FREE GOVERNOR MODE OF OPERATION

As a result of major electricity reforms, various state regulatory

commissions and a central governing agency CERC, were formed. Central
Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) is a regulatory body for
introducing grid discipline and rationalization of the tariff in the
country. CERC has proposed a Grid Code (IEGC) to maintain the Grid
Frequency and thus prevent the frequent grid failures prevalent due to
unnecessary pumping of power into the grid when demand is low and
overdrawing by substations when supply is less.
For various reasons like operational stability, constraints in the system
etc., the power plant operators operate the plants under following
modes, leading to fluctuations in the grid frequency.
1. Valve wide open operation
2. load limit controller
3. Frequency influence off mode
4. Change of droop setting
5. Dead band
6. Time delay in logic control.
CERC has proposed Availability Based Tariff (ABT) to maintain the grid
frequency within a range and thus improve the quantity and quality of
power supply. Later CERC has given IEGC, which stresses upon Free
Governor Mode of Operation (FGMO) to further limit the range of grid

frequency. Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) is trying to

put all the Power Stations on FGMO.
Availability Based Tariff (ABT)

Availability Based Tariff has been introduced to give incentives to the

generation company to generate and pump in more power to the grid
when the grid frequency is below 50 Hz and prevent them to generate
more by imposing penalties in case frequency is above 50 Hz.
Free Governor Mode of Operation (FGMO)
Under FGMO, machines gets loaded / unloaded directly under the
influence of grid frequency i.e. machine unloads when the grid
frequency is more than 50 Hz and loads when grid frequency is
below 50 Hz. The amount of loading / unloading with change of grid
frequency is proportional to droop of the governor.
Successful implementation of ABT and IEGC will bring grid
discipline and reduction in fluctuation of grid frequency.
CERC guidelines have helped PGCIL to bring the desired grid
discipline.
Advantages of FGMO
Due to operation of the machine on FGMO, off-frequency
operation shall cease to occur. Thereby enhancing the reliability
and availability of machines.
Reduction in fluctuation range of frequency will reduce the need to
oversize the equipment for under frequency operation. Presently in

some cases the equipments are sized for operation at 47.5 Hz and
now this can be limited to 49 Hz.
Longevity and better performance of electrical equipments.
Reduction in outage of equipment leads to reduction in maintenance
cost an increase of productivity.
Reduction in auxiliary power consumption.
At lower frequency, reduction in performance of pumps, fans
etc.,. At higher frequencies increase of stress and wear
experienced.
Less chance of Turbine blade failures.
Avoids grid failures. Failure of Bearings due to oil starvation
during grid failure can be avoided.
Higher operational availability.

INDIAN ELECTRICITY GRID CODE (IEGC)

The following clauses of IEGC makes the operating stations to
maintain the units under FGMO.
Section 6.2 (e)
All generating units, which are synchronised with the grid, irrespective
of their ownership, type and size, shall have their governors in normal
operation at all times. If any generating unit of over fifty (50) mw size
(10 mw for Northeastern region) is required to be operated without its
governor in normal operation, the RLDC shall be immediately advised

about the reason and duration of such operation. All governor shall have
a droop of between 3% and 6%
Section 6.2 (f)
Facilities available within load limiters, automatic turbine run up system,
turbine supervisory control, coordinated control system etc. Shall not
be used to suppress the normal governor action in any manner. No dead
band and / or time delays shall be deliberately introduced
Section 6.2 (g)
All generating units, operating at / up to 100% of their maximum
continuous rating (MCR) shall normally be capable of (and shall not in
any way be prevented from) instantaneously picking up five percent (%)
extra load for at least five (5) minutes or within technical limits
prescribed by the manufacturer when frequency falls due to system
contingency
Section 6.2 (h)
The recommended rate for changing the governor setting, i.e.
Supplementary control for increasing or decreasing the output
(generation level) for all generating units, irrespective of their type and
size, would be one (1.0) percent per minute or as per manufacturers
limits. However, if frequency fall below 49.5 hz, all partly loaded
generating units shall pickup additional load at faster rate, according to
their capability
Governor droop:

The droop characteristics of a governor helps in stable operation

of the machine. The speed differential between full load and no load
operation related to rated speed for a governor represented in
percentage is called droop.

Droop = (3150-3000) /3000 *100 = 5%

The droop function of the governor helps in uniform sharing of loads

during parallel operation. The setting of percentage of droop
determines the change in load of machine during change in load on grid.
Many power generating stations represented their operational problems
for implementation of FGMO.
Large no. Of load cycling

 Forced unsafe operation: inability to maintain parametric variations

of boiler, tg etc. Within safe limits
Off-design operation leading to
Life cycle impacts and prospective failures
Logistic constraints of multiple manual secondary intervention

Affecting cycle heat rate

Non suitability of certain old machines
Slow response of hydraulic governor.
Need for upgradation of controls.

A steering committee was formed by cea for examining the issue of

free governor mode of operation in thermal units headed by member
(technical), CEA.
Modification in control logics of Electro Hydraulic Turbine Controller
(EHTC) have been made by EDN,BHEL, Banglore to fulfill following
requirements of FGMO as recommended by the steering committee.
1. Reference

frequency is floating depending upon the previous

operating frequency between 49.0 Hz to 50.50Hz.

2. Load changes are made whenever the frequency changes from

operating frequency. This change is limited to + 5%. The load

change so made is sustained for approximately 5 minutes (dynamic
time delay). If the frequency varies during this period, dynamic
time delay becomes zero and count starts again.

3. After this period the load value comes back to the original value in
a ramped fashion.

4. For frequencies more than 50.5 Hz and less than 49.0 Hz load

change is as per droop characteristics and limited to +10%.

5. To take care of the load change, fuel firing is to be increased in

the boiler system by giving a feed forward signal to combustion
control system through Boiler Master control or Coordinated
Master Control.
The enclosed block diagram details the functional diagram of the
frequency influence circuit to meet FGMO guidelines
1. Floating frequency set point: The speed actual signal is used to
generate the floating signal. The time delayed set point generated
by the actual value of speed. In the event of any change in
frequency, the set point changes to a value equal to the new
frequency (speed) value. This change happens in a slow ramp and
the time taken is set to about 2 mins.
2. The proportional controller compares the set value and actual value

and generates a frequency influence signal with a proportional

gain corresponding to droop setting. This proportional component is
given in full magnitude at the beginning (limited to + 5%) and
starts coming down as the deviation reduces on account of
frequency set point slowly approaching the new actual value.

3. After a set time delay, an integrating circuit with the proportional

error signal holds the frequency influence value.
4. The sum of proportional and integral values of frequency influence

(limited to + 5%) is added to the load set point to form the final
load set point (Sigma Pr) going to load controller. This will increase
the load signal.

5. After the set point settling down to the new frequency value, the
error becomes zero. On sensing this, the integrator holding the
integral part of the frequency influence is set to zero after a
time delay. This process ensures that the increased value of load
is held for a period of about 5 minutes. While the load is brought
back to the original value a ramping circuit ensures that the load
change is gradual.
6. In the frequency range beyond FGMO limits i.e. blow 49.0 Hz &
above 50.5 Hz the frequency influence as per droop characteristic
will become effective and drives the frequency influence signal to
+ 10% (this limit can be decided as per site conditions).
7. While the frequency influence acts on turbine load set point a
signal is given to Boiler control to make changes in fuel firing with
a feed forward action for a quick response.
8. The pressure controller of EHTC in Limit Pressure mode ensures
that the load is reduced to maintain the boiler header pressure, in
the event of a sudden pressure drop more than set limit value
(10Kg/cm2 for 500MW unit).

 Modified control scheme, was tested on the simulator at corporate

R&D of NTPC and was also tested successfully on the simulator at
Simhadri project.
Modified control scheme was implemented in Simhadri unit-2 for
live field trials. Results obtained are excellent and meet the
objectives set in previous steering committee meet.
Effect of throttle steam pressure on load and dead band of
0.03 Hz were noted to be satisfactory.
Role of controls, interlocks and protections is very important in
the operation of machine under FGMO. Presently supplied new
machines by BHEL have state of art controls to meet operational
requirements under FGMO. Retrofitting and up gradation need to
be undertaken in the older machines.