Synchronous Generator Capability Curves

Hello friends, I hope all of you are fine. In today’s tutorial, we are gonna have a look at Synchronous Generator Capability Curves. This curve of the synchronous generator tells about the limits in which a generator can continue its operation without any damage. It also recognized as the functioning chart of the synchronous generator. The restrictions that are defined by this curve are described here. The load associated with the generator should according to the rating of the generator. The load of the generator also follows the rated values of the generator’s mechanical power source (prime mover).

The value of the I_F should be in the bearable value of the generator, so it cannot damage the windings. The angle of the load must be less than ninety degrees.  In today’s post, we will have a look at how these limits are practically works and their effects. So let’s get started with the Synchronous Generator Capability Curves.

Synchronous Generator Capability Curves

• The heats limits of the stator and the rotor of the generator, and some other exterior restrictions can be defined by the generator capability curve.
• A capability curve can be made from the complex apparent power of the generator S=P +Qj.
• It is found from the phasor diagram of the generator, by supposing that the V_ø has constant value at the rated voltage of the generator.

• In a given diagram, you can see the phasor diagram of the generator when it is connected with the inductive load and its rated voltage.

• An orthogonal set of axes is constructed on the diagram with its initial point at the tip of Vø and represents in V.
• In the diagram that is denoted as A, the perpendicular part AB has the length of X_sI_Acosø and the length of the horizontal part (OA) is X_sI_Asinø.
• The active power of the generator is given as.

P=3V_øI_Acosø

• The reactive power Q of the synchronous generator is given as.

Q= 3V_øI_Asinø

• The apparent power S is given as.

S =V_øI_A

• So the vertical (AB) and the horizontal (OA) components of this curve can be written in active and reactive power. Its drawn in above figure and denoted as B.
• The alteration factor required to change the gage of the axes from volts to voltampere’s (power units) is 3V_ø/X_s

P=3V_øI_Acosø= 3Vø/ X_s (X_sI_Acosø)

Q= 3V_øI_Asinø=3Vø/ X_s (X_sI_ASinø)

• At the axis of the voltage, the vertex of the phasor diagram is at the negative of the V_ø on the horizontal axis.
• The vertex of the power diagram is.

Q= 3V_ø/Xs (-Vø)

= -(3V²ø)/(X_s)

• The field current of the generator is directly proportionate to the flux of the generator and the flux is directly proportionate to the internal generated voltage E_A =Kwø
• The length equivalent to internal generated voltage E_A on the power diagram is written as.

D_E = -(3E_AVø)/(X_s)

• The armature current is directly proportional to the X_sI_A and the length equivalent to X_sI_A on the power diagram is 3V_øI_A.

• The concluding of the synchronous generator capability is shown in a given figure.

• It is the graphical representation between the active power and the reactive power, active power is shown on the x-axis and Q on the y-axis.
• Lines of constant I_F match to lines of constant internal generated voltage, which are revealed as circles of magnitude 3E_AV_ø/X_s positioned on the point.

Q = -3V²_ø/X_s

• The I_A boundary looks like the circle equivalent to the rated I_A or rated KVA’s, and the I_F boundary looks like a circle equivalent to the rated field current or internal generated voltage.
• The points that exist in both circles are a safe functioning points for the generator.
• We can also represent the other limitations on the figure, like extreme power of the prime mover and the stationary stability boundary. It is shown in a given diagram.

Short-Time Operation and Service Factor of Synchronous Generator

• The most significant restriction for the normal working of the generator is the heating of its both windings, armature and field windings.
• These heating restrictions normally apply at a point below the extreme power that the generator can provide mechanically or magnetically.
• The normal synchronous generator has the ability to provide three hundred percent power of its rated power till that points it both windings armature and field burn out.
• This capability of the generator to provide higher power than its rated power is used to deliver temporary power surges for starting of the motor and analogous load transients.
• There is a possibility to run generator power larger than the rated power for a long time, as long as the windings do not have time to heat up beforehand the extra load is detached.

• For instance, a generator that can provide power to the one-megawatt load indefinitely can has the ability to provide power to the 1.5-megawatt load for some minutes without serious damage, and for a gradually larger time at less power.
• Though the load should finally be detached, or the windings will damage.
• As the power will increase over the rated value the generator will bear it only for a couple of minutes or can damage it.
• The given diagram shows this factor.

• You can see from the picture that the for overloading the required time is in s for heating of the generator.
• ln this generator, a twenty % overloading can endure for thousand seconds, a hundred % overloading can be bear for thirty seconds, and a two hundred% overloading can be endured for ten sec before harming the generator.
• The extreme value of the temperature that any electrical machine can bear depends on the winding’s insulation class.
• There are 4 main classes of winding insulation A, B, F, H.
• Whereas there is some changing intolerable temperature that relies on the design of the machine and temperature calculation technique.
• these classes usually resemble temperature increases of sixty, eighty, one hundred-five, and one hundred twenty-five Celsius, correspondingly, over ambient temperature.
• The larger the insulation class of an electrical machine, then large the amount of power can get out from the machine without any damage to the machine.
• Heating and damaging the windings in any electrical machine is a very common issue.

• It is a general rule that for every ten Celsius increment in the temperature of the windings that is mentioned on the machine’s nameplate, the average lifetime of a machine will remain half. Can see in the figure.

• Nowadays insulation materials are less vulnerable to break-down than before, but temperature increment still severely decreases their lifetime.
• Due to these reasons never connect the load beyond the limit of the synchronous machine.

How well is the power requirement of a machine known?

• Before connection, there are only estimated approximations of load, due to this, general machines normally have a service factor.
• The service factor is the ratio of the extreme power of the machine to the power mentioned on the nameplate of the machine.
• The generator that has a service factor of 1.15 can be functioned at one hundred percent % of the rated load without any damage.
• The service factor on a generator offers a boundary of fault in case the loads were inappropriately assessed.

You can also read some related topics to synchronous generators that are listed here.

Introduction to Synchronous Generator

Synchronous Generator Equivalent Circuit  

Synchronous Generator Phasor Diagram

Synchronous Generator Power and Torque

Synchronous Generator Parameters

Synchronous Generator Operating Alone

Synchronous Generator Parallel Operation

Synchronous Generator parallel with Large Power system

Synchronous Generator Parallel with same Size Generator

Synchronous Generator Ratings

Synchronous Generator Transients

Faqs

1. What is a synchronous generator capability curve?

A synchronous generator capability curve is a graphical representation of the limits where a synchronous generator can work safely. It is also called an operating chart or capability chart. The curve is normally drawn with the generator’s active power (P) on the x-axis and reactive power (Q) on the y-axis. The curve shows the maximum values of P and Q that the generator can be generated for a given load angle.

2. What are the factors that affect the shape of a synchronous generator capability curve?

The shape of a synchronous generator capability curve is affected by different parameters like

•  generator’s rating
•  excitation system
•  cooling system
•  stator and rotor winding resistances
• stator and rotor leakage reactances
• damper windings

3. What are the different types of synchronous generator capability curves?

There are 2 main types of synchronous generator capability curves:

• Constant-excitation capability curves: These curves are drawn with the generator’s excitation voltage held constant.
• Variable-excitation capability curves: These curves are created with the generator’s excitation voltage allowed to change.

4. What is the importance of synchronous generator capability curves?

Synchronous generator capability curves are good for a different, like

• They can be used to find the maximum amount of power that a generator can generate.
• They can be used to avoid the generator from operating outside of its safe operating limits.
• They can be used to assess the effects of changes to the generator’s operating conditions.
• They can be used to plan for future varies to the power system.

5. How are synchronous generator capability curves used in power system planning?

Synchronous generator capability curves are used in power system planning to find these values

• The amount of power that each generator can generate
• The location of generators within the power system
• The types of generators that are required
• The capacity of the transmission system

6. What are the limitations of synchronous generator capability curves?

Synchronous generator capability curves have some limitations that are

• They are based on different assumptions, like constant ambient temperature and no load changes.
• They do not account for the effects of load disturbances or system faults.
• They are normally based on historical data, which can not be representative of future operating conditions.

7. What are the challenges in developing synchronous generator capability curves?

The challenges in developing synchronous generator capability curves are

• Correct measuring the generator’s parameters
• Accounting for the effects of different operating conditions
• Make a model that is representative of the actual generator
• Validating the model with experimental data

8. What are the future trends in synchronous generator capability curves?

The future trends in synchronous generator capability curves are

• The use of more advanced modeling methods
• The development of more correct measurement techniques
• The use of real-time data to update the curves
• The development of adaptive curves that can consider changes in the operating conditions

9. What are the research challenges in synchronous generator capability curves?

The research challenges in synchronous generator capability curves are:

• Creation of  more accurate models of the generator’s dynamic behavior
• Creation methods for accounting for the effects of uncertainty in the data
• Developing techniques for updating the curves in real time
• Developing adaptive curves that can consider changes in the operating conditions

10. What are the resources available for learning more about synchronous generator capability curves?

There are different resources available for learning more about synchronous generator capability curves,are:

• Books and textbooks on power system engineering
• Technical papers on synchronous generator capability curves
• Software packages for simulating power systems
• Online tutorials and courses on power system engineering

 

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