INSTRUMENTATIONS(conditioning)

OF HYDRO POWER STATION

M.P. SHRIVASTAVA
 1. INTRODUCTION

• Control & Instrumentation have very

important function in smooth operation of
hydro power station. Digital controls, being
fast in operation, are employed in Hydro
Power Plant for achieving total automatic
plant Operation of meeting the
requirement of fast response to load
changes.
• The digital control system helps in
achieving total automation of the plant and
reduces Mean Time Between Failure
(MTBF) in the plant by providing more
information to the likely faults to occur.
 2.The control system in Hydro- Power
stations are consist of-
• Sequencer control system for start/stop of
machine.
• Auxiliary control system for start of unit/ station
auxiliary.
• Governing system for control the speed of
turbine and active power of machine.
• Excitation system to control the reactive power
of machine.
• Protection system for generator and
transmission line.
• DAS,SCADA System.
-Instruments are used to measure the
physical quantities as well as electrical
quantities in hydro power station.
- It also used to control the pumps, air
compressors, heaters etc.
- It also used for starting inter lock, alarm and
tripping in automation scheme.
In measuring instrumentation there are four
phases measuring system.
(i) primary sensing device (ii) transducer
(iii) intermediate modifying stage
(iv) terminating stage is secondary indicating
instrument.
 3. ADVANTAGES OF AUTOMATION OF
POWER PLANTS
• Enhanced Safety.

• Increased Availability.

• Rapid Start-up and Shutdown of

Machine.

• Operation at High Efficiency.

• Ease of Operation and Reduced Risk.

CONTROL SYSTEM ARCHITCTURE.
• The entire control system in a hydro power
plant is divided into a number of level .
• Unit Control;
• Functional Group Control;
• Drive Control for Aux.
• The required hierarchical decentralization,
dedicated microprocessor modules are
provided for unit or program control,
functional group and drive control
respectively, which communicated among
themselves over a common data bus in the
panel.
4. ELECTRO – HYDRAULICGOVERNOR (EHG)

• The turbine governing system should be

capable of controlling the turbine at all
power outputs under various operating
conditions. This is achieve through
electrical and hydraulic devices. These
include speed sensing and processing
systems, hydraulic amplifiers hydraulic
pressure supply system and main gate
servo motor.
 5. DIGITAL EXCITATION SYSTEM
• Digital voltage regulators (DVR)
execitation can be suitably configured to
any specific / special requirements for
hydro power plants which are operated
as both peak and base load stations
having large reactive power delivering
capability with fast control of both active
and reactive power for maintaining
stability, specifically during transient
conditions.
 6.INSTRUMENTATION FOR PHYSICAL
QUANTITY
• the following physical quantities are
measured.
(a) Pressure Measurement
• (b) Temperature Measurement
• (c) Level Measurement
• (d) Flow Measurement
• (e) Speed Measurement
• (f) Thrust Measurement
• (g) Vibration Measurement
• (h) Moisture Measurement
• (i) On Line Turbine Efficiency
Measurement
• (j) Seismic (Earth Quack Measurement)
• (k) Silt monitoring system
• (L) Position measurement
• (M) Noise level measurement
• (N) Creep detector measurement
 C. Station Auxiliaries
Dewatering system & Drainage system
H.P.Air compressor
 6.a PRESSURE MEASUREMENT

• Pressure in Oil Pumping Unit

• Pressure in Governor Actuator
• Spiral Casting Water Pressure
• Top Cover Water Pressure
• Draft Tube Water Pressure.
• Water Pressure at Inlet and Outlet of
MIV.
• Turbine Seal
• Cooling Water.
• Compressor Air.
• Brake Air.
• These pressure gauges, pressure
switches or transmitting type with switches
are used for pressure measurement.

• The Bourdon, diaphragm and bellows are

the common elements used in pressure
measurement .
• The transmitting type pressure gauges
may be of strain gauge, capacitance or
piezoelectric type or micro processor
based type these pressure gauges having
transducer with transmitter and indicator.
• The pressure switches usually used to
operate at set pressure setting.
how a pressure switch works.flv
Rosemount 1151GP smart pressure transmitter.flv
Meaning of DP transmitter High and Low pressure ports.flv
 6.b TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT

we measure the following temperature: -

Turbine Bearing Oil & Pads.

• Generator bearing Oil and Pads.
• Oil Pressure unit.
• Stator Winding.
• Rotor Winding.
• Air Cooler.
• Cooling Water System etc.
• Resistances temperature detectors, dial
type thermo-meters, temperature indicator
and recorders or temperature scanners,
thermostats or temperature switch are
used. .

• The R.T.D. are of two wire or there wire

system and connected to the indicator.
The basic resistance of R.T.D. is 53 or 100
OHM.
 6.c LEVEL MEASUREMENT

we are measuring following levels:-

• Turbine & Generator Bearing Oil.

• Oil in Sump Tank of P.P. Set.
• Oil in Pressure Receiver.
• Oil Level in Oil Header for Kaplan.
• Drainage & Dewatering Pit Water Level.
• Top Cover Water Level.
• Water Level in draft Tube Box for Synch..
Condenser Operation.
• Cooling Water Pit Water Level.
• Head Race and Tail Race.
• For generator and turbine guide bearing oil
level we are using the principle of variation
of capacitance with variation in the level of
the material. The container material and
the probe from a capacitor whose
capacitance increases with the rise in the
level of the material.
• Float rod, float switch, gauges glass are
used for measuring the oil in sump tank
and pressure receivers.
• Conductivity type electrodes with controller
are used for measurement of water level in
drainage, dewatering, top cover and
cooling water pit.
• For head race and tail race ( dam level )
measuring equipments, we are using the
strain gauge type level transmitter. Float
type transducers are also using. This
pressure transmitter is submersible type.
Dam automation.flv
 6.d FLOW MEASUREMENT
We are measuring following flow
• Water Flow in Turbine Bearing.

• Water Flow in Generator Bearing.

• Water Flow in Turbine Shaft Seal.

• Water Flow in Cooling Water System.

• Water Flow in Turbine I.e. Turbine

Discharge Measuring Equipment.
• For measurement of item (a) to (d), we are
using flow meters. These flow meters are
working on flap or orifice and venture
principle.
• For turbine discharge measuring, we are
using strain gauge/ capacitance type
differential pressure transmitter with
Square root card to indicate the water flow
in turbine. The ultrasonic method is also
using to measure flow.
• Electro-Magnetic type flow-relays are also
used to measure the flow in Turbine &
Generator bearing.
Electromagnetic flow measurement supports the environmental industry (MID).flv
 6.e SPEED MEASUREMENT

The Turbine speed measurement by three

methods
a. P.M.G b. S.S.G. c. P.T & C.T
The turbine speed in hydro sets is sensing
through toothed wheel (mounted on
generator shaft) and magnetic pick. The
following fundamental relationship
between speed and frequency of output
signal implies.
nxp
f = ----------
60
 Where
• f = Frequency of the sensors output signal
in Hz.
• n = Speed of the toothed wheel in RPM.
• P = Number of teeth on the toothed
wheel.
• The pick-up out signal is fed to frequency
to voltage converter then through
comparator card various speed viz zero,
25%, 80%, 95% & 160% etc. are sense
for various application in hydro sets.
 6.f THRUST MEASUREMENT

The hydraulic axial and radial thrust of

turbine and generator is measured by
provided suitable load cells with its
mounting arrangement. The load cells are
calibrated suitable and its output through
transmitter in fed in indicator of recorder
for measurement.
 6.g VIBRATION MEASUREMENT

Abnormal vibration in machine causes

accelerated wear, even a small significant
increase in the level of vibration causes a
sharp increase in bearing wear, as a result
of rising bearing temperature. It the
vibrations levels are more, then machine
will lead to operational difficulties sooner
or later. The vibrations are measured by
the mechanical or electrical method.
• By mechanical method vibration can be
sensor by the dial gauge. While electrical
method we can use LVDT or strain gauge
type sensor. The strain gauge sensors are
mounted in the axial and radial directions
of turbine and generator bearing and with
the help of vibration monitor system this
parameter can be measure.
Fluke 810 Vibration Meter.flv
 6.h MOISTURE DETECTOR

• The moisture or water contamination in the

turbine oil can be measured by the
capacitance principle or it can be
measured by the chemical sensors I.e.
hydro meter. If the water contamination is
increase more than 0.5 to 3% of vol. The
moisture detector will sense and generate
the potential free contact for alarm.
6.i SEISMIC ( EARTH QUAKE ) MEASUREMENT

The seismic measuring equipment defects

earthquakes by monitoring the
acceleration signals from each of its
triaxial accelerometers. When the motion
exceeds the user defined threshold
selected between 0.1 to 10% of full scale.
The data are recorded into RAM.
 6.j ON LINE TURBINE EFFICIENCY
• This equipment work on the actual measurement of flow
in turbine. Head water level and tail water level and M.W.
output (through M.W. transducer). That is
• Pg
• ET = -------------
• 9.8 QHE
• Where
• Pg = Generator output in KW.
• Q = Discharge in M3 / Sec.
• H = Net head in meter
• Eg = Generator efficiency
• ET = Turbine efficiency
Note:- The accuracy of flow measurement is very
important in case of field efficiency.
Slit measurement through LISST
• LISST is short for Laser In-Situ Scattering
and Transmissometry
• Based on Laser Diffraction or laser light
scattering.
• Concept was first published by
Swithenbank et al. in 1978.
• It is the most common technique for
measuring detailed particle size.
• Sequoia Scientific is the only
manufacturer using the technology for
submersible and field use instruments
 Why was LISST developed?
• Prior field technology for measuring particle
size and concentration was not good
enough
• Manual water sampling:
– too few samples, too much time to
process
– not possible in remote locations such as
ocean bottom
• Turbidity sensors:
– no information about particle size
– calibration for concentration highly
dependent on particle size
 How does LISST work?
• Collimated laser beam passes through the water
• Particles in the water will scatter the light
• Scattered light is collected and focused on to a special
photodiode array with 32 concentric ring detectors
• Each ring represents the amount of light scattering over a range
of angles
 How does LISST work?
• Many particles are illuminated at any given time
• The combined scattering is measured.
• Mie scattering theory for spheres is used to construct a matrix of curves
for 32 ranges of sizes
• A mathematical matrix inversion is performed to determine how much
of each size is required to produce the scattering pattern that is
measured
• The result is the detailed size distribution.
 How does LISST work?
0.06

0.05

10 micron
0.04
Scattering

0.03 73 micron 0.12

0.1
0.02

0.08
0.01

0.06
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
0.04
Detector Ring No.

0.02

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

• Example shows scattering from 2 sizes, on ring

detectors
• The shape of multi-angle scattering depends on size
size distribution.
How does LISST work?

Cross section of a LISST-100X

 Existing Products:
LISST-100X Particle Size Analyzer
• Self-contained, submersible laser sediment sensor
• Measures detailed size distributions
• Built-in data logger and battery pack
• Submersible to 300 meters, special versions to 5000 meters.
• Primary use is by scientific researchers in oceans and rivers.
 Existing Products:
LISST-Portable Particle Size Analyzer
• Measures detailed size distributions
• Not submersible. Sample is added to mixing chamber.
• Self-contained with data logger and battery pack
• Detailed size distributions available when connected to PC
 Position Measurement

- This is measure on and off position of

any item by the limit switches.
There are the two types of limit switches
are used in hydro power station.
1. Oil tight limit switch.
2. Hermetical sealed limit switch.
- LVDT or proximate switches.
 Noise Level measurement

This is measure by the Noise Level

measurement in db. This is normally used
portable instrument.
 7. INSTRUMENTATION FOR
ELECTRICAL QUANTITY
We are measuring following electrical
quantity for hydro power stations:-
- Megawatt (M.W.).
– MVAR.
– P.F.
– Generator terminal voltage.
– Generator terminal current.
– Generator field current.
– Generator field voltage.
– KWH.
 – Current and voltage of various aux.
– partial discharge analyzer
– Shaft current measurement
– Air gap measurement
– Rotor temperature measurement
• Motors, governors and excitation.

• Note : The above measurement is done

with or without electrical transducer.
 Rotor Temperature measurement
Normally one shunt to be mounted in
generator field leads with calibrated
shunt leads to a field temp. recorder for
measurement of rotor Temp.
AIR- GAP- MEASUREMENT
Air gap measuring system for online
monitoring of Generator is required. This
system is provided dynamic air gap
measurement This system is consist of
(a). Air Gap sensors
(b). Air Gap monitoring system
Partial Discharge Analyzer
A partial discharge analyzer with
permanent coupler mounted on the stator
winding to monitor the conditions of the
stator insulation
What is Partial Discharge:- Partial
discharge is small electrical sparks that
occur with in insulation of medium & high
voltage electrical assets each discrete
partial discharge is the result of an
electrical break of an air pockets with in
insulation. This discharge erode insulation
and eventually result in insulations failure.
choose following solution.
1. Online partial discharge testing.
2. Periodic partial discharge testing
3. Continuous online monitor
4. Ultrasonic
5. Ten-Delta
6. Low- frequency test
4. Shaft current measurement
We measure – shaft current, not phase
current , This is typically low voltage and
milliamp. It may be caused e.g. stator not
being concentric, and thus rotating
magnetic field is not perfectly centre, with
that result that week current in induced in
the shaft of the generator. It shaft current
is high envelope 500 ma. It may cause
minute arcing in bearing as its ground out,
Hence measuring wave form, slap and
scale.
 Creep detector

This is normally measure by the SSG

i.e.Toothed wheel and Magnetic pickup.
 RECOMMENDATION
(i). The recommendation of instruments will
depend upon the application and customer
requirement e.g. flow management.
(ii). The recommendation also depend upon
the use and money e.g. pressure gauge.
(iii). The final recommendation will be done
after mutual discussion with your
engineers i.e. type of present instrument,
application and make.
THANKS