FREE GOVERNOR MODE OF

OPERATION
(FGMO)
FOR
STEAM TURBINES


ORGANISATION OF PRESENTATION
What is FGMO ?
IEGC guidelines
Facilities available in KWU design sets of BHEL
Problems in implementation of FGMO
Modifications carried in control scheme
Conclusion
FREE GOVERNOR MODE OPERATION
(FGMO)
It means that the governor is free to govern as per
its regulation/droop characteristics
There are no constraints imposed on it like
- Valve kept wide open
- frequency influence switched off
- dead band for frequency influence
- delibrate time delays
OBJECTIVE OF FREE GOVERNOR MODE OF
OPERATION
To arrest transient swings in grid frequency
To maintain national grid frequency within IEGC
band of 49 to 50.5 Hz
Free governor operation allows the machine to load
or unload depending upon whether frequency is
lower than or more than the reference frequency
Variation in grid frequency can be minimized by
putting all the generating stations on free
governor mode of operation
STEADY STATE SPEED REGULATION
(DROOP)
IT IS THE CHANGE IN STEADY STATE SPEED
EXPRESSED IN % OF RATED SPEED,
WHEN
THE OUTPUT OF THE TURBINE IS GRADUALLY
REDUCED FROM RATED POWER DOWN TO
ZERO POWER
WITH IDENTICAL SETTINGS OF ALL ELEMENTS
OF THE SPEED GOVERNING SYSTEM
DROOP CHARACTERISTICS
2400
2600
2800
3000
3200
0 20 40 60 80 100
Load %
S
p
e
e
d

(
r
p
m
)
5% droop
3000
3150
Droop = (3150-3000) /3000 *100 = 5%
EXAMPLE OF NORTHERN GRID
Total installed capacity= 28000 MW
Normally available power (approx.) = 17000 MW
Peak load demand in a day (approx.) = 19000 MW

Hence total shortfall in a day = 2000 MW (approx.
10%)
Therefore, variation in grid frequency should not be
more than 0.25 Hz (=0.1*2.5Hz). But in actual the
variation in frequency is of the order of 1-1.5 Hz.

ASSUMPTION :- DROOP = 5 %
THIS MEANS THAT
Governors are operating in locked condition
To enforce grid discipline, CERC issues
guidelines for implementation of FGMO
INDIAN ELECTRICITY GRID CODE (IEGC)
SECTION 6.2 (E)
ALL GENERATING UNITS, WHICH ARE SYNCHRONISED
WITH THE GRID, IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR OWNERSHIP,
TYPE AND SIZE, SHALL HAVE THEIR GOVERNORS IN
NORMAL OPERATION AT ALL TIMES. IF ANY
GENERATING UNIT OF OVER FIFTY (50) MW SIZE (10 MW
FOR NORTH EASTERN REGION) IS REQUIRED TO BE
OPERATED WITHOUT ITS GOVERNOR IN NORMAL
OPERATION, THE RLDC SHALL BE IMMEDIATELY
ADVISED ABOUT THE REASON AND DURATION OF SUCH
OPERATION. ALL GOVERNOR SHALL HAVE A DROOP OF
BETWEEN 3% AND 6%

INDIAN ELECTRICITY GRID CODE
BHEL sets meet the requirement of droop

LMW Turbine - 4%
Siemens Turbine - 2.5% to 8% in EHC mode
5% in Hydraulic mode
INDIAN ELECTRICITY GRID CODE (IEGC)
SECTION 6.2 (F)
FACILITIES AVAILABLE WITHIN LOAD LIMITERS,
AUTOMATIC TURBINE RUN UP SYSTEM, TURBINE
SUPERVISORY CONTROL, CO-ORDINATED CONTROL
SYSTEM ETC. SHALL NOT BE USED TO SUPPRESS THE
NORMAL GOVERNOR ACTION IN ANY MANNER. NO
DEAD BAND AND / OR TIME DELAYS SHALL BE
DELIBERATELY INTRODUCED.
INDIAN ELECTRICITY GRID CODE (IEGC)
SECTION 6.2 (G)
ALL GENERATING UNITS, OPERATING AT / UP TO 100%
OF THEIR MAXIMUM CONTINOUS RATING (MCR) SHALL
NORMALLY BE CAPABLE OF (AND SHALL NOT IN ANY
WAY BE PREVENTED FROM) INSTANTANEOUSLY
PICKING UP FIVE PERCENT (%) EXTRA LOAD FOR
ATLEAST FIVE (5) MINUTES OR WITHIN TECHNICAL
LIMITS PRESCRIBED BY THE MANUFACTURER WHEN
FREQUENCY FALLS DUE TO SYSTEM CONTNGENCY.
INDIAN ELECTRICITY GRID CODE (IEGC)
SECTION 6.2 (H)
THE RECOMMENDED RATE FOR CHANGING THE
GOVERNOR SETTING, I.E. SUPPLEMENTARY CONTROL
FOR INCREASING OR DECREASING THE OUTPUT
(GENERATION LEVEL) FOR ALL GENERATING UNITS,
IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR TYPE AND SIZE, WOULD BE
ONE (1.0) PERCENT PER MINUTE OR AS PER
MANUFACURERS LIMITS. HOWEVER, IF FREQUENCY
FALL BELOW 49.5 Hz, ALL PARTY LOADED GENERATING
UNITS SHALL PICKUP ADDITIONAL LOAD AT FASTER
RATE, ACCORDING TO THEIR CAPABILITY
REALISATION OF DROOP
CHARACTERISTICS
In hydraulic control mode these are
inherent in the governing system (as the
system acts to control speed)
In electrical controller, these are built-up
through frequency influence on load
setpoint (as the system acts to control
load)

CHARACTERISTICS OF FREQUENCY INFLUENCE
48
52
50
Frequency (in Hz)
+50 %
- 50 %
Load
49
51
TSE
INFLUENCE
LOAD
GRADIENT
FREQUENCY
INFLUENCE
CORRECTED
LOAD SETPT
FREQUENCY INFLUENCE SCHEME
(ORIGINAL)
+
+
50 Hz
F-ACT.
LOAD
SETPOINT
TSE
INFLUENCE
LOAD
GRADIENT
FREQUENCY
INFLUENCE
CORRECTED
LOAD SETPT
FREQUENCY INFLUENCE SCHEME
(ORIGINAL)
+
+
500MW
FREQ. = 50Hz
0 MW
500MW
500MW
FREQ. = 49.875Hz
LOAD CHANGE = 5% i.e. 25MW
+25 MW
525MW
LOAD
SETPOINT
Under FGMO, there is a lot of load cycling and
corresponding fatigue in equipment
Parametric variations are beyond allowable limits ,
leading to unsafe operation.
Utilities find it very difficult to implement
supplementary control manually
Boiler is the weak link, it does not have the
necessary reserves and there is an inherent delay
DIFFICULTIES FACED BY UTILITIES
NTPC, AGENCO, MSEB PRESENTED THE FOLLOWING
VIEWS
STEERING COMMITTE
A high level committee set up by CEA to
examine the issue
View points of Utilities, OEMs, PGCIL and
CERC heard by the committee
After deliberations, certain actions were
suggested to BHEL and NTPC to address
the issues raised by utilities
To develop a control scheme with floating frequency
as the frequency can vary between 49 to 50.5 Hz. The
scheme should also automate the process of
supplementary control i.e. Load change after 5
minutes
The modified control scheme to be tested at
simulator
To suggest suitable changes in the existing control
logic of EHC and CMC for safeguarding the boiler,
turbine, generator from the effect of rapid changes in
frequency
RECOMMENDATIONS BY COMMITTEE
MODIFIED CONTROL SCHEME OBJECTIVES
Reference frequency shall be floating between 49.0
to 50.5 Hz, depending on operating frequency
For any frequency change, load change shall be
immediate and limited to +/-5%.
Load change is to be sustained for approx. 5
minutes. If frequency varies during this period,
corrective action to be taken again
Contd.
OBJECTIVES
Load shall be brought back to the setpoint in a
ramped fashion after five minutes
For frequency < 49.0 and >50.5 Hz , load change to
be as per droop characteristics and limited to +/-
10%

MODIFIED SCHEME

First scheme developed by BHEL and tested at
Simhadri simulator at Corporate R&D on 17/07/2004
Step and ramp change in load were simulated
Parameter variations were within allowable limits
It met the set objectives. However, certain changes
were suggested
Results were presented to NTPC/ CEA/ PGCIL etc. In
4th and 5th committee meetings. 5th meet was held at
Hardwar
It was suggested by Chairman that the scheme be
tested at Simhadri site by BHEL & NTPC
Floating Frequency Setpoint
F
act

F
ref

P
F
dev

TSE
INFLUENCE
LOAD
GRADIENT
FREQUENCY
INFLUENCE
LOAD
SETPOINT
CORRECTED
LOAD SETPT
FREQUENCY INFLUENCE SCHEME
(PROPOSED)
+
+
F-ACT.
F-PREV
F
+
-
+5%
(49-50.5)
TO CC
F-ACT
<49/>50.5
F
REF
=49/ 50.5
F
+
-
+10%
TO CC
CC- COMBUSTION CONTROL
BLOCK DIAGRAM - CONTROL SCHEME
SIMHADRI SITE TRIALS
Scheme was further fine-tuned before and during
field trials
Dead band of 0.03Hz was introduced
Trend curves were plotted
These were analyzed and parametric variations
were deduced
SUMMARY OF TEST RESULTS
REVISED
FGMO
SCHEME
Approx. 45 load
cycles in a day for
SR frequency
+ 15 Deg C
variation
M.S.
TEMP
+ 10 Deg
C
variation
H.R.
TEMP
Nearing Alarm
Values
RH METAL
TEMPS
THROTT
LE
PRESSU
RE
5 kg/sq.cm
variations
LOAD
Turbine metal temperatures hardly undergo any change for
this load variation
With full thermal reserve,
the max. load increase is 3
%
CONCLUSION
Modified scheme has been accepted by CEA and
NTPC
Final report of the committee has been released
directing utilities to implement FGMO
Scheme to be implemented by utilities for KWU
design sets
Utilities have to place order on BHEL for this work
As of now, LMZ design sets to be put in FGMO
(without any modification) and controlled manually

Broad features of Scheme implemented at Nasik
The scheme with following basic features was
implemented in unit 4 (210 MW LMZ m/c) at Nasik
Load and Turbine inlet Pr changes with frequency
variation.
Pressure correction through pulse command to speeder
gear motor to restore load when rate of pressure variation
is more than 0.2 Kscm/min
Pressure correction through continuos command when
pressure variation is more than 2 Kscm
No changes in fuel firing.

A team led by Member, CERC visited Nasik and was
satisfied with the response of the scheme
MS. Pr. > (SET POINT + 2)

S

SPEEDER GEAR
RAISE COMMAND

8 SEC.




PR. RAMP > 0.1 KG/CS. in 30 SEC
MS. Pr. > (SET POINT - 2)

LOOP IN AUTO

R
THIS RELATES TO THE CASE OF FREQUENCY RISE
LOOP IN AUTO


SCHEME IMPLEMENTED IN NASIK (MSEB)
MS. Pr. > (SET POINT - 2)
S
SPEEDER GEAR
LOWER COMMAND

8 SEC.
PR. RAMP < - 0.1 KG/CS. in 30 SEC
MS. Pr. > (SET POINT + 2)
LOOP IN AUTO
R

THIS RELATES TO THE CASE OF FREQUENCY FALL

LOOP IN AUTO
SCHEME IMPLEMENTED IN NASIK (MSEB)