EXCITATION SYSTEM

Excitation is creation of a steady magnetic field for generation of e.m.f. in the stator of the machine. Exciter is a D.C. generator which is used for generating the D.C. supply required for magnetising the poles of the rotor of the alternator.

The following types of excitation are used in hydro power stations. 1. Conventional type of excitation with a. Pilot exciter and main exciter b. Pilot exciter and main exciter with amplidyne. 2. 3. Brush less excitation Static excitation

1.

(a) PILOT EXCITER AND MAIN EXCITER SYSTEM (a) Pilot exciter (b) AVR (c) Main Exciter (d) Field breaker

(a)

PILOT EXCITER The pilot exciter is a small d.c. machine, which is generally self-exited,

compound - wound machine. Its output is directly fed into the field coil of the main exciter via the A.V.R. This pilot exciter is placed on the common shaft of the machine, thus the drive power is obtained from the turbine. (b) A.V.R. It is the automatic voltage regulator (A.V.R.) which regulates the output of the main exciter. It is nothing but a rheostat in the above scheme where resistance can be controlled automatically to suit the system condition. The system voltagesensing element is the generator P.T that gives the signal voltage into the A.V.R. The A.V.R compares it against a set value and the error signal, by way of the regulated pilot exciter output, is impressed upon the main field of the main exciter. It can be reckoned as an operational amplifier and extensive feed backs can be
H.T.I. / K.K.Medu Excitation System

applied to achieve the desired characteristics, such as field forcing during temporary short on the lines, to distinguish between over current against fault current, to combat switching transients etc.

(c)

MAIN EXCITER The main exciter is a big D.C. generator coupled with the common shaft of

the machine . The exciter field may be separately excited or self excited along with separate field windings excited separately for regulation with the help of a rotating amplifier called an amplidyne or with the help of an electronic amplifier. The output of the main exciter is given to rotor field of the A.C. Generator via slip rings located on the machine shaft.

(d)

FIELD BREAKER The field circuit breaker connects the DC output of the main exciter to the

field winding through cables and slip rings. Apart from the two set of main contacts, this breaker has set of auxiliary contacts (power rated) which remain closed when the breaker is open. These are utilized to provide a discharge path for the voltage induced when the field circuit is opened. Control of the breaker is normally automatic during the start up and shut down of the generating unit. However, manual control is possible from control room when the main 22KV breaker is open. A manual trip lever may be provided on the breaker itself, which can be utilized on an emergency, like exciter control D.C. Failure I. (b) Voltage regulation by Amplidyne To reduce magnetic inertia and to respond quickly, the magnetic amplifiers are utilized. a) COMPONENTS This system consists of: The main variable - voltage, quick acting exciter dependent on an amplidyne controlled excitation winding. The fixed voltage pilot exciter. The amplidyne drive by a D.C. motor. directly by the pilot exciter.
H.T.I. / K.K.Medu Excitation System

This small converter set is supplied

The potentiometer - type rheostat for manual excitation control (with motor for remote control). The static amplidyne control regulator together with its regulating rheostat Rht for the voltage setting.

b) STATIC TRANSITORISED VOLTAGE REGULATOR The duty of the voltage regulator is to supply the amplidyne with a variable demagnetizing current corresponding to the difference between the prescribed voltage setting and alternator voltage. It consists of a voltage difference detector and a transistorized amplifier. A large number of elements have been brought together on printed cards, so that with the use to data techniques, great flexibility can be achieved in starting up, maintenance and emergency repairs.

VOLTAGE DIFFERENCE DETECTOR The voltage difference detector consists of a Wheat stone bridge with Zener diodes, the latter acting as a voltage reference. The voltage to be adjusted, after being adopted is applied to the Zener Bridge through an adjustable voltage divider. The rheostat for adjustment of the voltage setting is connected between the J.S. bridges. The fault voltage E occurring at points A and M is applied directly to the transistorised amplifier.

AMPLIFIER The current set up by the fault voltage is amplified in this transistorized amplifier and fed to the automatic demagnetizing winding. c) AMPLIDYNE The output of the static voltage regulator is too low and requires the use of an intermediate amplifier. A generator of the amplidyne type is used for this

purpose. The excitation of the alternator is dependent on the amplidyne, whether control is manual or automatic.

The amplidyne is acted upon by three main windings.

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Excitation System

The first is a magnetizing winding for automatic voltage operation.

It is

supplied by the pilot exciter for manual variable voltage operation-it is supplied through a potentiometer-type rheostat with motor. produces a fixed number of ampere-turns for reference. The second is a de magnetizing winding supplied by the electronic regulator under automatic operation conditions. It produces a variable number of ampereturns opposed to the reference ampere-turns. The Variable ampere-turns are During Auto operation, it

proportional to the amount of correction required. The third is also demagnetizing winding and is supplied by the voltage of the exciter, under manual operating conditions. The primary control flux of the amplidyne is set up by the difference in the number of ampere-turns of the magnetizing and demagnetizing windings. Under automatic control the magnetising winding is supplied by the pilot exciter and the demagnetizing winding by the electronic regulator. The alternator is on no-load or feeding a network, the voltage is set by this Rht. Under manual control the magnetizing winding is supplied at variable voltage through a 70 Ex - potentiometer - type rheostat with motor, and the demagnetizing winding by the voltage of exciter.

d)

TRANSITION FROM AUTOMATIC TO MANUAL CONTROL Each position of the potentiometer type rheostat corresponds to an output A

of the exciter, and voltmeter V1 at the rheostat terminals will be graduated in ampere - turns read in A. Adjust the potentiometer - type rheostat until V1 gives the value read on A - Now, the voltage regulator can be transferred to manual from Auto.

e)

TRANSITION FROM MANUAL TO AUTO CONTROL The positions of the rheostat Rht is graduated on generator KV. This

corresponds to a voltage V2 produced by the alternator. Adjust the Rht to give the value read on V2 and transfer the control from manual to Auto.

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Excitation System

f)

OTHER FEATURES The other features available such as (1) time limitation of over excitation of

exciter in case of voltage drop in the alternator (2) Rapid de - energisation of the alternator after operation of a protective relay (3) Anti - compounding action to the reactive power supplied by the machine etc. are not discussed here.

2.

BRUSHLESS EXCITATION In this type of excitation, the conventional brush gear is eliminated. An

exciter with a fixed field and rotating phase windings is mounted on the main shaft the A.C. output being converted to D.C., by means of shaft mounted rectifiers and fed directly to the main rotor windings. No slip - ring (or) brush gear is needed.

3.

STATIC EXCITATION SYSTEM This system with power electronic devices and inertia free control will have

a quicker response, better stability, and accuracy in voltage control, faster control of reactive power etc. A small deviation between references and actual value in the AVR causes the thyristor - bridge to be fully fired and supply full positive D.C. voltage and thus the synchronous machines are excited. The amplitude of the maximum D.C. voltage supplied to the rotor is determined by supply voltage of the excitation transformer.

This system consists of 1. Excitation transformer connected to the output of the generator (6.6KV 480V) in Barriage Power Houses. 2. Thyristor full bridge consisting of 12 thyristors in four stacks - to form a full wave rectifier. 3. Trigger circuit (voltage, regulator with firing angle control unit). 4. Pulse amplifier and pulse transmitter. 5. Field breaker 6. Initial excitation from station battery source. 7. Manual voltage regulator with follow on.

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Excitation System

8. Power system stabilizer (optional) 9. Cross - current compensation (optional) 10. Field suppression for protection. 11. Fuse failure protection for thyristors 12. Cooling airflow failure protection for thyristors and excitation transformer. 13. Thyristor surge voltage protection by RC circuit. 14. AC & DC surge arrestor.

1.

The excitation transformer It is a dry type transformer and is employed to step down the 11 KV from

generator to 450 volts and supplies to the rectifier circuit. It is connected directly to the generator terminals. The secondary winding is connected to the thyristor

rectifiers by means of flat bus bar.

2.

The rectifier It consists of certain number of thyristors in parallel and series in three-

phase bridge connection.

The six rectifying elements in a bridge are silicon-

controlled rectifiers also known as thyristors. For these six elements another six elements are also attached in parallel to reduce individual current carrying capacity. In each SCR, is mounted inside, ahead sink having cooling fan through which air is blown continuously. A fuse is provided for automatic isolation of a faulty SCR (Short-circuited).

A set of six-gate pulses are generated by a transistorized circuit.

They

trigger the SCR at angles of the 400V sine wave, that the required voltage is available on the DC bar. The firing angle (30 to 150 ) has to be adjusted from time to time depending on system conditions. This is achieved by changing the position of gate pulse. The firing volt is 10 volts and current 1 amp.

3.

A.V.R. The A.V.R. is the unit responsible for deciding the position of the gate

pulse during normal operation of generation unit. The actual terminal operation of
H.T.I. / K.K.Medu Excitation System

the generating unit is sensed through PTs and compared against the voltage setting from bench board. The AVR regulates the voltage only in the range of (80110%) of rated voltage. When there is error between the two, an output voltage is produced, which causes the shifting of gate pulse towards the direction that the error in voltage is corrected.

4.

FIELD BREAKER : It connects the DC output of the exciter to the field winding through cables

and slip rings. Control of the breaker is normally automatic during the start up and shut down of the generating unit.

WORKING PRINCIPLE OF EXCITER : The excitation transformer is directly connected with the outgoing terminals of the generator to avoid interruption in the field supply by pre - connected circuit breakers and high over voltages. This transformer supplies nearly 450 volts to the rectifier circuit. Input to the rectifier is the supply from excitation transformer. The output of the rectifier is connected the main field of the generator through field breaker.

The thyristers are triggered at a certain firing angle with respect to supply voltage of the thyrister bridge by the firing angle control unit. This control unit gets pulse from the generator and amplifier.

The generator terminal voltage supplied by voltage transformer (PT) is rectified by a doped, into a D.C. voltage signal and is compared with reference value. The difference between both values is supplied to an operational amplifier with PI filter circuits and limits the output deviation. This is supplied to the firing angle control unit.

If a generator is to be excited with an excitation system connected in shunt, a special excitation built up circuit is required.
H.T.I. / K.K.Medu Excitation System

This system supplies for a few seconds sufficient excitation current from the station battery (or) an auxiliary mains to the rotor so that at rated speed a sufficiently high voltage is built up across the generator terminals to operate the electronic equipments. Initially with the voltage regulator, a terminal voltage of 30% is required 30% no load excitation is necessary for approximately 5 seconds. All power acts in the cubicles are already fully operational at this value and the pre rational amplifiers and reference voltage generators are supplied with rated voltage. Thus the

reference value of the automatic channel is adjusted to a value within the setting range and this value is supplied to the AVR. The actual value of the generator voltage is also supplied to the voltage regulator via voltage transformers and is compared with the reference value. Since in the case of excitation build up, only 30% of terminal voltage is generated, the matched rectifier actual value is substantially lower than the reference voltage and the operation via the firing angle set. For example if the exciter has a ceiling voltage of 2 Un it is in a position to deliver an excitation current of 2 x 0. 31Un if supplied with 0.3Un - this value is substantially higher than the current of the start up device. The voltage is built up and in 1 to 2 seconds the rated voltage value is reached across the generator terminals. Once the reference value is reached the output voltage of the

operational amplifier is reduced and then the firing angle is varied in such a manner that only a rotor current corresponding to the generator voltage flows. The

generator is regulated to the present value and can be synchronized with the network.

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Excitation System