ETAP

PowerStation 4.0

User Guide
Copyright 2001
Operation Technology, Inc.
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Chapter 18
Generator Start-Up
The PowerStation Generator Start-Up Analysis is a special feature of the PowerStation Transient Stability
program. This type of analysis is needed for nuclear generation plants and other special conditions when
the connection to a power grid is lost and recovery of the power supply to some critical loads is
mandatory. In such cases, a cold stand-by generator is started under an emergency condition goes
through acceleration and load acceptation stages, and finally settles down to a steady-state.
A comparison of the results from the PowerStation Generator Start-Up program with the field
measurement data for an actual system is shown below for the generator frequency and motor kW power.

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Introduction

The generator start-up analysis is a very distinctive study for several reasons. First, at the time the
generator receives the emergency starting signal and is ready to start, its in a zero speed/zero voltage
state. There is no voltage on the generator terminal to feed the excitation system, thus an alternative
source has to be used. This alternative source usually stays online until the generator terminal voltage has
built up high enough to support the excitation system. At this point, the alternative source is withdrawn
and the excitation source is switched to the generator terminal voltage. Second, the generator parameters
are not constant during the starting process; rather, they change significantly with the generator speed.
This fact must be considered and the generator parameters have to be re-calculated from the generator
instantaneous speed. Furthermore, the saturation effect also needs to be accounted for in adjusting the
generator parameters. Third, once the generator has reached the designated speed (or frequency) and/or
terminal voltage, the emergency loads are switched on. A frequency and/or voltage controlled action is
required to close the system circuit breakers. These actions are usually initiated by frequency relays and
voltage relays. Fourth, when the emergency system is energized, motors in the emergency system are
started at that point. Note that at this time, system frequency and voltage are still under their nominal
values, which means a special modeling technique must be developed to handle the motor starting at
under frequency and under voltage conditions. Finally, all system impedances ought to be adjusted
according to system instantaneous frequency.
The generator start-up analysis can simulate the entire process of a synchronous generator during start-up,
from the cold stand-by mode to the full operation mode. The synchronous generator and all of its
associated controls, including turbine/engine and governor system, excitation/AVR system, and other
associated controls, are modeled in a very detailed and extensive way, including both frequency
dependency and saturation correction. The Event and Action editors in the Transient Stability Study Case
Editor, along with Frequency and Voltage Relays, allow you to start the generator and operate circuit
breakers exactly the same as in a real system. Induction motors are dynamically modeled with frequency
dependent models to allow acceleration at under frequency and under voltage conditions. Other system
components are also correctly and accurately modeled.
Key features of the PowerStation Generator Start-Up Analysis include:

Accurate Synchronous Generator Model with Completely Frequency Dependent Parameters

Synchronous Generator Parameter Correction Due to Saturation Effect
Initial Field Flashing Circuit & Switching Time
Sophistic Turbine Model to Include Special Dynamics During the Generator Start-Up
Detailed & User-Programmable Speed Governor System Control
System Switching Actions Controlled by Relay Actions
Variety of Relay Settings (Volt, Hz, V/Hz, dHz/dt)
Frequency Dependent Network Impedance Model
Frequency Dependent Induction Machine Model
Induction Motor Starting at Under Voltage & Under Frequency Conditions
Full Text Report of Study Results for Viewing and Printing
One-Line Display of Study Results with Time Slider to Recapture the System Dynamic Responses
Graphic Plots of Study Results for Viewing & Printing

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Study Case Editor

18.1 Study Case Editor

The Generator Start-Up Analysis is part of the PowerStation Transient Stability program. To run a
generator start-up analysis, you need to be in Transient Stability mode. The functions of all buttons on
the Transient Stability Toolbar and the Study Case Toolbar stay the same as when you are performing a
transient stability study. Here is a list of the additional settings that are required to run a generator startup analysis. These settings are done in the Transient Stability Study Case Editor.

Time Step
Because of the complexity involved in a generator start-up analysis, many differential equations need to
be solved. To ensure the solution accuracy, it is recommended that you use a smaller value for simulation
time step, for example, 0.0003 second. Consequently, a relatively large value can be used for the plot
time step, say 100.

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Study Case Editor

Event & Action

When performing a generator start-up analysis, it is very import to remember that starting the generator
should be the first action to take place. The generator start action is specified in the Transient Stability
Study Case Editor, as shown below. To do this, you need to create a time event and add one action with
the Device Type specified as Generator and the Action type as Start.

Dynamic Model
The generator start-up analysis requires all system components to be modeled with frequency
dependency. This is done by checking the Frequency Dependent Models for Network, Motors, &
Generators box in the Dyn Model page of the Transient Stability Study Case Editor.

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Calculation Methods

18.2 Calculation Methods

The major difference between the regular transient stability study and the generator start-up analysis is
that in the latter case, the system frequency undergoes a drastic change from 0 Hz to an overshoot
(normally 20 to 30 percent of the nominal frequency,) and finally settles down at the nominal value. This
fact requires all power system components, especially rotating machines, to be modeled correctly to
account for the frequency changes. Impedance of other components should also be able to be adjusted to
the true instantaneous system frequency. The PowerStation Generator Start-Up Analysis can make all
these adjustments spontaneously if the correct models are selected. This section describes what you need
to do to select the right models for different components and how those components are being modeled.

Starting Generator
To perform a generator start-up analysis, the following synchronous generator model needs to be selected.
This model is adapted from the latest IEEE Standard 1110 IEEE Guide for Synchronous Generator
Modeling Practices in Stability Analyses. It has one damping winding on each of the direct and
quadratic axis.

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Generator Start-Up

Calculation Methods

The equivalent circuit for this model is illustrated below.

Ra

q
-

Lfd - Lad

Ll

id
Ld

Lfd

Lad

Vd

Rfd
+

Rd

Vfd
-

Direct-Axis Equivalent Circuit

Ra

Ll

iq
Lq
Laq

Vq

Rq

Direct-Axis Equivalent Circuit

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Calculation Methods

Turbine Governor Models

Practically any type of turbine-governor model in PowerStation can be used in the generator start-up
study, provided there are no other special control functions required. For example, shown below is a
hydro turbine and speed governor model. It includes water tunnel and penstock dynamics and a very
complex gate opening control scheme.

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Calculation Methods

Exciter/AVR Models
The exciter/AVR system requires special controls in the generator start-up study. For example,
exciter/AVR model ST1D is shown below and can be used for the generator start-up analysis. This model
includes a special field flashing circuit to supply the initial DC excitation voltage to the generator field
winding. A voltage per Hz relay is also included to switch the excitation source from the initial DC
source to the normal source once the generator has built up enough voltage.

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Calculation Methods

Induction Machine Model

Induction machines, which are accelerated during generator start-up process, should be modeled by their
frequency dependent circuit models. PowerStation automatically uses the frequency dependent circuit
models that are selected from the Motor CKT Model Library Quick Pick Editor inside the Induction
Machine Editor. All four types of induction machine circuit models, namely Single1, Single2, DBL1, and
DBL2, can be used as the frequency dependent models for a generator start-up analysis.

Synchronous Motor Models

Accelerating synchronous motors in the system are modeled with their LR models same as induction
machines with frequency dependent circuit models, since they behave like induction motors during startup.

Other Components
Other system components such as transforms, lines, and cables are modeled the same way as in transient
stability studies except for the fact that the program will adjust their impedance according to the system
instantaneous frequency.

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Output Reports

18.3 Output Reports

Three types of output reports are available for a generator start-up analysis, and they are text report, oneline display, and plots. Please refer to the Transient Stability chapter for more information on how to
access and manage the output reports.

Text Report
The text report for the generator start-up analysis is the same format as the transient stability analysis.

One-Line Display
The one-line display for the generator start-up analysis is the same format as the transient stability
analysis.

Plots
The plots for the generator start-up analysis are the same format as the transient stability analysis.
Some sample plots from a generator start-up analysis are shown here.

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