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The generator is provided with a regulation system which is the main responsible for the correct conduction of the machine. This system primarily operates in automatic mode, in order to have the best dynamic performances and securities, but it is possible the operation in manual mode too (next image). The first of the possible regulations is on the stator voltage, which normally has to be maintained constant or regulated following particular logic useful for the plant exercise. Other types of regulation can be done (i.e. cos of machine). The regulation system is digital and normally fully redundant, in order to be classified as fault tolerant.
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Automatic and Manual regulation modes

Automatic regulation mode
Set-point selection Electric feed-back Stator voltage

Regulation & Excitation systems

GEN

Manual regulation mode

Human visual feed-back

Stator voltage indicator

Automatic correction

Regulation & Excitation systems

GEN

Continuous human correction Doc. n 196 W 429 Rev.1 Oct. 2008 2

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CLASSIC REGULATION LOOP OF THE STATOR VOLTAGE

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VT feedback Feedback

Reference + Err.
Regulator Firing circuits

G
Bridge

Exciter

Doc. n 196 W 429 Rev.1 Oct. 2008

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AUTOMATIC VOLTAGE REGULATOR

Feedback of stator voltage
Error

Bridge Operator interface Regulator

Regulation system

Ref.

Firing circuits

Feedback of stator voltage

Transfer functions
Ref. + A K1
1 + s T1

+ B

Feedback of stator voltage

K3

1 + s T3

Feedback of field voltage

Thyristors firing angle

Doc. n 196 W 429 Rev.1 Oct. 2008

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AUTOMATIC VOLTAGE REGULATOR

The automatic regulation has the main purpose to maintain constant the voltage at the alternator terminals even if the load varies casually. The figure at left shows, for instance, the behaviour of the stator voltage of a machine that sees a load disconnection and reacts with its regulation. The voltage increases but the regulator reacts and brings it back to the previous value V0 after some oscillation (for simplicity in this example the contribution of the function compound is not considered pls. see next image). When the feedback changes the error on the reference corrects the Iexc.
Vstator transitory
Feedback Error negative ( reduce Iexc)

Error

Error = Reference - Feedback

V0

V0

Reference

Error = 0

time 0 0 Doc. n 196 W 429 Rev.1 Oct. 2008

Errors positive (increase Iexc)

time

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COMPOUND AND COMPENSATION

This function automatically corrects the set-point of the regulation loop of the stator voltage, in proportion to the actual current reactive delivered by the generator. Such correction can be in increases (straight line in rise- compensation) or in decreases (straight line in descent- compound) but it is always done in automatic and transparent way for the operator. It is an additional signal injected in the comparison point that corrects the reference of the regulator. The compensation allows to maintain constant the voltage after the step-up transformer. The compound contributes to the automatic reactive load division among more groups of the same plant in parallel on the same bar.
Vstator Compound + Ref. +Error

Other signals 1 p.u.

Compensation

Band 0 22% Band 0 22% Ireactiv a 1 p.u. di Ireact = I nom statoric

Compound

Feedback of stator voltage

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STABILIZING SIGNALS ( PSS )

Purpose of this function is to reduce the electromechanical oscillations of the machine due to consistent load variations and this favors the stability of the group and of the grid to it connected. Its intervention is transitory (just for the strong load variations only) and the principle of its operation is to add brief corrective impulses to the field current in the most opportune instants of the oscillations: in such way the damping action will be favorite.
An intuitive comparison that can clarify the mechanism concept of this function operation is illustrated in figure. In the moments near to those in which the pendulum reaches the apex of its oscillation it is possible to influence its future run giving new touches of push, also of modest entity, but in well precise instants. If such touches of push are applied, every time, immediately after the pendulum has already reached and overcome the apex of every run, the ampleness of its oscillations will increase more always. Contrarily, if that touches of push are applied, every time, immediately before the pendulum has reached the apex of every run, the ampleness of its oscillations will find contrast and it will decrease progressively. This is the same principle of action of the stabilizing signals. Doc. n 196 W 429 Rev.1 Oct. 2008

Pendulum

Apex of the oscillation

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STABILIZING SIGNALS ( PSS )

The two following figures show what is the effectiveness of the stabilizing signals on the process to reduce the statoric oscillations produced by a strong transitory of power on the grid (for instance short circuit).
1.5 1.5

0.5

P 0.5 0 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 0 -1

Without PSS

With PSS

The setting of the PSS parameters for a generator connected to a particular electric grid can normally be optimized with specific SW simulations, given by the Manager of the Grid.
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REGULATION OF THE REACTIVE POWER

The regulation of the reactive power Q is done with the help of the regulation loop of the statoric voltage, through which, regulating the field current (and therefore the internal voltage Ei), it is possible vary the reactive power that the generator exchanges with the load. With this type of regulation, Q is maintained constant maintaining constant the difference between the internal voltage Ei and the grid voltage VGRID. Practically there is a regulation loop in which the wished reference Q* is continuously compared with the real reactive power currently delivered: the possible error corrects the reference of the voltage loop to vary Ei in such way that the generator will produce a Q (= Ei-VGRID) equal to the wished reference Q*.
Voltages

Internal voltage E1 (E1 VGRID ) Q Grid voltage VGRID

Time

Correcting E1 in order to recopy VGRID , the Q will be maintained constant Doc. n 196 W 429 Rev.1 Oct. 2008 9

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REGULATION OF THE POWER FACTOR

The regulation of the power factor (cos ) is done with the help of the regulation loop of statoric voltage, through which it is possible vary the reactive power exchanged by the generator with the load (as already seen previously) and consequently its cos .
The working principle of this type of regulation is the following. Continuously it is measured the active power value that the machine is delivering now and, based on it, it is calculated the consequent reactive power that maintains constant the wanted relationship among these two powers (active and reactive) and therefore the cos . The automatic regulator will act to maintain this calculated reactive power until there will be a successive variation of the active power. The figure shows that, if the MW changes (from MW1 to MW2), the exciter will vary the MVAR (from MVAR1 to MVAR2) and P1 P2. Doc. n 196 W 429 Rev.1 Oct. 2008
Under-excitation
MVAR2 MVAR1 P1 P1 MVAR

Over-excitation
P2

0
MW1 MW2

MW

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LIMITS IN OVER AND UNDEREXCITATION ZONES

MW

LIMIT IN OVEREXCITATION This function protects the generator against prolonged trespasses out of the capability zone hazardous for the integrity of the field windings.

Underexc.

Action curve of the overexcitation limit

+
Overexc.

MVAR

Action curve of the underexcitation limit

MW

LIMIT IN UNDEREXCITATION This function protects the generator against prolonged trespasses out of the capability zone hazardous for the stability of the group and for the integrity of terminal parts of the stator.

Nominal working point Pn

_
Undrexc.

Overexc.

MVAR

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LIMIT OF FLUX

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The flux inside the machine is given by the ratio V/f . The colored area represents the surface of the normal working points allowed indefinitely by the project, while the outlined areas adjacent to it, are always representative of working points allowed for the machine, but with more stressful conditions of those in the colored zone. For this reason the permanent exercise of the group outside the colored area is unadvisable, in order to limit, as far as possible, the "loss of life" of the generator. The flux limit of the exciter acts along the highest oblique segment and it adapts the stator voltage on the foreseen relationship V/f, when the frequency decreases.
V (%) Flux V/f = = 105% nom 105%

95% 98%

100% 102%

105% f (%) 103% Flux V/f = = 95% nom

95%

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In this diagram V/f the limitations are due to:
in A

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V (%) Flux V/f = = 105% nom

A

105%

max flux (V/f) , max voltage (gen.) and min frequency (turbine)
in B

max voltage and max frequency

in C

95% 98%
D

100% 102%

105% f (%) 103%

C

max frequency, min voltage (max current) and min flux (instability)
in D

95%

Flux V/f = = 95% nom

min frequency and min voltage (max current)

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AnsaldoEnergia NOTES

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- The reactive power and power factor regulations can be only actuated when the generator is synchronized to the grid. Its disconnection automatically produces a changeover to the stator voltage regulation (in island configuration too). - Any change-over to the other regulator is bumpless in order to avoid any dynamic and thermal machine variation.

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Typical exercise sequence of a generator

Predisposition completed Turbine at nominal speed Exciter fed and in automatic voltage regulation

Exc ON

Soft-start Voltage equalization

Synchronization

First loading (few MW)

VOLTAGE Regulation

LOADING

Reg. COS or Reg. REACT.

LOADING

INCR / DECR EHC and EXC

Reduction of Reactive Power to 0

Reduction of Active Power to 0

Disconnection from the grid

Exc OFF

Generator de-excited

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