed. In other words, the needed Torque defines the size. Speed affects also to the
mechanical design of the rotor.


• Voltage level: Defines the insulation class of the winding as well as air insulation distances.
The more insulation in slots -> less space for copper.
– Insulation classes: 0..1kV, 1.1..3.4kV, 3.5..4.2kV, 4.3..7.2kV, 7.3..11.5kV, 11.6..13.8kV,
13.9..15kV.


• Temperature rise: While running in the rated
operation point, the temperatures in the
generator has to be according to the
temperature class.

• Cooling method: Direct air cooling or Water cooling. With water cooling, the
temperature of cooling air is typically higher with equal ambient temperature.


• Transient Reactance Xd’
• Balancing inductive impedances are influencing the voltage stabilization after a load change.
• Especially in Marine applications with continuous changing load.
• Affects to the Voltage variations in the generator terminals & Short circuit current. The lower
the transient reactance, the lower are the voltage variations.

• Other (in case other than IEC34 values are required):

– Over current requirements
– Unbalanced loading
– Installation altitude
– etc.

Summary
• The operation based on the interaction between two

windings: Stator (3-phase) and Rotor (DC)
• Rotational speed & frequency of the network defines the
number of poles
• In reactive load (inductive or capacitive), no active power
is needed
• Operation area defined with PQ-diagram
• Different control methods: Island & Utility
• Design factors: Power, Voltage, Speed & Frequency,
Temp. rise class, Cooling, Voltage variation, ...

Thank You
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Synchronous generator

1 © Wärtsilä Synchronous Generator training 04.01.2012 DAABnn Made by: FEN005

2 © Wärtsilä Synchronous Generator training 04.01.2012 DAABnn Made by: FEN005

Synchronous Generator - Operation Principle

3 © Wärtsilä Synchronous Generator training 04.01.2012 DAABnn Made by: FEN005

Based on basic rules of electromagnetism

4 © Wärtsilä Synchronous Generator training 04.01.2012 DAABnn Made by: FEN005

Based on basic rules of electromagnetism:

5 © Wärtsilä Synchronous Generator training 04.01.2012 DAABnn Made by: FEN005

Based on basic rules of electromagnetism:

6 © Wärtsilä Synchronous Generator training 04.01.2012 DAABnn Made by: FEN005

Relation between Stator and Rotor

• The operation of the synchronous

• Stator winding Rotor (Field) winding

• Rotation is based on the pulling force

• => Synchronous Machine

Section of a machine with full poles (Turbo-Generator)

7 © Wärtsilä Synchronous Generator training 04.01.2012 DAABnn Made by: FEN005

Rotating 3-Phase System

• In order to be able to create the rotating field in the

8 © Wärtsilä Synchronous Generator training 04.01.2012 DAABnn Made by: FEN005

Relation between Poles and Speed

number speed / rpm speed / rpm

9 © Wärtsilä Synchronous Generator training 04.01.2012 DAABnn Made by: FEN005

Synchronous generator at no load / reactive load

10 © Wärtsilä Synchronous Generator training 04.01.2012 DAABnn Made by: FEN005

Synchronous generator at no load

• In the synchronizing mode (Fig. a) the generator

11 © Wärtsilä Synchronous Generator training 04.01.2012 DAABnn Made by: FEN005

Synchronous generator at inductive reactive load

• By increasing the excitation current Ie (over-

The over-excited generator absorbs

• This means, the reactive power Q is influenced by

12 © Wärtsilä Synchronous Generator training 04.01.2012 DAABnn Made by: FEN005

Synchronous generator at capacitive reactive load

• By decreasing the excitation current Ie (under-

The under-excited generator absorbs

• This means, the reactive power Q is influenced by

13 © Wärtsilä Synchronous Generator training 04.01.2012 DAABnn Made by: FEN005

Synchronous generator at active load

• Grid connection takes place if all synchronisation

• The Generator will be supplied with mechanical

• The generator would accelerated, but a counter-

14 © Wärtsilä Synchronous Generator training 04.01.2012 DAABnn Made by: FEN005

Synchronous generator at active load

• the stator current IS causes a differential voltage

• Because of the voltage drop at the synchronous

• As a consequence of this, the rotor voltage UP will

• at constant torque (magnetic fields in stator and

15 © Wärtsilä Synchronous Generator training 04.01.2012 DAABnn Made by: FEN005

Synchronous generator at active load

• The stator voltage US is load dependent. At

16 © Wärtsilä Synchronous Generator training 04.01.2012 DAABnn Made by: FEN005

Synchronous generator voltage control

17 © Wärtsilä Synchronous Generator training 04.01.2012 DAABnn Made by: FEN005

Synchronous generator voltage control

18 © Wärtsilä Synchronous Generator training 04.01.2012 DAABnn Made by: FEN005

Synchronous generator voltage control

19 © Wärtsilä Synchronous Generator training 04.01.2012 DAABnn Made by: FEN005

Synchronous generator voltage control

• The response curve of the generator shows how the

• To keep the stator voltage constant, the excitation

20 © Wärtsilä Synchronous Generator training 04.01.2012 DAABnn Made by: FEN005