A Power System Simulator for On-Line Tests of Generating Plant

Fraser, David Kenneth Stewart (1987) A Power System Simulator for On-Line Tests of Generating Plant. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

This thesis describes the development of a simulator for use in the real-time study of a mixed hydro-thermal power system. This equipment can be used to incorporate real plant in system response studies in order to eliminate modelling uncertaintiea It can also be used to exercise speed governors on real plant through a wide range of operating conditions obtained artificially. This is particularly valuable for large conventional or pumped-storage hydro-turbines. To couple the real plant to the simulator, a measurement of generator power is required and a means of injecting a simulated system frequency into the governor of the test machine must be provided. Two methods of test signal injection are described: One for electronic equipment and the other for mechanical-hydraulic governors. The power system models used in the development and subsequent use of the simulator are discussed with particular reference to the representation of thermal plant behaviour. Interfacing techniques and secure operating procedures were established during preliminary tests with the simulator at Loch Sloy Power Station. The results of these tests indicate the potential of the technique in a wide range of investigations and on a variety of equipment. A multiprocessor version of the power system simulator was developed to alleviate the constraints on model complexity imposed by the finite computation speed of a single processor. On-line tests with a coal-fired plant model demonstrate some of the features of the behaviour of hydro-thermal power systems. The use of the simulator to establish the merits of a particular governor configuration is also illustrated. Tests on a diesel engine in the isolated system of the Western Isles demonstrate the application of the technique to generating plant that forms a significant proportion of the real power system. In this situation, which would be encountered if the technique were to be used on large hydro-electric or steam turbines, the simulator must prevent effects of the test on the real system from influencing the test result. Finally, the power system simulator is used to investigate the potential of a device to enhance the performance of existing governors, and to compare the response obtained with that of the standard equipment. In this way, the use of the technique to study novel governor designs is demonstrated.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Keywords: Electrical engineering, Alternative Energy
• Date of Award: 1987
• Depositing User: Enlighten Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:1987-77688
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 14 Jan 2020 11:53
• Last Modified: 14 Jan 2020 11:53
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/77688