Synchronization of power station generator and power system Testing the accuracy of a synchronizing device

using special EnerLyzer features

Boris Bastigkeit, OMICRON
Introduction
Is the synchronizing device set correctly? Are the
generator voltage and frequency sufficiently adjusted to
the corresponding quantities of the power system? Is the
synchronization performed precisely at the ideal moment?
How much is the deviation of the voltage, frequency and
the angle when the circuit breaker closes? What about
the values of the active and reactive power transients and
the compensation processes after the close occurs?
Which harmonics are caused by this process?
These are possible questions occurring in context with the
commissioning of a synchronizing device. The quality of
the synchronization process has a positive influence on
the generator lifetime. Conversely, malfunctions can result
in tremendous defects. [1], [2]
The new test module OMICRON Synchronizer is
dedicated for testing of synchronizing devices. The
transient recording feature of the OMICRON EnerLyzer,
which is integrated in OMICRON's CMC 256 can help
answer the questions mentioned above. This is pointed
out by the following report dealing with the
commissioning of a synchronizing device for a
synchronous machine in the power station Tavanasa
operated by NOK in Switzerland.
Figure 1: Engine room in the power station Tavanasa
Situation
Each of the four engine groups installed in the Tavanasa
power station consists of a water-powered Pelton turbine
having 2 runners with 2 nozzles each (head 479m, power
45,000kW) and one generator (nom. power 60MVA,
nom. voltage 13.5kV).
The task was to upgrade the synchronizing devices. Per
engine group one dual-channel system Synchrotact 4
from ABB Industrie AG was used as the synchronizing
device. The power system voltage (measured on the
corresponding generator bus bar) and the generator
voltage were supplied to the synchronizing device using
potential transformers. The synchronizing device was
controlled by the station's automation.
Test and measurement tasks
The following test and measurement tasks were
performed as part of the commissioning for the
synchronizing device for engine group 4 using the test set
(transient recorder feature of the) OMICRON CMC 256.
Secondary testing of the synchronizing devices.
For more details refer to the chapter "First step of
commissioning".
Primary trials and quality assessment of the
synchronization For more details refer to the chapter
"Third step of commissioning".
First step of commissioning:
Secondary testing of synchronizing devices
The goal is to check the correct function of the
synchronizing devices and to determine possible
malfunctions or parameterization (settings) errors. The
synchronizing devices contain different sets of
parameters. One set of parameters is available for each
operating mode of the engine group (normal mode,
power system start up, stand-alone system).
Each set of parameters must be checked separately.
For this purpose, NOK uses the test module OMICRON
Synchronizer.
The test object (the synchronizing device) is connected to
the OMICRON test set as shown in figure 2. For dual-
channel synchronizing devices the second channel of the
synchronizing device is driven in parallel.
Figure 2: Test set-up
The corresponding parameter settings (e.g. for parameter
set 1: U=2V, f=100mHz, Phi=15el., CB residual
time=60ms) are entered as shown in figure 3.
Figure 3: OMICRON Synchronizer, parameter settings
for parameter set 1
Then an "adjustment test" is performed using the test
software. This means that the OMICRON test system
receives the control commands, which are normally sent
from the synchronizing device to the voltage or speed
regulator, and simulates the generator's response
(controller characteristics du/dt and df/dt). Thus the
synchronizing device is tested under conditions as real as
possible.
In the V/f plane (refer to figure 4) for each quadrant one
test point was pre-determined outside of the
synchronizing window (U>2V, f>100mHz).
Default Result
Quadrant U>, f< passed
Quadrant U>, f> passed
Quadrant U<, f< passed
Quadrant U<, f> passed
It is only possible to pass these tests if the following two
conditions are fulfilled:
The synchronizing device puts out sufficient control
commands with a correct time period to the
corresponding actuating elements (this way the
generator is lead into the permissible range of the
synchronizing window).
The CB close command is put out by the
synchronizing device within the permissible range of
the synchronizing window.
Figure 4: OMICRON Synchronizer with the 4 passed test
points
The most important results are the voltage, frequency and
angle differences of the 2 systems for the 4 test points.
The following results were calculated by the OMICRON
Synchronizer test module for the moment when the
generator is connected to the power system, taking into
account the CB residual time:
Calculated test results when switching on the CB:
Testpt. U f {}
Quadrant U>, f< 480mV 27mHz 0,83
Quadrant U>, f> 390mV 70mHz 0,46
Quadrant U<, f< 360mV 68mHz 0,45
Quadrant U<, f> 870mV 33mHz 0,70
Second step of commissioning:
Further tests
During these tests the generator is not yet connected to
the power system (the CB is in disconnected position).
The following tests were performed (the most important
items are listed in short form, no claim to completeness;
the OMICRON test set was not required for these tests):
Check of the entire wiring and signaling.
Generator bus bar disconnected on the primary side,
connected through, nominal voltage, check of the
secondary differential voltages (nominal voltage 0V)
and the rotating field.
Check of the values measured by the synchronizing
device and the instruments.
Circuit breakers for the potential transformer:
Check of locking mechanisms when they are tripped.
Check whether the synchronizing device is controlled
correctly.
Checks of the control commands and controller
characteristics, behavior of the engine group
regarding this. Possibly required optimizations for the
parameter settings.
Repeated switching on of the CB in disconnected
state in several initial situations as well as checks of
the connection moments and the sequences in the
control.
Third step of commissioning:
Primary trials and quality assessment of the
synchronizations
Up to now, all tests were passed. The actual
synchronization of the generator to the power system can
be performed.
In order to assess the quality of the first synchronization
with the power system (primary trials) various measuring
values are recorded using a transient recorder. Here, the
following is of particular importance:
Level of the differential voltage when switching on
(nominal value = 0V).
Level of the reactive and active power transient after
switching on.
Power behavior after switching on.
Remark:
Up to now, NOK created the power behavior records
using an old UV paper graph plotter together with special
transducers. (Advantage: high measurement precision.
Disadvantages: very time-consuming measuring
arrangement, many devices required, high volume and
weight of the UV paper graph plotter, UV paper is
expensive and fades, measured values are not available as
digital data, thus no evaluation on the PC possible, no
spare parts.)
Now, this measurement task can be considerably
improved and simplified using the OMICRON EnerLyzer
(10 channel transient recorder integrated in the
CMC 256) in conjunction with OMICRON TransView
which enables directly calculating the power from the
recorded currents and voltages. In addition, the secondary
testing and the recording of the primary trial can now be
performed using one single device, the OMICRON
CMC 256. Due to the automatic power calculation of the
analysis program OMICRON TransView, special
transducers are also no longer needed. The recorded
transients can be stored to COMTRADE files and are
again available for analysis at any later point in time.
When setting up the test, please note that the power
calculation of OMICRON TransView always assumes a 3-
phase system. Therefore it is necessary to additionally
record V2, V3, I2 and I3 apart from the following desired
signals
CB close (binary signal, potential free)
VR-E (voltage, secondary)
VR-R (voltage, secondary)
IR (current, secondary)
These additional channels are indeed parameterized in the
OMICRON EnerLyzer but for recording they are short-
circuited at the device. Therefore, during the
measurement V2, V3, I2 and I3 are zero. The power
calculated by OMICRON TransView corresponds exactly
to the power for phase R.
Figure 5: Connection diagram for recording the primary
trials
Figure 6: Test set-up for primary testing / The OMICRON
CMC 256 used as a 10-channel transient recorder
The transient recording mode settings in the OMICRON
EnerLyzer were as follows:
Figure 7: Settings in the OMICRON EnerLyzer
Sampling rate 3 kHz
Recording time (pre-trigger) 5 sec
Recording time (after trigger) 20 sec
Trigger CB close command
A total of 4 synchronizations were recorded. Below, an
exact analysis of the first synchronization is described.
Display of the recorded voltages and currents as well as
the CB close command using OMICRON TransView:
Figure 8: OMICRON TransView, voltages, currents and
CB close command
Calculation of the power behavior for the first
synchronization using OMICRON TransView:
Figure 9: OMICRON TransView, power behavior of P, Q
and S
The maximum value of the active power transient is
0.35 MW. The value of the reactive power transient is 0.6
MVAr and the apparent power transient is 0.7 MVA. This
corresponds to approx. 1 % of the rated generator power.
Consequently the synchronization quality is high.
Measurement of the circuit breaker residual time and
the differential voltage when switching on the
generator to the power system using OMICRON
TransView:
Figure 10: OMICRON TransView, measurement of
circuit breaker residual time and differential voltage
The measured circuit breaker residual time is 55.3 ms.
The peak value of the differential voltage when switching
on is approx. 2 V secondary. This corresponds to approx.
170 V primary or 2 % of the nominal voltage.
Consequently the synchronization quality is high.
The analysis of the synchronization is finished. The
analysis of the other synchronizations was performed
similar to the described procedure.
Conclusions
The secondary testing using the OMICRON
Synchronizer test module shows that the
synchronization device is able to bring the generator from
various non-synchronous conditions very close to the
synchronous point (the maximum measured differential
angle is 0.8).
The recording of the synchronizations using the 10-
channel transient recorder OMICRON EnerLyzer in the
CMC 256 can confirm the result from the secondary
testing.
The very high synchronization quality is confirmed by the
analysis of the recorded transients and the calculations
from the analysis software OMICRON TransView.
The procedure described in this document used in
conjunction with the commissioning of a synchronizing
device provides high reliability for an optimum adjustment
and correct function of the synchronizing device.
Literature:
[1] VGB Technische Vereinigung der
Grokraftwerkbetreiber e.V: Fachkunde fr den
Kraftwerkbetrieb, Elektrotechnik, Teil 1 und 2
[2] K.Albert, O.Apelt, G.Br, H-J. Koglin: Elektrischer
Eigenbedarf, Energietechnik in Kraftwerken und
Industrie; VDE Verlag