Excitation Control

K

Thread Starter

Kamel

i want to know the relation between fuel control and excitation control in 9FA mark 6 and who is the leader ? fuel increase first then excitation increase to maintain speed or opposite , i want to know the procedure for load generation in turbine and generator as GE manual speaking separately
 
Kamel,

SO many questions!

Let's begin at the beginning. A synchronous electrical machine (generator or motor) is intended to be operated at a constant speed (synchronous speed). When the generator rotor is rotated, the magnetic flux of the generator rotor induces a voltage in the generator stator windings--called the generator terminal voltage.

When the speed of the generator rotor is constant (or at rated) and the excitation is constant, the generator terminal voltage will be constant, or stable. The magnitude of the generator terminal voltage is a function of the strength of the magnetic field of the generator rotor--since the generator rotor is being rotated at a constant speed: synchronous speed.

The exciter controls the strength of the rotor magnetic field, and the strength of the rotor magnetic field controls the magnitude of the generator terminal voltage. (Again, we are presuming the generator rotor is spinning at synchronous speed, which is also the rated speed for the generator, for the purposes of our discussion.)

For all intents and purposes, the generator terminal voltage is usually held relatively constant during normal operation. In fact, most synchronous electrical generators are rated for a particular voltage, (for example, 11,500 Volts, or 11.5kV, or 13,800 Volts, or 13.8 KV), plus-or-minus 5%, meaning that the generator terminal voltage is only to be operated within +/-5% of 11.5kV or +/-13.8kV.

That's a fairly small range, +/- 5%. And, again, it's kind of the intent to operate most electrical machines (any kind of electrical machine) at, or very close to, a particular voltage anyway. So, we're going to say that, in general, the generator terminal voltage remains relatively constant--that is, it is relatively unchanging.

Again, to have a constant terminal voltage, the generator rotor magnetic field must be held constant. And the exciter controls the strength of the generator rotor magnetic field. So, that means the exciter will normally operate at a relatively constant, stable, output to maintain a relatively constant, stable generator terminal voltage.

Now, when a synchronous generator and the prime mover (a GE-design heavy duty gas turbine in your case) is synchronized to a grid in parallel with other generators and the primer movers driving those generators, current can flow in the generator's stator windings. To make more current flow "out" of the stator windings one increases the torque produced by the prime mover. In your case, that means increasing the fuel flow-rate to the turbine. The generator converts the torque to stator amperes.

The equation for electrical power for a three-phase machine is:

Power (Watts) = Volts * Amperes * (3^0.5) * (Power Factor)

For the time being, we are going to consider the Power Factor of our generator in this example to be 1.0 and stable; constant; unchanging.

So, lets' define an operating condition: we are holding the generator terminal voltage constant (by holding the generator rotor excitation constant), and we are presuming the power factor to be 1.0, and unchanging. The square root of three is a constant (it can't/doesn't change; it's always 1.7320).

So, to increase power, the only component of the power equation that can be changed is the generator stator amperes. And, since a generator is a device for converting torque into amperes, if we increase the torque being applied to the generator rotor, the amperes flowing in the generator stator will increase. And, when the generator stator amperes increase, then the power being produced by the synchronous generator will increase.

So, fuel equals torque, and torque equals amperes, and varying amperes varies the power produced by the generator. So, to make more power, increase the fuel flow-rate. To make less power, decrease the fuel flow-rate.

Oh, if it were ONLY that simple, though. As the amperes flowing in the generator stator increase as the fuel flow-rate to the turbine increases, one of the effects is that the magnetic field associated with the generator stator increases. (Remember: current (amperes) flowing in a conductor produces a magnetic field.)

As the field associated with the generator stator increases, it "reacts" with the field of the generator rotor. Some people like to describe the resultant interaction of the generator stator's increasing magnetic field strength as decreasing, or weakening, the generator rotor field strength. (At least that's how I was taught, and how I like to describe it; and I'm doing the describing here. There are some people who like to use vectors and maths to describe it in other ways, but, in essence what we have is an interaction between two magnetic fields in the same space, and something has to "give" when one increases. No matter how you "describe" it.)

Now, when the generator field strength decreases that causes the generator terminal voltage to decrease. Oh--but we said we want to maintain the generator terminal voltage relatively constant. <b>What to do???</b> Increase the excitation, to increase the generator rotor field strength to maintain the generator terminal voltage.

The exciter, when it's being operated in what's called "Automatic" or "AC" mode, is monitoring the generator terminal voltage, and it adjusts the excitation as required to try to maintain the generator terminal voltage setpoint set by the machine's operator. If the terminal voltage goes down, the exciter will increase the excitation to try to maintain the generator terminal; the opposite happens if the generator terminal voltage increases.

So, as a synchronous generator is loaded (by increasing the fuel flow-rate to a gas turbine being used as a prime mover to provide torque to the generator rotor) if no action is taken by the operator or the exciter control system then generator terminal voltage will decrease below rated or desired. That's why it's required to increase excitation as the generator is loaded to maintain something near rated generator terminal voltage.

Conversely, when a synchronous generator is being unloaded (be decreasing the amount of fuel flowing to the gas turbine), if no action is taken to reduce the excitation the generator terminal voltage will increase above rated or desired.

All of that is basically true for a stable or unchanging power factor, and we assumed it was 1.0. Now, lets' presume that your generator is operating at 50% of rated power output, stably, and that the power factor of your generator is 1.0 (which, coincidentally means that the excitation being provided to the generator rotor by the exciter is exactly equal to the amount required to make the generator terminal voltage equal to the grid voltage with which the generator is synchronized). If the operator then increases the excitation being applied to the generator rotor the Power Factor meter will drop below 1.0 in the Lagging direction. And the VAr meter will increase from 0.0 in the Lagging direction.

Note that I did NOT say the operator had done anything to change the load (watts/KW/MW) of the generator by changing the fuel flow-rate to the gas turbine driving the generator--he only changed the generator excitation. And, I'm going to take the specifics one step further--by saying that the unit is NOT being operated with Pre-Selected Load Control enabled and active. The unit had been manually loaded to approximately 50% of rated load without placing the Speedtronic in any kind of automatic load control.

Essentially what the operator had done was to attempt to increase the grid voltage by increasing the generator terminal voltage (sometimes called "boosting"), and while the generator terminal voltage and the local grid voltage may have, in fact, increased slightly what really happened is that reactive current began to flow in the generator stator windings.

From a generator's perspective the reactive current is considered to be inductive and is called lagging reactive current, or lagging VArs. If the operator continues to increase the excitation being applied to the generator rotor, the Power Factor meter will continue to decrease below 1.0, and the VAr meter will continue to increase above 0.0 in the Lagging direction.

What's happening when the operator is increasing the excitation being applied to the generator is that the total amount of energy that's being input to the generator is being split between real power (watts/KW/MW) and reactive "power", and that the percentage of real power being produced is decreasing. Power Factor is a measure of the amount of real power being produced versus the total amount of power being applied to the machine.

So, the reactive current flowing in the generator stator windings is controlled by controlling the excitation being applied to the generator rotor. And the "real" power flowing in the generator stator windings is controlled by the amount of torque being applied to the generator rotor. It's really that simple

Now, lets' say the unit is operating at a stable power output and with a Power Factor of 1.0 (which means 0.0 VArs). After a while the operator looks up to see the Power Factor meter has changed! It has decreased below 1.0. And, the VAr meter has increased above 0.0. Both meters are indicating in the Leading direction.

This means that grid system voltage has increased above the level it was previously operating at, which means the excitation being provided to the generator is now not sufficient to keep the generator terminal voltage equal to the grid voltage. This means that reactive current is now flowing in the generator stator windings.

The operator was told to maintain a Power Factor of 1.0, and a VAr reading of 0.0 VArs. What does the operator do to return the Power Factor meter to 1.0 and the VAr meter to 0.0?

He increases the excitation. He doesn't increase the fuel flow-rate; he increases the excitation.

Fuel is watts, or KW, or MW. Fuel is REAL power.

Excitation is VArs. Excitation is REACTIVE power.

Finally, you brought up the subject of speed. A synchronous generator is supposed to be operated at a constant speed, called synchronous speed. For a two-pole generator operating on a 50 Hz system, that synchronous speed is 3000 RPM.

That's because the speed of an AC machine is directly proportional to the frequency of the AC mains (the grid) with which it is connected. The formula is:

F = (P * N) / 120,

where F = Frequency, Hz,
P = Number of poles of the generator rotor,
N = RPM

When synchronous generators are operated in parallel with each other--when they are <b>SYNCHRONIZED</b> with each other--they are all operating at the same frequency under normal conditions. And because, nominally, optimally, allegedly, the system frequency is constant (or relatively constant; meaning it changes relatively little and is relatively stable) all synchronous generators, and the prime movers directly connected to the synchronous generators, are all rotating at constant speeds <b>that are directly proportional to the frequency of the grid with which they are connected.</b>

In reality, grid frequency in never exactly 50.00 Hz, and as grid frequency varies so do the speeds of the generators and the prime movers directly connected to those generators. But, for all intents and purposes--in most parts of the world--the frequency is relatively stable and even though the frequency varies by hundredths or tenths of a Hz, the machine speeds vary by an almost imperceptible amount that is directly proportional to the frequency variation.

And, when the grid frequency disturbances are large, then generator and prime mover speed variations are large.

That's because all of these machines are locked into synchronism with each other. And, allegedly, supposedly, somewhere there is a grid regulator that is monitoring the load on the grid and ensuring that the amount of generation on the grid exactly matches the amount of load--which is what's required to make the system frequency exactly equal to nominal (in your case, 50, or 50.0, Hz).

When the amount of load exceeds the amount of generation, then the frequency will begin to decrease. When the amount of generation exceeds the amount of load the frequency will begin to increase.

But, in any case, unless your prime mover is VERY large with respect to all of the other generators on the grid with which it is <b>synchronized</b>, increasing the fuel flowing to the gas turbine will not appreciably increase the speed of the turbine, and hence will not appreciably increase the speed of the generator rotor, and hence will not appreciably increase the frequency of the output of the generator. The speed of the generator rotor, and of the Frame 9FA GE-design heavy duty gas turbine which is directly coupled (connected) to the generator rotor, is controlled by the frequency of the grid with which it is <b>SYNCHRONIZED</b>.

I keep emphasizing the work synchronized because it's important to understand that there are very great magnetic forces at work in synchronous machines that keep the speed directly proportional to frequency. Even though you increase the fuel flow-rate to the turbine when the generator is <b>synchronized</b> to the grid, the speed of the turbine--and the generator rotor--does <b>NOT</b> increase. The increased torque developed by the increased fuel flow-rate is converted by the generator into increase stator amps, which takes us back to the first formula in this response.

Which takes me to the end of my response.

Hope this helps!
 
really thank you so much

i understood your explanation except for some doubts

first we you told turbine speed will remain equal to grid freq if synchronized , is this is by control or this is generator property . as mechanically increasing fuel increases the speed not the torque and torque should be applied externally so increasing fuel will intend to increase turbine speed and generator will slow down it by applying torque , what actually happening and dose excitation has any role in this torque (except for maintaining terminal volt)??

sorry I'm confused because the common idea is that to get load we increase fuel so speed intend to increase and in same time increase excitation witch increases magnetic field witch increases the torque and keep the speed , is this is correct .

please explain in more details the sequence of loading between turbine and generator (fuel and excitation)

what is the difference when increasing fuel between large prime mover and small one relative to the grid .

if all prime movers capacity is same what is the difference.

again thank you for your help and your effort
 
Kamel,

A generator is a device for converting torque into amps. Wires are used to transmit those amperes (torque) to devices located long distances from sources of torque (or the energy used to produce that torque). Motors, and other devices that consume electricity (including lights, and even computers) convert amps back into torque.

So, the generator(s) at your location may be pumping tens of thousands of liters of water and lighting tens of home and allowing many people to send email and videos to others at many locations very distant from the turbine(s) at your site. Electricity is just a means of transmitting energy from one location to another location, or many locations, so that useful "work" can be done at those locations without having to have bazillions of generators at bazillions of locations around the world.

(What I haven't come to terms with yet is how computers convert amperes into useful work. It sure seems I work <b>for</b> my computer these days, instead of my computer working for <b>me</b>. Does anyone else feel like that? And where is torque involved in all of this "work"? I know, heat has something to do with it, but I'm getting hot just thinking about all the work I have to do filling out forms and workflows and such on my computer!)

Alternating current grids transmit power at a nominal, desired frequency. Frequency control, and regulation, is a very important aspect of alternating current systems.

Think about it this way. You buy a television or DVD player, or even a pump to pump water around your house or property, and it's rated for 50 Hz (or 60 Hz in some parts of the world). When you plug it into the outlet in the wall at your home or apartment, the expectation is that you will be receiving a nominal 50.0 Hz, with some very slight variations. Not 51.2, or 49.3, or 48.2, or 50.4--but a nominal 50 Hz. The generators connected to the grid supplying the power to that outlet in your home or apartment all have to generating power at the same frequency. They can't be generating at wildly different frequencies, with some device at your home or at some substation that converts a bunch of different frequencies to 50.0 Hz. There is no such device in the electrical systems of just about any country or part of the world (unless there are high-voltage DC links, but that's a special case).

Producing electricity requires magnetism, and magnetic forces are also a result of current flowing in conductors. In AC motors and generators, the magnetic forces created when current flows in the stator windings seems to rotate around the stator, which is how motors rotate and generators create the waveform that creates the "rotating" magnetic field on the motor stators.

Excitation is what's used to create the magnetic field of the generator rotor. When current is flowing in the generator stator windings there is another--a second--magnetic field created. Now, you know what happens when you try to put the North poles of two magnets together--they repel each other. And, you know what happens when the North pole of one magnet comes into proximity with the South pole of another magnet--there is a strong attraction.

It's exactly the same in a generator (or a motor, for that matter). With two magnetic fields (one on the rotor and one on the stator), the North and South poles of each field attract each other--and that's what keeps the rotor spinning at a speed that is directly proportional to the frequency of the grid (that the generator stator is connected to).

When torque is being applied to the generator rotor, one of the things that happens is that the prime mover (the 9FA in your case) is trying to twist the rotor and break that magnetic attraction. The more torque being applied, the more "twist" on the load coupling and generator rotor. You may have heard of "load angle"? Well, that's the "twist", basically. As more torque is applied, the load angle increases.

(All of this can be explained in very great detail with vectors and maths, but that can be very confusing if one doesn't understand what the maths and vectors are attempting to describe. Ever see a Load Angle meter?)

Now, if the magnetic strength of the rotor isn't maintained sufficiently, then what can happen is that the rotor "slips a pole"--and that means <b>CATASTROPHIC</b> damage to the machine. Load couplings break; generator rotors get "bent", and turbine rotors can be irreparably damaged when this happens. There are "loss of excitation" relays and other protective relays to sense and anticipate this condition BEFORE the damage occurs.

"Slipping a pole" means that the attraction between the North pole of one field and the South pole of another field is broken, and instantaneously the generator rotor increases speed. As the speed increases the North pole of one magnetic field passes the North pole of another magnetic field and very great repulsion occurs. This can cause the rotor to want to stop instantaneously and reverse direction (which it can't do!), or to move even faster past the revulsion until there is another North-South attraction, at which time the generator rotor will want to slow down--again, instantaneously. There are very great physical forces at work here--the torque from the prime mover, and magnetic forces, as well.

<b>Synchronizing</b> involves making sure that the North pole of the generator rotor is in a position to be attracted to the South pole which will be created when current starts flowing in the generator stator windings. Otherwise, <b>synchronizing</b> check relays wouldn't be required to prevent synch'ing "out of phase" and causing extreme damage to machines.

Watch the speed of the turbine(s) at your site when you are <b>synchronized</b> to the grid and loading and unloading. I'll bet it doesn't change by more than a tenth of a percent, or less. If you are observing the RPM, I'll bet it doesn't change by more than 1 or 3 RPM, if that, during loading and unloading. And that's from zero load to full load, or from full load to zero load. Of from any load to any load, loading or unloading. When looking at the speeds, I'm presuming the grid frequency is stable and not changing (as it should be).

At the same time, watch the frequency of the generator output. The two are directly proportional, so you will the same "differences" during loading and unloading. If the frequency is changing, the speed will be changing proportionally.

An electrical grid with multiple synchronous generators is like a bicycle with multiple cranks (sets of pedals) and multiple riders to apply torque to each crankset. Those cranksets are usually all connected to each other and to the rear drive by chains--and the speed of each crankset cannot be different from any other crankset. In other words, one rider can't be pedaling at 23 revolutions per minute while some other one is pedaling at 37 revolutions per minute (unless the gears of the cranksets are different, in which case there is still a direct relationship between crankset rotation and bicycle speed for each crankset).

Further, if that bicycle is supposed to travel at a constant speed (which is directly relatable to a constant frequency) then all of the riders have to work together to ensure that the torque being applied by each of them is sufficient to maintain that speed. If every rider is pedaling as hard as they can then it's likely the speed will be excessive. If several riders decide to take a break and remove their feet from the pedals at the same time then it's likely the bicycle will slow down and if every other rider was already pedaling as hard as they could then it's likely the bicycle will not be able to maintain speed. There has to be some "coordination" between all the riders in order to be able to maintain a constant speed while going over hills (up them and down them) or carrying loads.

And, if there's one rider who is extremely strong in relation to the other riders and that rider starts pedaling as hard as he can then the speed of the bicycle will change--unless there is some coordination.

On that bicycle, there needs to be one person who is in charge and telling people to apply more torque (pedal harder) or less torque (pedal not a hard) to maintain speed. If every rider is trying to make that decision for him- or herself, then it will be a disaster.

And the coordination of an electrical is done by the grid regulators. It's their job to make sure the amount of generation on the grid matches the amount of load on the grid. They have to anticipate load swings (to the extent they can) and have "reserve" capacity available to meet demand. Just as it's necessary to have some riders on the bicycle pedaling not quite as hard as others at all times so that changes in terrain or load can be handled while still maintaining a constant speed.

Grid regulators use various methods to tell various power plants to increase or decrease power output (AGC is the most common term for these methods) to balance generation and load.

And, think about what happens when a rider who had removed his feet from his pedals for some time decides to put his feet back on the pedals and begin pedaling while the bicycle is traveling at a constant speed. It takes some coordination because his crankset will be rotating and he has to time the placement of his feet back on the pedals (<b>synchronizing</b>)so as not to injure himself. And, if he suddenly begins pedaling hard then the bicycle speed will increase, and unless someone else reduces the torque they are applying to their pedals the bicycle speed will not return to normal.

It's a physical "law" that the speed of a synchronous generator rotor is directly proportional to the frequency of the grid with which it is connected. And, it's a physical "law" that says the frequency of an AC grid will be constant when the amount of generation exactly equals the load being supplied (the aggregate total of all the motors and lights and computers being powered by the grid). If the amount of generation isn't exactly equal to the amount of load, then the frequency won't be as desired. It's as simple as that. Just like on that bicycle--if the rider(s) isn't(aren't) producing just the right amount of torque to maintain the desired speed, then the bicycle won't travel at the desired speed.

An AC (Alternating Current) grid depends on frequency control to properly provide power to loads. So, since speed and frequency are directly related, the speed of generator rotors has to be constant so that frequency remains constant. It's just like the bicycle analogy--the speed of the bicycle won't be constant if the torque being applied to the pedals isn't varied as necessary.

When the Speedtronic is controlling turbine speed when the generator breaker is NOT closed, increasing fuel will increase speed, and decreasing fuel will decrease speed. But, if the turbine is rated for 225 MW (example) and it's connected to a grid with several thousand MWs of generation (many generators all <b>synchronized</b> together), then your turbine isn't going to appreciably change the grid frequency as it's loaded and unloaded. There are just too many other generators out there and as long as the grid regulators are doing a good job then any one prime mover can't have an effect on grid frequency.

There are bascially two modes of governing action: Droop Speed Control, and Isochronous Speed Control. Both have been covered MANY times before on control.com, but for the purposes of this discussion Droop Speed Control basically means the governor (the prime mover control system) isn't trying to control its speed; it's only producing power in a stable fashion while operating in parallel with (<b>synchronized</b> to) other generators to provide a load that is larger than any single generator and its prime mover is capable of providing.

Isochronous Speed Control means the prime mover governor is going to adjust it's power output very quickly in response to any changes in speed caused by changes in load in order to maintain a nominal frequency. And just like in the bicycle analogy, if there are too many people trying to adjust their output to maintain speed without any coordination then the speed will not be very constant--and worse, for generator prime movers, the load of those prime movers will be swinging wildly from one machine to another and back. In theory, without some special kind of load-sharing schemes, no more than one prime mover governor can be operated in Isochronous Speed Control mode at a time on a grid.

On most "grids" of any size with multiple synchronous generators, all of the prime movers (again, without some special load-sharing scheme) must be in Droop Speed Control mode in order to share in the powering of a large load with other generators. And, someone, or something, must be monitoring the frequency and adjusting the total generation to match the total load in order to maintain the frequency. It's a balancing act, done much better in some parts of the world than others.

However, if a 225 MW machine is connected to a small grid with many smaller prime movers, say 5-25 MW each, it's very possible that if the load of all the generators isn't very well coordinated as the large machine is loaded and unloaded then the grid frequency can deviate. It's just like the example of a very strong bicycle rider; no different.

As far as loading and excitation, I think that's been explained already. If, as the current in the stator windings increases (as a result of applying more torque ("twist") to the generator rotor) the magnetic field strength of the stator windings can "overcome" or "weaken" the strength of the rotor field and if something isn't done to increase the rotor field strength then the net effect is that leading VArs will flow in the generator stator windings. And if severe enough, then a loss of magnetism, and a resultant slipping of a pole will occur. So, it's necessary to increase excitation as load is increased to maintain the desired power factor, or VAr meter reading, or bad things will happen to the unit. The excitation system will automatically do some of that increasing, but operators will also need to do some (unless there is some kind of automatic Power Factor or VAr Control scheme to do that).

Without the ability to add drawings or pictures to the threads here in control.com, it can be very difficult to present and explain some concepts. However, we are talking about pretty basic fundamentals of electricity here, and there should be some references or texts or manuals on someone's desk or in some "library" at the site where you are working. Or, you can use your preferred Internet search engine to look up these fundamentals. I know YouTube isn't available in every part of the world, but there even good videos (and bad ones!) for these topics available there.

If you have more specific questions, we can try to answer them here. Don't expect a lot of formulae and maths from me, anyway. For all intents and purposes, on a properly regulated grid, or even a mildly-well regulated grid, the frequency-related speeds of the generator rotors and prime movers are all the same.

And, the control systems of those prime movers driving those generators are NOT trying to control the speed of those prime movers and the generator rotors. In fact, if you use the 'Search' feature of control.com, you will learn it's called "Droop" Speed Control for a reason--because the control system is allowing the speed of the prime mover to be less than the speed reference. It's straight proportional control, and you can find out more about proportional control from any number of sources.

Hope this helps!
 
Kamel,

Torque is a function of fuel. When the generator breaker is open, increasing the fuel increases the torque which increases the speed.

When the generator breaker is closed, increasing the fuel increases the torque. But, since the generator can't increase it's speed (because it's <b>synchronized</b> to the grid with other synchronous generators and their prime movers) the generator converts the torque to amperes.

Torque is produced by the prime mover--the GE-design Frame 9FA heavy duty gas turbine in your case, by burning fuel and then expanding the hot gases in the turbine section. The hot gases, passing through the turbine nozzles impinge on the turbine buckets which are a fixed distance from the center of the shaft. However, increasing the fuel flow-rate increases the hot gases passing through the turbine nozzles and turbine buckets which increases the force being applied to the turbine buckets which increases the torque being produced the turbine.

A certain amount of torque is required to keep the generator rotor spinning at the same speed as the grid frequency dictates. If the turbine supplies only that amount of torque when the generator breaker is closed the "load" on the turbine will be 0.0 MW. As the fuel flow is increased, and the force on the turbine buckets increases, the torque produced by the turbine will increase. The generator, held at a constant speed by the frequency of the grid with which it is <b>synchronized</b>, cannot increase its speed so it converts the torque into amperes.

Load (motors driving pumps and fans, and air conditioners, and lights, and computers) tends to slow down a generator or grid. Think about the bicycle. Think about pedaling a bicycle at a constant speed and all of a sudden your friend jumps on the handlebars. Or someone throws a heavy package into the basket. Now, to maintain the same speed you have to pedal harder. You are applying more force to the pedals, and that produces more torque which is then applied to the rear wheel of the bicycle to maintain the speed. If you apply the extra force to produce the extra torque fast enough then the speed of the bicycle will not change (appreciably).

In reality, as the extra "load" is added to the bicycle the speed of the bicycle will tend to decrease. But, if you increase the force you are applying to the pedals the speed won't change by much.

The same is true for an electrical grid. As motors are turned on, and lights are turned on, and air conditioners are turned on, and computers and monitors are turned on the initial effect on the grid is to decrease the frequency of the grid (and the speed of the generators and prime movers). That's because torque is being "taken" from the grid to power these loads and something has to increase the torque being supplied to the grid to return the grid frequency to normal. So, someone or something has to increase the torque being provided to one or more of the generators to return, or maintain, the grid frequency to normal.

But, for most loads on a large grid the speed decrease is almost imperceptible. Watch the grid frequency on the HMI display at your site. Use a plotting feature (of CIMPLICITY or the Speedtronic) to plot the frequency versus time. You will see, if you are connected to a well-regulated grid, the frequency will vary every so slightly--only by, say, hundredths of a Hz, or in some cases when very large loads are suddenly powered up, or when a generator trips off line somewhere on the grid, or some large block of load is separated from the grid for some reason, a tenth of a Hz.

Excitation is required to maintain generator terminal voltage, and to keep the generator rotor magnetic field strong enough to prevent slipping a pole, and to maintain a desired power factor, or to maintain a particular VAr reading.

When you <b>synchronize</b> your generator and its prime mover to the grid and start to load your generator, presuming the number of motors and lights and air conditioners and computers and monitors is relatively constant what will tend to happen is that the grid frequency will tend to rise. That's because more "torque" is being added to the grid by your generator from your prime mover than is required by the load, so the frequency will increase. The amount the frequency increases is a function of how much total load is on the grid and how much "load" is being added to your turbine.

Actually, your turbine isn't "adding" any thing--it's just taking a portion of the existing load. And, unless the load decreases (the number of motors being run is reduced, or the number of lights is reduced, or the number of air conditioners running is reduced, or the number of computers and monitors is reduced) as you "increase" the load on your turbine, the grid frequency will increase. Or, unless some prime mover somewhere is unloaded by an amount exactly equal to the load being "added" to your machine as you "load" your unit, the grid frequency will increase.

The opposite happens when you are "unloading" your machine. You are reducing the amount of torque being supplied to the load. Unless some load is reduced somewhere or some prime mover increases its torque output by amount exactly equal to the amount of load "decrease" on your machine, the grid frequency will decrease.

That's the balancing act that grid regulators have to contend with every day, every hour of every day. They have to monitor and anticipate load swings as best as they can, and they have to try to time increases in generation or decreases in generation in order to maintain frequency. If they see frequency beginning to decrease, they have to be able to call on plants to increase their generation. Or, if they see frequency beginning to increase they have to call on plants to decrease their generation.

Or, if a generator suddenly trips off line they have to be able to call on a plant or plant to increase its generation by an amount equal to the amount of generation that just tripped off line.

If there was a single prime mover operating in Isochronous Speed Control mode somewhere on the grid, as load changed (the number of motors and lights and air conditioners and computers and monitors)--and frequency changed as a result of the load changes--that prime mover would automatically, and very quickly, change it's power output to keep the total amount of generation equal to the total load. But, if load changes are much bigger than the capacity of the prime mover, then grid regulators have to call on other plants to help maintain frequency by increasing or decreasing their "load".

Again, go back to the analogy of the bicycle with multiple cranksets and riders. It takes coordination to keep the bicycle running at a constant speed. Now think about adding or deleting packages (load) from the bicycle while it's moving and trying to maintain that constant speed.

In many parts of the world I've been to recently, when a power plant wants to go on line, they have to call some "agency" and then the agency will tell them when it's possible to go on line, and usually they want to know how much power the plant is going to be producing and for how long and then they "schedule" the plant to go on line at a certain time, knowing what the loading rate will be. They then have to reduce the load on some other generator or plant by an equal amount in order to keep the grid frequency constant as another plant is being brought on line.

Power plant operators, nor grid regulators, control the "load" per se. The load is what the load is; and the total amount of generation must equal the total amount of load--otherwise the grid frequency will not be at rated. Small variations (hundredths of Hz, or in worst cases, a tenth of a Hz) are to be expected, but not large variations on well-regulated grids.

I'm trying to think of how to explain excitation in terms of the bicycle analogy. I don't know if it's possible, but I'll keep thinking about it. Yes, it takes excitation to keep the generator rotor in <b>synchronism</b> with the generator stator's magnetic field, which is connected to the grid. But, excitation is not directly related to torque or load.

I'm sure there is some maths and vectors somewhere that say otherwise, but as an operator and technician I don't have to concern myself with that. The designers of the equipment being operated do have to deal with that maths and vectors. It might make me a better technician to understand the maths and vectors, but I can <b>assure</b> you--it won't help me explain how turbines and generators work to power plant operators any better or more clearly! All of the maths and vectors will be useful in trying to understand transient conditions and problems, but not in understanding normal, every day operations.
 
M

MarktheSecond

Kamel
I think you have been given some very good explanation.

Also, the answer to your question depends on whether the generator set is(a) connected to a grid/another set or (b) operating alone.

If alone:…….
Essentially, increasing the speed setting increases the fuel flow and increases the speed of the turbine/generator. The voltage will increase as the volts are proportional to some extent to the speed of the rotor/field.

However, the voltage is varied by increasing/decreasing the field current. This has a more immediate and influential effect than varying the speed. It is independent of the speed controls and it does not affect the speed.

So: set the speed first with speed/fuel controls and then when happy, set the voltage.

Now the problem. If you are connected to a grid:

Because the generator is “synchronized” with the grid, and the grid is so much larger than the generator in capacity, the grid determines the speed of the generator and thus of the turbine.

You cannot change the speed of the turbine when it is connected to the grid. [there is a very large generator on the grid somewhere whose job is to hold 50/60Hz and all other generators are tied to that frequency.

In this case, your turbine speed control ( fuel control) is not configured to keep the speed at a particular setpoint. It is instead, configured to maintain a certain load/speed profile. This is called “droop control”. This is normally set to 4%. What this means is that if you load your turbine to say half load and it is sitting there at 60Hz (assuming your grid is 60), if the grid speed slips to, say, 59Hz, your turbine fuel/speed controls will increase the fuel supply in order to pick up MORE LOAD and not MORE SPEED. The drop in grid frequency approximates to a 2% drop in speed. At 4% “droop” setting, the turbine will pick up 2/4X100% load, or half load. So added to the half load it is already on this will mean that it will be fully loaded.

The reason for this fuel control method is to ensure that all of the turbines on the grid pick up the same proportion of their full load (or drop off in the case of an increase in frequency) As the frequency of the grid returns to normal, your turbine controls will lower the fuel in accordance with the 4% droop curve.

It is important to understand this if you are connected to a grid.
Manual/Automatic increase of speed setpoint

If the grid frequency is constant, as you increase the speed setpoint on your genset manually/automatically, as explained before, the speed cannot change – so as more fuel flows, the turbine takes on more load. Normally some central systems operator asks individual turbine operators to take on or drop off load.

SO – the turbine controls only affect the load (in Kw) of the generator – not the voltage. This is all “real” power.
The above was all about power and speed control. As regards the voltage, this is also held constant by the grid. Analagously, the voltage controls – i.e. increase/decrease in field current which would increase/decrease the terminal voltage of the generator if you were not connected to the grid – will actually result in the acceptance or rejection of Volt Amp Reactive (VARs). This is to do with the power factor etc and normally all voltage controls on a grid are set to the same droop settings so that as the power factor changes on a grid, all of the generators pick up the same VARs. !!!!!!!! . Voltage control/VARs/PF is all very much less intuitive than speed control and more difficult to understand.

So you can see that you can vary neither speed nor volts when connected. And there is no connection between voltage control and speed control.

Which do you have?
 
Kamel,

Have you monitored/trended speed/frequency versus load on your unit yet?

What have you observed happening to speed and frequency when you change load (by changing fuel flow-rate)?

If your 9FA has an EX2000 or an EX2100, you should also be able to trend excitation current and voltage as well as power factor, VArs, and generator teonal voltage at the same time as the other data to see how everything works together, as well as independently.

Please write back to let us know what you discover.
 
Thank you every body

And special thanks to CSA
I'm very sorry for my slow response

really CSA your explanation is very simple and very helpful. my problem that my back ground is mechanical and i want to understand the concepts of turbine control not only watching trends which are very useful i know but i want to get the reason for the behavior of this trends.

From trends it is obvious that turbine speed matching grid freq and not changing when load increase and excitation increases.
There are some doubts:

1-for finite sys increasing excitation can produce VARs or only voltage will increase.

2-for infinite sys, terminal voltage will not change. so, how AVR will control the excitation during loading/unloading what it will monitor?

3-for preselected load and base load control any change in isochronous and droop control (or only the difference if we loading manually).

4-in isochronous mode for finite grid if applied load tends to exceed the turbine base load what will happened? Does freq change?

5-what will happened if we put 250MW turbine in Island mode during connected to 10000MW grid? is there is any risk for that?

Again thank you so much.
 
Doubts.... Oh, how I dislike that word. (Look it up, and I think you'll see why. If you have questions, or need more clarification, that's great. But to doubt what you've been told, that's not so great.)

> 1-for finite sys increasing excitation can produce VARs or only voltage will increase.

VArs are like Watts; you can't make more than is required by the load. If you try to make more Watts than is required, then the frequency is going to increase. If you try to make more VArs, then the terminal voltage is just going to go up.

> 2-for infinite sys, terminal voltage will not change. so, how AVR will
> control the excitation during loading/unloading what it will monitor?

The "A" in AVR means Automatic. When the AVR is in Automatic mode, it's trying to keep the generator terminal voltage relatively constant.

Grid voltage does change throughout the day and the year. That's a function of load and impedances and many factors. As the grid voltage is changes, then VARs--and power factor--will change. It's the operator's responsibility to keep the VAr meter pointing at where it's supposed to be pointed or the power factor meter pointing at where it's supposed to be pointed. Some turbine control systems, and some AVRs, have VAR- and/or Power Factor control--implying automatic control of one or the other parameter. Excitation will be adjusted as necessary to maintain the setpoint of one or the other, automatically. Otherwise, it's the operator's responsibility (except most operators can't be bothered with such trivial things).

> 3-for preselected load and base load control any change in isochronous and
> droop control (or only the difference if we loading manually).

Pre-Selected Load Control and Base Load can only be selected by an operator when the unit is is Droop Speed Control governor mode. In Isochronous Speed Control mode, the load of the unit (the power being produced by the unit) is varied in response to changes in frequency. That's how frequency is controlled--by varying generation to match load. As load increases, generation must increase to maintain frequency. As load decreases, generation must decrease to maintain frequency. If you set a Pre-Selected Load Control Setpoint and enabled Pre-Selected Load Control (the Speedtronic is smart enough not to allow an operator to do this!), then the turbine wouldn't respond to changes in load to maintain frequency--and the whole concept of Isochronous goes out the window. Along with frequency control.

> 4-in isochronous mode for finite grid if applied load tends to exceed the
> turbine base load what will happened? Does freq change?

Yes; if the grid load increases above the Base Load capability of the machine, then grid frequency will decrease.

> 5-what will happened if we put 250MW turbine in Island mode during connected
> to 10000MW grid? is there is any risk for that?

Make sure you have a torch with charged batteries in your pocket when you try this. And, then, write back to let me know what happened. Depending on how well the grid frequency is controlled in your part of the world, it could be very interesting. The unit might trip on exhaust overtemperature control, or on Reverse Power. But, probably the load swings would be pretty large (huge) until one or the other happened. And sooner rather than later.

I hope my long and verbose writings weren't too incoherent. It's a very difficult topic to explain to people. Not impossible. Just difficult.
 
Dear CSA

when i tell "i have some doubts" what i mean is "i have some questions". maybe I'm using the word "doubts" incorrectly as my English not perfect but i only mean that i need more clarification and sure i don't mean i doubt about what you tell, by the way sorry for this misunderstanding.

I need some clarifications about some of your answers:

> 1-for finite sys increasing excitation can produce VARs or only voltage will increase.

What i mean here, for a small grid (island mode) if there are only 3 turbines when we increase excitation only the voltage will increase? And dose VARs can be produced or not? Because in very large grids increasing excitation will increase VARs not voltage

> 2-for infinite sys, terminal voltage will not change. So, how AVR will control the excitation during loading/unloading what it will monitor?

what i mean in a very large grid my generator voltage will match grid voltage so in case of stable grid voltage if i want to increase the load the fuel will increase and load angle will increase and flux will decrease but voltage will stay the same as grid volt did not change so how AVR will increase excitation to increase flux if voltage did not change what is the parameter it will monitor in this case?

> 3 If you set a Pre-Selected Load Control Set point and enabled Pre-Selected Load Control (the Speedtronic is smart enough not to allow an operator to do this!), then the turbine wouldn't respond to changes in load to maintain frequency--and the whole concept of Isochronous goes out the window. Along with frequency control.

So whenever preselected load or base load activated the speedtronic will respond to it regardless we are in droop control or isochronous
I have one question now: what is the effect of frequency change if preselected mode is active (dose load change) and if it is base load

> 5-what will happened if we put 250MW turbine in Island mode during connected
> to 10000MW grid? Is there is any risk for that?

If the turbine is loaded at 100 MW and turned to island mode what will happen if frequency is 50 or very high or very low
And please explain how it can trip for over temp (load rate is there)
If the turbine at 100 MW as preselected load and turned to island what happens
Please explain how controller will react with these situations

I have some other questions

1-to control the voltage how AVR and on load tap changer of main transformer will work together 2-what is the difference between island mode and dead bus mode (especially if recovering from black out)

2-we have three 9FA machines and when it all in AGC sometimes one of them picks up more load up to 30 MW extra. Is this normal? And why it happens?

Finally thank you for your effort and I'm sorry for this much questions but I read too much and asked many people about this control system but always it is confusing and contradictive.
 
Kamel,

I think you do have doubts, because I don't understand what's not clear about the answers that were previously provided....

>> 1-for finite sys increasing excitation can produce VARs or only voltage will increase.

> What i mean here, for a small grid (island mode) if there are only 3 turbines when we increase excitation
> only the voltage will increase? And dose VARs can be produced or not? Because in very large grids increasing excitation
> will increase VARs not voltage

In the same way that any system, finite or infinite, can't make more watts (real power) than the load on the system presents, generators can't produce more VArs (reactive power) than the load on the system present. Now, if you have three generators on a small system and the total reactive load is 30 MVArs, if two of the generators are carrying 15 MVArs each, and the excitation of the third generator is increased then it's likely the reactive power from either or both of the other generators might shift to the third generator--but the total VARs <b> AIN'T GONNA CHANGE.</b> And in one generator is carrying all of the reactive load and the excitation on that generator is increased further then the voltage of the system is going to increase.

VArs can be thought of exactly like watts. If you increase the torque above what's required to keep the power being produced equal to the power being consumed then the frequency of the system is going to increase. If you increase the excitation above what's required to supply the reactive load on the system then the system voltage is going to increase.

>> 2-for infinite sys, terminal voltage will not change. So, how AVR will control the excitation during
>> loading/unloading what it will monitor?

If you reduce the torque being supplied to the generator below what's required to keep the generator running at a speed equal to 50 Hz (for your system), the speed of your generator is <b> NOT</b> going to change. That's because your unit will draw amperes from the grid (reverse power) to keep the generator (and turbine) running at synchronous frequency and speed. (In reality, the grid frequency will decrease by an almost imperceptible amount that is a function of the amount of power being drawn from the grid versus the total generation on the grid. But, for all intents and purposes the frequency will, on most systems, change by a minimal, imperceptible amount.)

If you reduce the excitation to your generator below what's required to keep your generator terminal voltage equal to the system voltage, reactive power will flow into the generator trying to keep the generator voltage equal to grid voltage. In reality, the voltage on your generator will decrease by a small amount, but for all intents and purposes it, too, will be an imperceptible amount.

> So whenever preselected load or base load activated the speedtronic will respond to it regardless we are in droop
> control or isochronous I have one question now: what is the effect of frequency change if preselected mode is active (dose load
> change) and if it is base load

The Speedtronic will not allow a turbine operating in Isochronous mode to enable Pre-Selected Load Control. Or Base Load. Isochronous mode is going to adjust the fuel in response to speed changes and the load is going to be what the load is going to be. Full stop. Period. End of discussion.

> If the turbine is loaded at 100 MW and turned to island mode what will happen if frequency is 50 or very high or very low
> And please explain how it can trip for over temp (load rate is there) If the turbine at 100 MW as preselected
> load and turned to island what happens Please explain how controller will react with these situations

Frequency high: The turbine is going to unload VERY quickly--because the loading/unloading rate in Isoch mode is VERY quick. It might even trip on reverse power.

Frequency very load: The turbine is going to load VERY quickly--and because the loading/unloading rate is MUCH faster in Isoch mode the unit could trip on exhaust overtemperature.

> I have some other questions

I'm going to let other people try to answer these questions. I seem to be answering the same questions over and over, so let's let others see if they can supply satisfactory answers.
 
Thank you CSA for your answers and I appreciate your effort so much. sorry for repeating questions but I'm confused so I'm asking for help.

Again thank you
 
Kamel,

I'm curious about the bicycle analogy and if it was helpful at all. I find that most people don't really understand why we "produce" electricity at all. It's just something that most people take for granted. If we think about a bicycle being used to do work (move people and/or goods from one place to another), it's just like a turbine and generator.

A turbine produces torque, which a generator converts to amps, which are transmitted over wires to motors which convert the amperes back into torque that is used to perform work. So, in reality, the turbine at your site is actually doing work in a LOT of remote locations--because the turbine is providing the torque to do the work at the locations where the motors are. And electricity is just the way the torque is transmitted from one place to another, to many places.

In an AC system, the transmission of amperes occurs at a particular frequency, 50 Hz in your case. That's akin to a bicycle, or bicycles, or bicycles with several riders and cranksets, moving a load at a particular speed. Because speed and frequency are directly related. Provide too much torque to the bicycle and the load will move at a faster speed than desired. Increase the load above the torque being supplied to the pedals and the load will move at a slower speed.

A generator is exactly the same. Provide torque in excess of the load being produced by the motors connected to the generator and the frequency will increase. Increase the number of motors and the work being performed by the motors in excess of the torque being provided to the generator and the frequency will decrease.

It's that simple.

Now, think of a grid (large or infinite) as the sum of all the motors (and lights and computers and monitors) and of all the generation (the amount of torque being produced by the prime movers driving the generators which are actually doing the work at the other end of the wires connected to the generators). If you increase the torque above what's required to keep the frequency constant, the load doesn't change (the number of motors and lights and computers and monitors)--the frequency increases.

If you allow the number of motors and lights and computers and monitors to increase above the amount of torque being provided to the generators by the prime movers then the frequency will decrease.

It's that simple.

Now, excitation, what we're trying to do is to keep our generator terminal voltage equal to grid voltage. And as long as generator terminal voltage is equal to grid voltage then there will be NO reactive current flowing in the generator stator windings.

In the same way that grid frequency is never perfectly constant (trend SFL1 and SFL2 along with turbine speed), grid voltage is never perfectly constant either. And that means that excitation is going to have to change to keep the relationship between generator terminal voltage and grid voltage in check. If for a constant load (watts) the grid voltage increases and the excitation remains constant then leading VArs will flow in the generator stator windings. If for a constant load the excitation is reduced below that required to make generator terminal equal to grid voltage then leading VArs will flow in the generator stator winding.

Does the generator terminal voltage actually change? Imperceptibly so, depending on the magnitude of excitation change. Just like the frequency changes on a grid as load or generation changes--imperceptibly on a properly regulated grid--so does the generator terminal voltage change as excitation changes. By changing the excitation on one generator to try to raise grid voltage or lower grid voltage, the voltage isn't going to change by very much at all because there are a lot of other generators out there all connected to the same grid.

It's just like what happens when you load your generator (watts)--you can't appreciably change the grid frequency but if the load on the grid remains constant and you increase the torque being provided to the generator the grid frequency will increase--by an amount that's proportional to the increase in torque with respect to the total amount of torque being provided to the grid. The larger the grid, the smaller the effect.

Excitation and VArs are very difficult to explain, especially here on control.com. There are all kinds of maths and vectors, but the upshot of all that stuff is this: If the excitation exceeds the amount required to make the generator terminal voltage equal to the grid voltage then lagging VArs will flow in the generator stator windings. And if excitation is less than the amount required to maintain generator terminal voltage equal to grid voltage then leading VArs will flow in the generator stator windings. VArs flowing in the stator windings reduce the efficiency of the generator.

The AVR is a control system for keeping the excitation stable, just as the governor function of the Speedtronic turbine control system keeps the torque production stable. The AVR can be used to increase or decrease VArs, just as the Speedtronic can be used to increase or decrease watts.

The tires of a bicycle require air to stay inflated so that there is sufficient traction. A poorly inflated tire also requires more torque to travel at the same speed because of the increased contact with the road. A poorly inflated tire will also have reduced life because the side walls will wear out faster due to heat and contact with the road. An over-inflated tire will not have as much traction because of reduced contact with the road, and it will be more prone to puncture and flattening if over-inflated. I guess you could consider excitation to be the air in the tires of the bicycle. The ability to maintain traction to maintain speed without requiring excessive torque to overcome under-inflation can be equated to excitation keeping the generator terminal voltage equal to grid voltage.

When a synchronous generator is being synchronized, the usual practice is to make the speed of the generator (the frequency) slightly higher than grid frequency. This is so that when the generator breaker is closed and the generator slows down to match grid frequency the "excess" torque will result in a slight positive power flow (watts) out of the generator.

In the same way, when synchronizing a generator the terminal voltage is usually slightly higher than grid voltage, or at least equal to grid voltage, so that when the generator breaker is closed there will be a slight "positive" VAr indication (lagging VArs) or zero VArs.

Again, the questions you ask are good ones. I just don't seem to be able to give you the answers you require to help overcome the questions. If you can explain what it is about the bicycle analogy that you don't understand, then maybe we can move forward. Because, it's all directly relatable.

We can talk about Isochronous Speed Control with the bicycle analogy, too. Provided that's working for you. Help me to understand what you're not understanding.
 
Thank you so much CSA,

Your explanation is clear for me.

And to go step by step, after synchronizing does excitation control is only by terminal voltage or there are other parameters control it?

What I don’t understand now if the grid voltage not changing (suppose) and turbine load increasing the torque will increase so load angle will increase. so in this case does the excitation will increase or leading VARs will flow (in case the grid voltage is stable)?
 
Kamel,

The way I learned it in university, and the way I like to explain it is thusly....

There are two magnetic fields in the generator: the one produced by the excitation applied to the generator rotor, and the one produced by the current flowing in the generator stator windings.

The strength of any magnetic field is proportional to the amount of current flowing in that field. As the generator is "loaded", the amount of current flowing in the generator stator windings increases, and the strength of the magnetic fields of the generator stator windings therefore increases.

The two fields "interact" with each other in many different ways. As one field's strength is increased, this can have an impact on the strength of the other magnetic field. In fact, as the strength of the stator field increases, it tends to "reduce" the effects of the rotor field, and if allowed to continue unchecked what will happen is that leading reactive current (VArs) will flow in the generator stator windings. And most synchronous generators are not built to withstand the effects of a lot of leading reactive current flowing in the generator stator windings.

So, what usually happens is that as a generator is "loaded"--meaning that the torque being applied to the generator rotor is increased, and the generator excitation is not changed--the operator will see that the VAr meter, which was probably at 0 VArs or at some small leading value initially after synchronization, starts moving in the Leading direction. So, the operator will need to increase the excitation to keep the VAr meter at 0 or in the Lagging direction.

Some turbine-generator units have something called VAr Control. VAr Control will automatically adjust excitation as required to maintain the VAr setpoint as the unit is loaded or unloaded, relieving the operator of the responsibility to do this (or so he thinks!). And, since Power Factor and reactive current are related, many turbine-generators also have Power Factor control, which will adjust the excitation as required to maintain a Power Factor setpoint as the machine is loaded and unloaded.

Once you reach the desired load (watts) for your unit and have adjusted the excitation to the desired reactive current or power factor (I'm not talking about using VAr Control or Power Factor Control now), the operator's job is NOT finished. During the course of the day the grid voltage will change, just by a few volts, or tens of volts, or sometimes a hundred volts or so, but that change is relatively imperceptible on high-voltage systems (11,000 Volts, or 130,000 Volts). BUT, if the excitation on your generator remains constant that difference will result in a change in reactive current flow (and Power Factor) in the generator stator windings. And, so the operator will need to continually monitor the VAr meter, or the Power Factor meter, and adjust the excitation as required to maintain the setpoint given to him by his supervisor, in response to grid voltage changes.

If the unit has VAr Control, or Power Factor Control, the operator can enable either of those functions (they both can't be running at the same time) and the excitation will be adjusted as necessary as grid voltages changes throughout the day, even if the load (watts) on the generator remain relatively stable throughout the day.

It's all about "relativity". If the grid voltage is "constant" and the operator increases the generator rotor excitation above the amount required to keep the generator terminal voltage equal to the grid voltage then Lagging reactive current will flow in the generator stator windings. Likewise, if the generator excitation is equal to the amount required to keep the generator terminal voltage equal to the grid voltage and the grid voltage decreases then Lagging reactive current will flow in the generator stator windings.

Think about real power (watts) now. When the generator breaker is closed if the torque being applied to the generator by the turbine is exactly equal to the amount required to keep the generator spinning at synchronous speed (frequency) there will be NO real power flowing in the generator stator windings. If the torque is then increased above the amount required to keep the generator rotor spinning at synchronous speed (frequency) then real power will flow "out" of the generator, to the load. If the torque is decreased below the amount required to keep the generator rotor spinning at synchronous speed then real power will flow "into" into the generator and it will in effect become a motor driving the turbine.

Well, it's basically the same for the voltage, right? Excitation more than required to keep generator terminal voltage equal to grid voltage means reactive power will flow "out" of the generator (Lagging VArs are perceived to flow "out" of a generator), and excitation below the amount required to keep generator terminal voltage equal to grid voltage means that reactive current will flow "into" the generator (Leading VArs are perceived to flow "into" a generator).

That's how I was taught; that's how I perceive things; that's how I like to teach others.

Re-read the above now, and it should get clearer. And clearer each time you re-read it. I hope.

As the load angle increases, if the excitation is held constant, then the increased stator current will cause the stator magnetic field to strengthen, which will "reduce" the effect of the rotor magnetic field which will affect the reactive current flowing in the generator stator windings.

I don't really understand all the confusion about the AVR and generator terminal voltage control. The AVR usually has two modes: "Manual" and "Automatic", or "DC" and "AC". Manual mode means the excitation is monitoring the DC current (or DC voltage) being applied to the generator rotor, and the setpoint is generator rotor current (or DC voltage) to keep the current (or voltage) equal to the setpoint. It's the operator's responsibility to monitor the generator terminal voltmeter, or the VAr- or Power Factor-, meter and adjust the rotor current (or voltage) to maintain the desired volts/VArs/Power Factor.

In Automatic mode, the setpoint is AC generator terminal voltage, and the excitation is adjusted to keep the generator AC terminal voltage equal to the generator AC terminal voltage setpoint. If the relationship between the generator terminal voltage changes (whether it's because the excitation changes or the grid voltage changes) then the VArs and the Power Factor will also change.

If the unit has VAr Control and/or Power Factor Control, then the excitation will be adjusted as necessary to maintain the VAr or Power Factor setpoint, and the amount of current (and voltage) being applied to the generator rotor, and therefore the generator terminal voltage (in relation to the grid voltage) will be changed as necessary. Think of the "Manual" regulator as the "main" regulator, and the "Automatic" regulator "driving" the "Manual" regulator (this is sometimes referred to as "inner loop" and "outer loop"), and if either VAr Control or Power Factor control is active then that is "driving" the "Automatic" regulator (which is driving the Manual regulator). Isn't this fun?!?!???!!!

It's very similar to considering what will happen if the torque being provided to the generator rotor is being maintained at or near the amount required just to keep the generator rotor spinning at synchronous speed. An increase in torque will cause real power (watts) to flow "out" of the generator stator windings, and a decrease in torque will cause real power (watts) to flow "into" the generator stator windings ("motorizing" the generator--which is not a desirable condition to occur for very long).

You have asked about 'on-load' tap changers and how that affects reactive current flow. Well, when the transformer taps are changed, then the relationship between the low-voltage "voltage" and the "high-voltage" voltage changes, and that means the magnitude of the voltage that is "seen" at the generator terminals changes, which means that the reactive current will also change. It's another method of controlling the relationship between grid voltage and generator terminal voltage, and therefore the amount (and type or "direction") of reactive current flowing in the generator stator windings. An 'on-load' tap changer means that the taps of the transformer can be changed when current is flowing through the transformer (real power current, watts). Some taps can't be changed when current is flowing through the transformer; some transformers don't have adjustable taps at all--the relationship between low- and high-voltage voltages is not adjustable at all.

I hope this helps.

I guess what might be causing some confusion is how increasing or decreasing the torque being applied to the generator rotor might have an effect on the reactive current flowing in the generator stator windings. And, that's a function of the relative strengths of the two magnetic fields at work in the generator, that are keeping the generator rotor locked in step with the "rotating" magnetic fields of the generator stator and therefore keeping the generator rotor spinning at synchronous speed--equal to the speed that is directly proportional to the frequency of the grid with which it is connected.

I was taught that the interaction between the two magnetic fields as the strengths of the two magnetic fields are varied with respect to each other is called "armature reaction", but some people don't think this is exactly what the pure definition of armature reaction is.

Do you need to know exactly what the pure definition of armature reaction is to be a good operator or technician? No. Do you need to know all of the maths and vectors to be a good operator or technician? No. Do you need to understand the fundamentals to be a good operator or technician? Yes. The designers of the equipment (the turbines and the generators and the AVRs and the transformers) they need to know all of that stuff to make it operate in the desired ranges and to have a long life and to be reliable and safe. If it's not operated within the limits of the design then it's not going to last very long, to begin with, and it's not going to "behave" as it should--and that's where a more detailed understanding of the maths and vectors will be more helpful.

As an operator and/or a technician you need to remember this:

--Real power is a function of the energy being admitted to the prime mover of the generator.

--Reactive power is a function of the excitation being applied to the prime mover of the generator.

The formula for three-phase real power is:

W = Vt * Ia * (3^0.5) * Power Factor

where W = Power, in Watts (or KW or MW)
Vt = Generator Terminal Voltage
Ia = Generator Armature (Stator) Current

Because we consider the voltage of most generators to be constant (within a small range, usually no more than approximately +/- 5% of nameplate rated) and since generator terminal voltage is primarily a function of excitation, and since we consider the Power Factor to be relative stable (which is also a function of excitation--which should be relatively stable), the only variable in the equation is Ia, which is directly proportional the amount of torque being applied to the generator rotor by the prime mover. And the amount of torque is directly proportional to the amount of energy being introduced into the prime mover. So, if you vary the fuel (or steam) into the prime mover you vary the torque being produced by the prime mover, which varies the amount of current flowing in the generator stator windings (armature), which affects the real power being produced by the generator.

Can you change the real power by changing the excitation? Yes, but not by very much. As you vary excitation the generator terminal voltage will change. But, we said the amount is usually limited to +/ 5%, so for a generator rated at 13,800 Volts that means only about +/- 700 Volts. That change in excitation not only affect generator terminal voltage but it also affects the Power Factor, which is a measure of the efficiency of the generator at producing "real" work (watts) for the energy being applied to the generator rotor by the prime mover. Again, if we can only change the generator terminal voltage by no more than 5%, then we can't have a very large affect on power--less than 5%, right?

As an operator or technician, if the watts being produced by the turbine-generator are not stable you need to know if that's because the fuel (or steam) flow is not stable or if it's because the excitation is not stable. Or, if the VAr meter (or the Power Factor meter) is not stable you need to know is that a function of the fuel (or steam) flow being unstable or of the excitation being unstable. Then you can begin to troubleshoot the problem or understand the event. Do you need to know maths and vectors? It might be helpful, but I can tell you that most of the people I've met in my decades in this business who know the maths and vectors can't explain the fundamentals to operator and technicians so they can understand it and operate the turbine-generators better. And those who do not really understand or use maths and vectors to explain turbine-generator operation and fundamentals to others so they can operate the turbine-generators better ARE more capable of explaining and teaching others to operate and maintain turbine-generators better.

Is this getting clearer?
 
All,

I want to make a clarification here about total generation exactly matching total load to keep frequency at nominal.

Let's consider the bicycle analogy again. To propel the rider (and any load: rider(s) and/or package(s)) at a constant speed the torque being provided to the crankset pedals has to be sufficient to achieve <b>and maintain</b> the desired speed. If more torque than required (for a particular load) is applied to the pedals, then the speed will be higher than desired. And if less torque than required is provided (for a particular load) then the speed will be lower than desired. And if the load varies then the amount of torque must also vary in order to maintain the same speed.

If the load decreases (some packages fall off the bicycle or are dropped off by the rider(s)) but the torque remained the same, then the speed will increase. That's because the difference between the torque required to move the bicycle at a constant speed with the reduced load and the torque required to move the bicycle at a constant with the higher load has decreased, so therefore the speed of the bicycle would increase if the torque didn't change. It doesn't take as much torque to propel the lower load at the same speed as was required before the load was reduced, so if the torque didn't change then the speed of the bicycle would increase.

Conversely, if the amount of torque being applied to the pedals is sufficient to keep the bicycle moving at the desired speed and suddenly some packages are added to the bicycle (or your friend jumps on the handlebars) but the amount of torque being applied to the pedals did not change, then the bicycle speed would decrease. Because the difference between the torque required to keep the bicycle at the desired speed before the load was added and the torque required to keep the bicycle moving at the desired speed after the load was added increased, the speed of the bicycle would decrease if the torque being applied didn't change.

If the load on the bicycle changes but the torque being applied to the bicycle pedals doesn't change then the speed of the bicycle will change. In other words, the bicycle won't stop just because the amount of torque required changes because the load changed; the bicycle, and the load, will still keep moving.

However, if it's desired to keep the speed of the bicycle constant if the load on the bicycle changes, then the torque being applied to the pedals must also change. If the torque being applied to the pedals isn't varied as the load on the bicycle is varied the bicycle will still move, along with the load, but it won't do so at a constant speed.

So it is with AC power generation. The load being provided by the power generators will always match the load required by the system--it just needs to be matched <b>at the system frequency</b> in order for the frequency to remain at nominal (desired). If too much torque is being applied to the generators to produce a particular amount of power at 50 Hz, then the frequency will be higher than 50 Hz. The generation matches the load, but <b>not</b> at the desired frequency.

In other words, if the torque being applied to a load exceeds the torque required to power the load at 50 Hz, then the frequency will be higher than 50 Hz. If the torque being provided to the load is less than the torque required to power the load at 50 Hz, then the frequency will be lower than 50 Hz. The generation "matches" the load, but <b>NOT</b> at the desired frequency.

The total generation will (most) always match the total load, but unless the generation matches the load <b>at the nominal frequency</b> then the frequency will not be as desired.

And that's what I have been meaning when I say the total generation "must EXACTLY match" the total load--the total amount of generation must match the load <b>at the nominal frequency</b>, for the grid frequency to remain at nominal and stable. The torque being provided to the bicycle pedals must be sufficient to move the load at the desired speed, or else the speed will be higher or lower than desired.

If the torque being provided doesn't change but the load increases, then the speed (frequency) will decrease. If the torque being provided doesn't change but the load decreases, then the speed (frequency) will increase.

It works exactly the same for both the bicycle and the generator. If we consider all of the generators connected to a grid as "one" generator, and all of the loads as "one" load, the analogy of the bicycle and load moving at a constant speed regardless of load changes works exactly like maintaining the frequency constant of a grid as load changes. It's all about torque, be it a bicycle or a generator. Even if the torque doesn't change, the load still "moves"--just not at the desired speed. Or, if the torque changes but the load doesn't change, the load still "moves"--just not at the desired speed.

I hope this clarifies any confusion my "must EXACTLY match" statements have caused.
 
OOPS!!!

>--Reactive power is a function of the
>excitation being applied to the prime
>mover of the generator.
<pre><b>***!!!NOT!!!***</b></pre>
Excitation is <b>NOT</b> applied to a generator prime mover (I need to be more careful with 'Copy and Paste'!).

Excitation is applied to the generator rotor.

SORRY!!!
 
Dear CSA

regarding the relation between load, frequency, excitation and VARs it is very clear to me now. so thank you so much. But I need to read your explanation more and more for certain points.

Again thank you so much
 
Kamel,

You are welcome for whatever help I may have provided. I learn a LOT from contributing to control.com, and one of the things I learn is that a single description or answer doesn't work for everyone's question, even if the question is the same as someone else's question. So, have patience as I try to find what works for you.
 
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