09.

01

ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION & CONTROL TECHNIQUE

Engr. A. K. M. Arif Hossain
Additional Chief Engineer (Electrical)

Generation of Electrical Energy: The conversion of energy available in different forms in

nature into electrical energy is known as generation of Electrical energy. The electrical
energy must be produced and transmitted to the point of use at the instant it is needed.
The entire process takes only a fraction of a second.

R Y B

Energy from some sources

Prime mover Alternator

Sources of energy: Natural sources of energy are divided into two groups:

Nonrenewable energy. ❑ Renewable energy

Nonrenewable Energy: Nonrenewable energy (also called conventional sources of

energy) Coal Oil and Gas are the example of nonrenewable source of energy. This type
energy supplies about 86% of energy demand in the world. At the present rate of use the
Coal reserves are the likely to get exhausted within 200 years. The petroleum reserves are
likely to get exhausted within 40 years at the present rate of extraction. The natural Gas
reserves are likely to get exhausted within 60 years at the present rate of extraction.

Renewable Energy (also called non-conventional sources of energy): Water energy,

Nuclear energy, Solar energy, Wind energy, Geo-thermal energy, Tidal power, Ocean
wave energy etc. are example of renewable energy.

GENERATING STATIONS: Bulk electric power is produced by special plants known as

generating stations or Power stations.
Depending upon the form of energy converted into electrical energy, the generating
stations are classified as under:

► Steam Turbine Power plant. ► Gas Turbine Power plant

► Combined cycle Power plant. ► Diesel Power plant.
► Solar Power plant. ► Windmill.
► Hydro-electric Power plant. ► Tidal Power plant
► Biogas Power plant ► Geothermal Power plant
► Coal Power plant ► Petrol Engine Power plant
► Nuclear Power plant.
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Electrical & Electronic Engineering Department, TICI, Polash, Narshingdi – 1611
 09.02

THERMAL STATION: a generating station which converts heat energy of coal, gas, and
furnace oil or diesel combustion into electrical energy is known as a thermal power plant.

STEAM POWER STATION a generating station which utilized heat energy of coal, gas,
and furnace oil or diesel combustion to produced steam and steam is used to rotate the
turbine of the generator is known as a steam power plant.

COMPONENTS OF STEAM POWER STATION: A modern steam power station is highly

complex and has many equipment and auxiliaries of a steam power station are:

► Steam generating equipment (Boiler) ► Alternator

► Cooling arrangement. ► Feed water plant ► Steam turbine

Steam generating plant: The steam generating plant consists of a boiler for the production
of steam and other auxiliary equipment for the utilization of flue gases.

➢ Boiler ➢ Super heater ➢ Economizer ➢ Air preheater

Superheaters: A superheater is a vital part of the boiler system that is used to increase
the overall efficiency of a thermal power plant. More specifically, it is a device which
converts wet steam (saturated steam) into dry steam as dry steam contains more thermal
energy. Dry steam is also less likely to condense within the engine cylinders or the casing
of a steam turbine. Depending on the size of the plant, they can vary from a few meters
long to a few hundred meters.

Economizers: An economizer is a mechanical device that reduces energy consumption.

It does this by acting as a heat exchanger, preheating the fluids that enter a boiler or
recovering residual heat from the combustion products. It is designed to save energy by
using the exhaust gases from the boiler to preheat the cold fluid, mainly water, that is used
to fill it. An increase in fuel prices means that power plants are having to increase the boiler
efficiency, and this is made possible with the assistance of economizers.

Air preheaters: Air preheaters are an important part of the thermal power stations. The
heat exchange process of Air preheater it is similar to economizers, they are devices that
transfer heat from one surface to another - but this time from fluid to air. The main objective
is to increase the thermal efficiency of a boiler system by recovering the heat from the flue
gas and using it to heat the air. The captured heat is released into the cooler air and
directed back into the boiler.

Steam turbine: The dry and superheated steam from the superheated is fed to the steam
turbine through main valve. The heat energy of steam when passing over the blades of
turbine is converted into mechanical energy. After giving heat energy to the turbine the
steam is exhausted to the condenser which condenses the exhausted steam by means
cold water circulation.

Alternator: The steam turbine is coupled to an alternator. The alternator converts

mechanical energy of turbine into electrical energy. The electrical output from the alternator
is delivered to the bus bars through transformer, circuit breakers and isolators.

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Electrical & Electronic Engineering Department, TICI, Polash, Narshingdi – 1611
 09.03

Feed water: The condensate from the condenser is used as feed water to the boiler. Some
water may be lost in the cycle, which is suitably made up from external source. The feed
water on its helps in raising the overall efficiency of the plant.

Cooling arrangement: In order to improve the efficiency of the plant, the steam exhausted
from the turbine is condensed by means of a condenser. Water is drawn from a natural
source of supply such as a river, canal or lake and is circulated through the condenser.
The circulating water takes up the heat of the exhausted steam and itself becomes hot.
This hot water coming out from the condenser is discharged at a suitable location down
the river. In case the availability of water from the source of supply is not assured
throughout the year, cooling towers are used. During the scarcity of water in the river, hot
water from the condenser is passed on to the cooling towers where it is cooled. The cold
water from the cooling tower is reused in the condenser.

Schematic diagram of steam turbine power plant:

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Electrical & Electronic Engineering Department, TICI, Polash, Narshingdi – 1611
 09.04

HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER PLANT: A generating station, which utilizes the potential

energy of water at a high level for the generation of electrical energy, is known as a hydro-
electric power station.

HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER STATION.

DIESEL POWER STATION: A generating station in which diesel engine is used as the
prime mover for the generation of electrical energy is known as diesel power station.

NUCLEAR POWER STATION: A generating station in which nuclear energy is converted

into electrical energy is known as a nuclear power station.

GAS TURBINE POWER PLANT: A generating station which employs gas turbine as the
prime mover for the generation of electrical energy is known as a gas turbine power plant.

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Electrical & Electronic Engineering Department, TICI, Polash, Narshingdi – 1611
 09.05

CONTROL TECHNIQUE
For smooth running of a power generation plant various parameters are measured,
monitored, controlled, recorded or displayed. They may be:
• Electrical parameters
Voltage, current, frequency, energy, real power, reactive power, apparent power.
• Process parameters
Pressure, temperature, level, flow etc.
• Mechanical parameters
Speed, vibration, displacement etc.
Control of captive power generation can be divided into two parts,
➢ Sectionalized control
Examples of such control are generator terminal voltage control, bearing temperature
control, boiler water level control etc.
➢ Overall system control
This is the control system that controls starts-up, loading operation and shut-down of the
total power plant sequentially.
01.0 Sectionalized control
Control of generator electrical parameter: -
Voltage, frequency, real power, reactive power etc. of a generator needs control. These
are achieved by excitation system control and prime mover speed control.
(1) voltage control (Excitation system control)
Control of generator terminal voltage is achieved by controlling voltage of generators rotor
field. This is done through excitation system. Excitation system is the system that provides
field current to the generator field winding.
(2) Frequency control (prime mover speed control)
Control of generator frequency is achieved by controlling prime mover speed this may be
understood from, the frequency equation:
f = (PN)/120
Where, P = no. of pole,
N = Prime mover rpm.
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Electrical & Electronic Engineering Department, TICI, Polash, Narshingdi – 1611
 09.06

02.0 Voltage control (Excitation system control)

Excitation system is the system that provides field current to the generator field winding.
The emf generated in a generator is given by the formula:
E = 2FBΦzfx10-8 Breadth Factor: When an armature winding is distributed
Where Φ = flux per pole over a number of slots per pole, the e.m.f. induced in the
B = breadth factor various conductors is not the same. The ratio of the voltage
Z = number of conductor, per phase actually obtained, to the voltage, which would be obtained if
the winding were all concentrated in one slot is called the
f = frequency 'Breadth Factor'. It depends upon the number of slots per
F = form factor = 1.11 for sine wave pole per phase. Its average value is about 0.96.
AC generator requires a DC source for their
field. That may be from one of the following types:

• DC generator exciter (used in old generator)

• Brushless excitation system (used in modern generator)
Of them brushless excitation system is our subject of interest. To avoid maintenance
problem associated with DC generator exciter, brushless excitation system is used.

Brushless excitation system:

Mainly two types of brushless excitation systems are used:
(1) Brushless solid state excitation system deriving power from PMG.
(2) Brushless excitation system deriving power from generator terminal.
03.01a Brushless solid state excitation system deriving power from PMG.
The diagram of a typical system is shown in fig -1
Circuit construction:
This system may be divided into four parts:
✓ Permanent magnet generator (PMG)
✓ Automatic voltage regulator (AVR)
✓ AC exciter
✓ Rotating rectifier system

Working principle:
When shaft rotates,
voltage generates in the
PMG stationary
armature. The AC voltage
output from the shaft
driven permanent
magnet generator (PMG)
is converted into DC by
silicon controlled rectifier
within the AVR.
Then this controlled DC
voltage is applied to the
AC exciters stationary
field. This voltage goes to
exciter field via AVR.
Fig. 1: Brushless solid-state excitation system.
Three phase AC exciters output is sent to rotating rectifier (mounted on the shaft), whose
DC output is sent directly to the main generator field by means of leads which are run along
and inside the shaft. The brushless exciter accomplishes this without the use of brushes,
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Electrical & Electronic Engineering Department, TICI, Polash, Narshingdi – 1611
 09.07

slip rings, or commutator and thus eliminates the maintenance and carbon dust associated
with them. A silicon carbide varistor (silistor) is connected on rectifiers DC side to protect
rectifiers from over voltage surge. The silistor is a varistor made of silicon carbide. As the
voltage applied to the silistor decreases, its resistance increases and vice versa. So it
serves effectively for over voltage absorption. When an over voltage is going to act on the
rectifiers. The silistor abruptly lowers in resistance to pass much current, thus attenuating
the excessive current and protecting the rectifiers.

All excitation power in this brushless excitation system is derived from shaft rotation.
Solid state type AVR used in this system:
Voltage regulators are used to regulate the excitation of a generator and thus the output
voltage or reactive power output. The voltage regulator (sometimes referred to as AVR or
automatic voltage regulator) is the portion of the excitation system that provides the means
of automatically controlling the output of the exciter. Various types of voltage regulators are
available (electro-mechanical, solid state). Because of maintenance problem with the
mechanical parts the electromechanical voltage regulators are rarely used anymore.
Solid state type AVR is our subject of interest.
Solid state automatic voltage regulator predominates today, they are inexpensive reliable
and almost maintenance free.
AVR circuit construction: (Basic system is shown in fig. 2)
A controlled rectifier bridge comprised of silicon-controlled rectifiers and diodes.
SCR firing circuit consisting of the deviation detecting, power source, amplifier circuit,
phase control circuit.

AVR working
principle:
It rectifies the PMG
output and controls the
level of DC voltage to
the brushless AC
exciter field winding.
The voltage regulator
adjusts silicon
controlled rectifier
firing pulses to control
the DC output. It is fed
to the exciter field.
SCR voltage output is
inversely proportional
to the generator output
voltage.
Fig. 2: AVR Block diagram

03.01b Brushless excitation system deriving power from Generator terminal:

The block diagram of a typical system is shown in fig. 3

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Electrical & Electronic Engineering Department, TICI, Polash, Narshingdi – 1611
 09.08

Once a generator field

winding has direct current
passed through it, a small
amount of residual
magnetism remains.
When a generator is run
again at rated speed
without excitation, an AC
voltage of 2 to 10 percent
of rated can be measured
at the generator output
terminals. This voltage is
generated by the residual
magnetic flux on the rotor
acting on the stator
winding.
Circuit construction:
This system may be
divided into four parts:
✓ Power source
transformer (PST)
✓ Automatic voltage Fig. 3: Brushless excitation system deriving power from
generator terminal.
regulator (AVR)
✓ AC exciter
✓ Rotating rectifier system
✓ Initial field flushing dc source

Working principle:
When shaft rotates, voltage generates the PST output is rectified and controlled by SCR
as shown. Then this controlled dc voltage is applied to the AC exciters stationary field. This
voltage goes to the exciter field via AVR.
Sometimes the residual magnetism is lost. Because of this problem, this type of excitation
system that derives excitation power from the generator terminals, it means for
momentarily flashing the field (as shown) is typically provided to initiate a buildup generator
voltage each time the unit is started. The field flashing circuit uses the station battery or
some other external power source to provide enough direct current to the field that
sufficient voltage is induced on the generator terminals to allow the static exciter to take
over and complete the voltage build up.

Governor is a device to control the speed of a prime mover. A governor regulates the
speed of a prime mover by properly varying the flow of energy to the prime mover (steam
in case of steam turbine generator) and combusted gas in case of gas turbine generator
(GTG). A governor protects the prime mover from over speed and keeps the prime mover
speed at or near the desired rpm.
Two basic types of governor are available. They are mechanical governor and electronic
governor.

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Electrical & Electronic Engineering Department, TICI, Polash, Narshingdi – 1611
 09.09

Fig 5 : WOODWARD electronic governor system block diagram

This system may be divided in the following way:
❖ Electronic controller
❖ Sensing system
o Speed input one magnetic pick-up
o Load signal
o CDP (compressor discharge pressure) signal
O EGT (exhaust gas temperature signal from thermocouple)
O Actuator position feedback signal from RVDT (rotary variable differential
transformer)
O Inputs from the turbine control panel
❖ Turbine fuel valve actuator system
This WOODWARD Electronic controller consists of logic circuits, amplifiers etc. the
electronic control uses sensing system inputs to generate 20 to 160 mA control signals to
the actuator.

Fig. 6: Woodward electronic governor system block diagram (speed control)

Governor working principle:

The governor controls turbine fuel valve through an actuator. If current output from final
driver of electronic controller increases, the fuel valve opening increases and vice versa.
Shutdown conditions reduces signal output to the final driver to minimum, closing the
turbine fuel valve.
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Electrical & Electronic Engineering Department, TICI, Polash, Narshingdi – 1611
 09.010

Electronic controller senses several parameters and takes necessary action. For example,
speed control is done in the following way (fig: 6)
Signal from magnetic pick-up unit is compared with the speed reference signal. The
resultant speed correction signal is fed to the final driver. The final driver module converts
control voltage signal to the current necessary (20 to 160 mA) to drive the fuel valve
actuator.
The governor has both alarm and shutdown circuits. The alarm circuit illuminates one
indicator but takes no other action. The following conditions initiate the alarm circuit:
❖ Loss of power signal, CDP signal, EGT signal, ambient temperature signal.
A shutdown condition reduces signal output to the final driver to minimum, closing the
turbine fuel valve.
The following conditions initiates turbine shutdown:
❖ Initiated externally by the operator from turbine control panel.
❖ From turbine safety shutdown system
❖ Initiated internally by the, electronic control itself.
➢ Loss of speed-input signal ➢ Turbine over speed
➢ EGT over temperature ➢ Actuator over current
➢ Position of RVDT feedback failure
➢ Loss of any necessary power supplies voltage.
05.00 overall power generation system control
There are several control systems in a power plant. The control system that controls stat-
up, loading operation and shut-down of the total power plant sequentially is called the
overall power generation system control.
05.01a Manual control:
When the operator sequentially does start-up, loading operation and shut-down of the
power plant, then it is called manual control.

05.01b sequencer control:

This is single solid state equipment containing logic circuits. This is the single control
system that controls start-up, loading operation and shut-down of the power plant
sequentially. This system does not have any personal computer for start-stop, monitoring,
troubleshooting etc.

Start-up, stop, monitoring and other control by this system:

These are done by clicking the switches on the computer screen by means of mouse.
There is a menu available on the computer screen. From this menu, other screens are
chosen for start-stop, other running operation, monitoring troubleshooting and
maintenance of this power generation plant. There are several screens for the purpose.
For example:
➢ Unit control display
➢ Generator overview Exhaust gas temperature
➢ Lube oil drain temperature etc.
One of the important screens is unit control display screen. This is for start-stop and
monitoring of the gas turbine generator.

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Electrical & Electronic Engineering Department, TICI, Polash, Narshingdi – 1611