Generator Voltage Regulators

Arthur Gardiner, System Operations Training Manager CPS Energy

Introduction
[Generator Voltage Regulators] is intended to explain the basic principles of excitation systems in general . We will look at the basic components of a voltage regulator. We will also look at generator capability curves and the URAL limits that are set in the voltage regulator.

Objectives
At the completion of this course of instruction you will:
Describe how a basic generator works Describe the basic operating principles of excitation systems in general. Describe how a voltage regulator works. Describe how to read a generator capability curve.

Basics of Magnets
Permanent Magnet is an object made from a material that is
magnetized and creates its own persistent magnetic field. Materials that can be magnetized, which are also the ones that are strongly attracted to a magnet, are called ferromagnetic (or ferrimagnetic). These include iron, nickel, cobalt, some rare earth metals and some of their alloys (e.g., Alinco), and some naturally occurring minerals such as lodestone. Although ferromagnetic materials are the only ones attracted to a magnet strongly enough to be commonly considered magnetic, all other substances respond weakly to a magnetic field, by one of several other types of magnetism. Some ferromagnetic materials can be magnetized by a magnetic field but do not tend to remain magnetized when the field is removed; these are termed soft. Permanent magnets are made from magnetically hard ferromagnetic materials that stay magnetized.
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Basics of Magnets

An electro magnet is made from a coil of wire which acts as a magnet when an electric current passes through it, but stops being a magnet when the current stops. Often an electromagnet is wrapped around a core of ferromagnetic material like steel, which enhances the magnetic field produced by the coil.
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Basic Generator
Electromagnetic induction is the fundamental principle used to generate electricity. There are three elements required for generating electricity using the principle of electromagnetic induction: A conductor to carry a current A magnetic field Relative movement between the conductor and the magnetic field
Direction of Rotation

Load

DrP-891

Basic Generator
Theory of Operation A Simple AC Generator consist of (a) a strong magnetic field (usually produced by a electromagnet), (b) conductors that rotate through that magnetic field, and (c) a means by which a continuous connection is provided to the conductors as they are rotating (Figure 3). The strong magnetic field is produced by permanent magnet or a current flow through the field coil of the rotor. The field coil in the rotor receives excitation through the use of slip rings and brushes. Two brushes are spring-held in contact with the slip rings to provide the continuous connection between the field coil and the external excitation circuit. The armature is contained within the windings of the stator and is connected to the output. Each time the rotor makes one complete revolution, one complete cycle of AC is developed. A generator has many turns of wire wound into the slots of the rotor. The magnitude of AC voltage generated by an AC generator is dependent on the field strength and speed of the rotor. Most generators are operated at a constant speed; therefore, the generated voltage depends on field excitation, or strength.

Basic Generator

Basic Generator

Excitation Systems
The Exciter is the Back bone of the generator control system. It is the power source that supplies DC current to the voltage regulator which adjust the magnetizing current to the field windings of a synchronous generator thereby inducing AC voltage and current in the generator. There are many different types of exciters, depending on the design and type of generator.
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Excitation Systems

Rotating Brushless Exciter

Rotating Brushless Exciter with Permanent Magnet Pilot Exciter

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Excitation Systems
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Rotating DC Pilot Exciter with slip rings

Rotating Brushless exciter

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Alternator-rectifier type excitation system using a shaft driven Permanent Magnet Generator (PMG).

This type of voltage regulator utilizes a permanent magnet generator, usually called a PMG. The PMG is attached to the very end of the turbine shaft and rotates at shaft speed. When the turbine is at operating speed the PMG produces sufficient current for the exciter field - close the field breaker and the field is powered. Besides supplying power to the field the field breaker performs the same function as it did in the previous example to remove power to the generator field on a generator trip signal.
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Alternator-rectifier type excitation system using a shaft driven Permanent Magnet Generator (PMG).

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Static Excitation System

The static exciter voltage regulator is generally found on newer units or upgraded units. The big advantage of this type of system is fewer moving parts. The rotating exciter and its brushes are gone. So is the exciter field Thyrister regulator. Following initial field flashing from a plant power source, the generator output supplies power for its field. The power converter performs the task of converting generator output AC to DC for the field. But unlike the rotating exciter types, input from the voltage regulator controls its DC output. 15

Excitation Systems

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Excitation Systems The amount of excitation required to maintain the generator output voltage constant is dependant on the load on the generator. As the load on the generator increases, the rotor excitation current must increase to maintain a constant voltage on the generator output.

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High voltage due to wind

Automatic Voltage Regulator

6.5.7 Voltage Support Service All Generation Resources (including self-serve generating units) that have a gross generating unit rating greater than twenty (20) MVA or those units connected at the same Point of Interconnection (POI) that have gross generating unit ratings aggregating to greater than twenty (20) MVA, that supply power to the ERCOT Transmission Grid, shall provide Voltage Support Service (VSS).

Automatic Voltage Regulator

6.5.7.1 Installed Reactive Power Capability Requirement for Generation Resources Required to Provide VSS (1) Generation Resources required to provide VSS must be capable of producing a defined quantity of Reactive Power to maintain a Voltage Profile established by ERCOT. Generation Resources shall comply with the following Reactive Power requirements: an over-excited (lagging) power factor capability of ninety-five hundredths (0.95) or less and an underexcited (leading) power factor capability of ninety-five hundredths (0.95) or less, both determined at the generating unit's maximum net power to be supplied to the ERCOT Transmission Grid and at the transmission system Voltage Profile established by ERCOT, and both measured at the POI. The Reactive Power requirements shall be available at all MW output levels and may be met through a combination of the Generation Resources Unit Reactive Limit (URL), which is the generating units dynamic leading and lagging operating capability, and/or dynamic VAR capable devices

Automatic Voltage Regulator

6.5.7.2 QSE Responsibilities Each QSEs Generation Resource providing VSS shall operate with the units Automatic Voltage Regulator (AVR) set to regulate generator terminal voltage in the voltage control mode unless specifically directed to operate in manual mode by ERCOT, or when the unit is going On- or Off- line. If the QSE changes the mode, other than under ERCOT direction, then the QSE shall promptly inform ERCOT. Any QSE-controlled power system stabilizers will be kept in service unless specifically permitted to operate otherwise by ERCOT. QSEs control centers will monitor the status of their regulators and stabilizers, and shall report abnormal status changes to ERCOT.

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Automatic Voltage Regulator

No matter what kind of exciter or Automatic voltage regulator you have they all control the strength of the electromagnetic field in the generator All Automatic voltage regulators compare the generator bus voltage from A Potential Transformer (Voltage Transformer) to a set point in the Automatic voltage regulator . The difference between the two is used to control the amount of excitation current that is being supplied to excite the field of the generator.

Automatic Voltage Regulator

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Automatic Voltage Regulator

A Automatic voltage regulator responds the same way the governor droop on a turbine responds to changes in frequency. The governor on a turbine will arrest the decline in frequency but it will not return it to the original frequency. Droop settings on governors allow many generators with governor control to operate in parallel in the power system and not compete with one another for load changes. A Automatic voltage regulator will stop the voltage from rising or falling but will not return it to its original value
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Automatic Voltage Regulator

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Automatic Voltage Regulator

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Automatic Voltage Regulators in Parallel

When a generator is connected to bus running in parallel with many other generators the voltage will be fixed by all the generators that are on line. In a interconnected system to change the system frequency you would need to increase or decrease all the generators tied to the grid and not just one. On a bus with many generators in parallel the voltage regulator no longer controls the voltage the system does. The voltage regulator controls the power factor by increasing or decreasing the excitation and going in the lead or lag. In a very strong compact transmission system or heavily loaded system the voltage regulators will have less effect on the voltage output and more effect on the var output
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Automatic Voltage Regulators

Automatic Voltage Regulators in Parallel

GEN #1 GEN #2 GEN #3 GEN #4

100 mile transmission line

GEN #5

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Automatic Voltage Regulators

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Automatic Voltage Regulators

Automatic Voltage Regulators

If a generator is at a unity power factor and you increase the excitation reactive current (vars) are going to flow from the generator to the reactive load resulting in a lagging power factor on the generator. Generator is acting as a capacitor to the system, supplying vars. If a generator is at a unity power factor and you decrease the excitation reactive current (vars) are going to flow from the reactive load to the generator resulting in a leading power factor on the generator. Generator is acting as a inductor to the system, consuming vars.
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Automatic Voltage Regulator in a Island Condition In a island condition the voltage regulator will control the generator voltage, but as more generators are connected to the island the more the system controls the voltage In a island condition If you have two plants in isochronous mode( constant frequency)

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Automatic Voltage Regulator

The voltage regulator ensures safe and reliable operation of the unit generator and associated equipment by providing: Volts-per-hertz protection -- Prevents excessive heating of the generator and main transformer. Over-voltage protection -- Eliminates sustained high generator output voltages caused by a load rejection. Auto-protective circuits and component redundancy -- Ensures continued operation and "fail-safe" design. Minimum excitation limiters -- Protects against slipping poles and loss of synchronization. Maximum excitation limiters -- Protects against excessive current and voltage.

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Automatic Voltage Regulator When the voltage regulator is in Manual the protective functions are disabled and it is up to the operator to protect the generator from damage.

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Automatic Voltage Regulator

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Automatic Voltage Regulator

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Generator Capability Curves

Capability curves are determined by shop test at the factory and are not determined by commercial operation. Capability curves describe the safe operating limits of the generator. However, a power plants output limits are often quite different than the generators. The plant capability may be restricted to values below the generators capability curve for many reasons including boiler limits and plant voltage restrictions. Generators are sized to carry more megawatts than the turbine has energy to produce. That way the unit can go in the lead or lag to a predetermined power factor

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Generator Capability Curves

Some generator capability curves have two or more curves -- each for a different hydrogen pressure condition. Higher hydrogen pressures mean improved stator heat removal, which in turn means that the generator can handle higher loads. The example on this slide shows four hydrogen pressure ranging from 5 to 45 psi.

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Generator Capability Curves

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Manufacturers Reactive Capability Curve

MANUFACTURERS GENERATOR REACTIVE CAPABILITY CURVE

MANUFACTURER DEFINED OUTPUT RANGE FOR RATED HYDROGEN PRESSURE AND 5% GENERATOR VOLTAGE

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Generator Capability Curves

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Unit Gross Reactive Capability Curve Switchyard Voltage at 144KV (Normal Voltage)

LAGGING REACTIVE LIMITED BY AUXILIARY VOLTAGE

LAGGING REACTIVE LIMITED BY GENERATOR CAPABILITY

ACTUAL OUTPUT RANGE OF UNIT

LEADING REACTIVE LIMITED BY URAL LEADING REACTIVE LIMITED BY GENERATOR VOLTAGE 43

Unit Gross Reactive Capability Curve Switchyard Voltage at 145KV

AS SWITCHYARD VOLTAGE INCREASES, VOLTAGE DEPENDENT LINES MOVE DOWN ON CURVE

ACTUAL OUTPUT RANGE OF UNIT

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Unit Gross Reactive Capability Curve Switchyard Voltage at 138KV

ACTUAL OUTPUT RANGE OF UNIT

AS SWITCHYARD VOLTAGE DECREASES, VOLTAGE DEPENDENT LINES MOVE UP ON CURVE

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ERCOT Reactive Guidelines Unit Gross Reactive Capability

UNIT MUST PROVIDE REACTIVE UP TO THEIR CAPABILITY AT ALL ACTIVE POWER LEVELS (ORANGE SHADED AREA) GROSS POWER FACTOR OF 0.83 RESULTS IN NET POWER FACTOR OF 0.86 GROSS POWER FACTOR OF 0.92 RESULTS IN NET POWER FACTOR OF 0.90

MAX AVAILABLE LAGGING REACTIVE AT MAX UNIT OUTPUT IS 121MVAR REACTIVE CAPABILITY MUST BE EQUAL TO OR GREATER THAN RED SHADED AREA MAX AVAILABLE LEADING REACTIVE AT MAX UNIT OUTPUT IS 79MVAR

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Model Input for Lag and Lead Tests Unit Gross Reactive Capability
MODEL INPUT OF 290MVAR AT ALL GENERATOR OUTPUTS AND SWITCHYARD VOLTAGES

LAG TEST AT MAX OUTPUT MODEL INPUT OF 105MVAR AT ALL GENERATOR OUTPUTS AND SWITCHYARD VOLTAGES LEAD TEST AT MAX OUTPUT

LEAD TEST AT MIN OUTPUT

MODEL INPUT OF 205MVAR AT ALL GENERATOR OUTPUTS AND SWITCHYARD VOLTAGES 47

Model Input for Lag and Lead Tests Unit Gross Reactive Capability
MODEL INPUT OF 265MVAR AT ALL GENERATOR OUTPUTS AND SWITCHYARD VOLTAGES

LAG TEST AT MAX OUTPUT

MODEL INPUT OF 100MVAR AT ALL GENERATOR OUTPUTS AND SWITCHYARD VOLTAGES LEAD TEST AT MAX OUTPUT

LEAD TEST AT MIN OUTPUT

MODEL INPUT OF 138MVAR AT ALL GENERATOR OUTPUTS AND SWITCHYARD VOLTAGES

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Model Input for Lag and Lead Tests Unit Gross Reactive Capability

LAG TEST AT MAX OUTPUT MODEL INPUT OF 16MVAR AT ALL GENERATOR OUTPUTS AND SWITCHYARD VOLTAGES LEAD TEST AT MAX OUTPUT LEAD TEST AT MIN OUTPUT MODEL INPUT OF 0MVAR AT ALL GENERATOR OUTPUTS AND SWITCHYARD VOLTAGES

MODEL INPUT OF 28MVAR AT ALL GENERATOR OUTPUTS AND SWITCHYARD VOLTAGES 49

Generator Capability Curves

As a generator goes into the lead the magnetic field between the rotor and stator become weak If the rotor angle becomes too large, the magnetic forces will no longer be able to "restrain" the rotor field from pulling away from the stator - the result will be the rotor loosing synchronization with the power system. This is why the generator capability curve minimum excitation limit increases with load -- to maintain the magnetic bond between the rotor and stator fields to prevent a loss of synchronization.

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Summary

No matter what kind of excitation system you have all voltage regulators control the strength of the magnetic field in the generator. Voltage regulators should always be operated in automatic. When you operate in manual there are no built in safetys. The limitations of every generating plant is different, you need to study the plant as well as the generator to know the capability of the generator.
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Questions?

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Exam

Basic Generator 1. What elements are required for a generator to work?

A. conductor to carry a current B. magnetic field C. Relative movement between the conductor and the magnetic field D. all the above

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Excitation Systems
2. The Exciter is the Back bone of the generator control system. It is the power source that supplies ____ current to the voltage regulator which adjust the magnetizing current to the field windings of a synchronous generator thereby inducing _____ voltage and current in the generator. A. AC/DC B. DC/AC
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Automatic Voltage Regulator

3. The voltage regulator and excitation system gives the operator control over?

A. Generator output voltages B. Generator reactive loading C. Both

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Generator capability curve 4. The MEL stands for minimum excitation limit?

A. True B. False

End of Exam

Anonymous Questions for the Presenter

1. My knowledge of the topic was increased by attending this presentation A. Strongly Agree B. Agree C. Neutral D. Disagree E. Strongly Disagree

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5. Overall this presentation was A. Excellent B. Above Average C. Average D. Below Average E. Poor

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Thank you!
Please take a 10 Minute Break