APPLICATION OF STATIC EXCITATION SYSTEMS

FOR ROTATING EXCITER REPLACEMENT

ABSTRACT

Many power generation plants are faced with obsolescence, high maintenance and down
time due to the excitation system. DC field breakers, motorized rheostats, rotating exciter
failures, commutator deterioration, vibration and obsolescence and replacement parts for
the automatic voltage regulator (AVR) are just a few of the problems typical of these aged
power plants. The result is high overhead and potentially long down time of the generator
system.

The replacement of the rotating exciter and associated equipment for static excitation
systems provides the positive solutions to these problems. The static exciter offers the
design flexibility of easy retrofit for both small and larger rotating exciter systems. Addition-
ally, it eliminates the maintenance overhead common to the brush type exciter. Other
advantages include:
• Power semiconductor (no rotating exciter)
• ¼% voltage regulator
• Manual voltage control
• Limiter, protection

INTRODUCTION

This paper will discuss the static exciter system that includes the power control devices
(SCRs, also called thyristors), power transformer and automatic voltage regulator. The
elimination of the dc field breaker can offer substantial cost savings. Here, solid state fast
de-excitation circuits will be discussed and its benefits. Lastly, selection criteria and appli-
cation considerations will be reviewed regarding types of static exciters.

THE OPERATION OF THE STATIC EXCITER

A static exciter/regulator behaves functionally like a simple automatic voltage regulator

working into the exciter field. When the excitation system senses a low generator voltage,
field current increases to the field; when a high generator voltage is sensed, field current is
decreases. Functionally, a static exciter applies dc power into the main field for a slip ring
machine, while a voltage regulator applies dc power into the exciter field. The static exciter
system consists of three basic components: the control electronics (for example. Basler
Electric's DECS family of Digital Excitation Controllers), the power rectifier bridge and the
power potential transformer. Together, they provide accurate generator field control to
maintain generator output voltage. Figure 1 is used to illustrate a typical static excitation
system working directly into either the exciter field or main field.

1
 Figure 1: Block Diagram of Static Exciter System

POWER POTENTIAL TRANSFORMER

Power for the excitation system is derived by the generator via a large KVA transformer.
The transformer steps down the generator terminal voltage to be compatible with the field
requirements of the generator. The transformer will provide the excitation system’s full load
rating, plus a voltage and KVA margin for accommodating short time field forcing to handle
generator transient overload requirements.

Additionally, transformers are designed with BIL ratings (Basic Impulse Level) either in
accordance with NEMA specification ST. 20 or ANSI C57.13. A high BIL rating ensure that
the electrical insulation system of the transformer withstands any lightning-induced voltage
spikes or transients introduced by a generator short circuit.

AC FIELD SHUTDOWN CONTACTOR

The output of the power potential transformer, shown in Figure 1, connects to input con-
tacts of a shutdown contactor and the output contacts are connected to the rectifier bridge.
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Unlike the common dc field breaker used at the field of the generator for shutdown, the ac
field contactor or ac breaker is used to interrupt the power input to the excitation system
for de-exciting the generator. When the ac contactor opens, the energy from the field flows
through the thyristor and a series discharge resistor known as a rapid de-excitation circuit.
See Figure 4.

The use of an interrupt switch at the ac input is the preferred method of shutdown over a
dc field breaker because of its availability, economy and small space requirement. Further-
more, it stills provides electrical field isolation.

FIELD FLASHING THE GENERATOR

When a solid state excitation system connects directly to the generator field, external
means need to be provided to buildup generator voltage. A battery source meets this
requirement of external dc. Without it, insufficient generator residual voltage (generator
voltage available at the machine terminals when the machine is spinning and having no
excitation) is available to provide power to the thyristors to stay latched. This is due to the
field being inductive which initially impedes current flow. Hence, the external battery
source forces a current in the field circuit, allowing the thyristor to begin conducting.

A diode in series with the positive battery source prevents the current from the power
thyristor to feedback into the battery. Typically, the battery source is 125 Vdc, although 250
Vdc is not uncommon. In special cases, an ac source may be used which is rectified and
directed into the field as an alternate flashing source. The battery source for field flashing is
generally removed as a percentage of generator voltage. The voltage buildup circuit
comes supplemented with a timer that removes the battery source to prevent field heating,
and battery drain when the ac field contactor closes and the turbine generator does not
spin due to operating problems.

POWER RECTIFIER BRIDGE

The rectifier bridge includes: heatsinks containing the power semiconductors, in-line
current limiting fuses, and a surge suppressor to clamp and limit high voltages induced
into the generator field from the stator. These components are mounted together on a
chassis forming the rectifier bridge.

Three Thyristor System

The power rectifier bridge can be either half-wave or full wave controlled to rectify and
control the field of the generator. The rectifier bridge is equipped with power fuses and R-C
snubber circuits for proper control of the power thyristors. Figure 2 illustrates a schematic
of a 3 thyristor system and the accompanying output waveform for high and low output in
Figure 3. The vertical rising portion of the waveform indicates the instant the thyristors are
turned on. Note that as turn-on is delayed in time (moved to the right), the average dc
output voltage decreases. By this scheme, bridge output varies from zero to maximum
output. A fourth diode, called a freewheeling diode, connects across the output terminals
of the bridge to provide a safe path for field current when the thyristors are commutating
3
(switching on and off). The freewheeling diode eliminates the need for a dc field breaker
and discharge resistor used with small generator systems.

Figure 2: Schematic of Half Wave (3 Thyristor) Rectifier Bridge

The 3 thyristor system identified in Figure 2 conforms to a one quadrant system because
the output can be controlled from zero to some maximum positive field voltage. The appli-
cation of the 3 thyristor system can be used on any size generator, although they are
predominately used on machines below 10 MVA and/or up to 150 amperes on the field.

Figure 3: Waveform of 3 Thyristor Rectifier Output Voltage

A noted consideration for a 3 thyristor system is that it offers the advantage of dynamic
braking on the hydro turbine generator. The freewheeling diode limits the rate of field
decay that increases the flux drag in the generator air gap during shutdown. The flux drag
causes the turbine’s speed rise to be less during a full load rejection. The 3 SCR bridge
system offers simple but high performance field control to the generator for fast voltage
recovery.

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Six Thyristor System
For machines greater than 10 - 20 MVA, or above 150 amperes on the field, the 6 thyristor
system is generally preferred. Although the reaction time of the 3 thyristor system can be
very responsive, its output performance is limited to a zero to positive ceiling voltage in the
field circuit. See Figure 3. When fast generator voltage changes are required, the zero
minimum voltage on the 3 thyristor bridge limits the speed of voltage decay, while the
voltage recovery time will be related to the rate of field decay caused by the freewheeling
diode located across the field.

The 6 thyristor bridge in Figure 4 identifies a two quadrant system because the field output
voltage swings both the positive and negative directions, allowing faster generator voltage
recovery. When the 6 thyristor full wave bridge gates in the negative direction, the power
flows from the field back into the generator, via a power potential transformer. Figure 4
provides a schematic illustrating the 6 thyristor system, while Figure 5 highlights the change
in field output with different conduction angles of the power thyristors.

Figure 4: Schematic of Full-Wave (6 Thyristor) Rectifier Bridge

The maximum thyristor conduction at the field occurs when the generator voltage becomes
depressed, such as during a momentary system fault. Figure 5 identifies the power thyris-
tors output typical of a system that has a depressed generator voltage at locations A, B and
C. Note how the conduction angle changes from 0 to 60 degrees positive as the AVR com-
mands high field power. When a = 0, maximum field forcing voltage is available. During
normal generator loading the thyristors are phased on at Location D, with a conduction
angle of approximately 90 degrees. When the generator voltage raises above the setpoint,
thyristor output conduction immediately goes negative to quickly collapse the field flux. The
thyristor output may vary from 120 to 150 degrees maximum conduction. See location E
and F in Figure 5.

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 Figure 5: 6 Thyristor Output Waveform
PERFORMANCE

Generator Response-Increased Voltage Step Change

Figure 6 highlights the performance of a 6 thyristor system for a 42 MW hydro turbine
generator using voltage step responses. Here, a 10% voltage step changes is introduced
to measure performance off-line ( generator breaker open). Notice in Figure 6 with a 10%
voltage increase, the static exciter momentarily forces maximum positive voltage into the
field to quickly normalize to the new generator voltage. As noted, terminal voltage rises
quickly and recovers within .4 seconds to nominal with less than 1% voltage overshoot.
During a load-on transient, the behavior of 3 and 6 thyristor systems are nearly identical.
They both momentarily force positive voltage into the field.

Figure 6: Excitation System Step Response

6
Generator Response-Decreased Voltage Step Change
When a 10% step change is introduced causing a decrease in terminal voltage (See
Figure 6), the 6 thyristor static exciter system causes a momentary negative voltage to be
applied into the field. The negative forcing voltage speeds generator recovery by quickly
dissipating the field energy back into the synchronous machine. Notice the voltage over-
shoot is again less than 1% with a .4 second recovery time. The load-off transient perfor-
mance differentiates the 3 thyristor from the 6 thyristor system. In a 3 thyristor system, the
terminal voltage overshoot would have been 10-20% above the nominal terminal voltage,
and the voltage recovery time would have been approximately 2-3 times longer.

Performance Differences Between 3 Thyristor and 6 Thyristor Rectifier Bridges -

Load-Off-Rejection
For small machines, 6 thyristor bridge performance versus 3 thyristor performance is
relatively minor because the main field time constant tends to be small (<2 seconds).
When larger machines, > 20 MVA are involved, they have longer time constants. The
longer settling time of a 3 thyristor system dampens the system’s ability to provide faster
voltage recovery. Slow voltage recovery to system oscillations may be too long when
optimum stabilization is critical since the field cannot go negative. See Figure 3. The 6
thyristor bridge, however, can swing the field voltage in both the positive and negative
directions. The excitation system now becomes transiently more responsive to system
load changes by its ability to rapidly reduce the generator field flux, hence, provide ex-
tremely fast generator voltage recovery.

CROWBAR FAST DE-EXCITATION CIRCUIT

The rectifier bridge needs to be protected from voltage transients that can damage power
semiconductors. The type of protection may vary depending upon the type of rectifier
bridge utilized. For 3 thyristor bridge systems, surge protection such as MOVs (metal
oxide varistors), seleniums or thyrites may be utilized. For 6 thyristor bridge systems, the
need to eliminate the dc field breaker due to its availability (See Figure 7) and substantial
cost has prompted the use of solid state control insertion of a discharge resistor accompa-
nied with MOV for additional protection. See Figure 8.

Figure 7: Full-Wave (6 Thyristor) System with dc Field Breaker

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 Figure 8: Crowbar Fast De-Excitation Circuit
This crowbar circuit consists of two power thyristors connected in anti-parallel with a series
discharge resistor. A crowbar circuit provides a means of fast de-excitation to quickly
dissipate the field energy during shutdown of the excitation system via a discharge resistor
when the ac field contactor opens.

Crowbar fast de-excitation:

• Eliminates expensive dc breaker
• Keeps discharge resistor
• Optimum fault clearing time
• 50 times faster than dc breaker

It protects against
• Machine short circuit transients
• Machine pole slip

Power thyristors A or B in Figure 8 will triggered on by an excessive voltage transient

induced into the generator field. Without the crowbar circuit, the voltage transient can be
of a magnitude that can damage the bridge power semiconductors. The crowbar circuit
clamps the field at a specific voltage and dissipates the field energy via the discharge
resistor. Voltage transients induced into the field can be caused by a machine pole slip or
generator short circuit. During these conditions, the crowbar circuit senses the polarity of
the overvoltage transient and causes the appropriate power thyristor (A or B) to turn-on.

For a second level of field protection, the crowbar circuit can be triggered by an external
contact typical of an 86 lockout relay. Here, triggering the power thyristors (A & B) causes
the field energy to rapidly dissipate through the discharge resistor. Unlike the dc field
breaker, however, the operating time of the solid state circuit is 50 times faster. This occurs
due immediate triggering of the crowbar thyristors to conduct within 150 microseconds as
compared to .1 seconds of a dc field breaker. (See ANSI/IEEE C37.18). See Figure 9.

8
 Figure 9: Fast De-Excitation versus dc Field Breaker
Operating Time after Initiation of Fault

Machine Short Circuit Transients

When a generator short circuit occurs, a large negative voltage and positive current results
that’s induced into the field windings. The peak current induced into the field from the fault
will combine with the rectifier bridge output if not suppressed.

If an adequate suppression network is not utilized, overload of the rectifier bridge can be
imminent. With a crowbar circuit, a directional voltage sensitive circuit detects a specific
voltage level at the field that’s negative during a generator short circuit. The voltage detec-
tion level of the crowbar circuit is coordinated with the rating of the semiconductors and
the field insulation. Upon detection of an excessive voltage transient, the gating of SCR (A)
occurs. When SCR (A) turns on, positive current will be shunted away from the field
through the discharge resistor, while the rectifier bridge 6 thyristors are blocked to prevent
the discharge resistor from being overloaded.

Machine Pole Slip Transients

During a pole-slip condition, a negative current is induced into the field that’s opposite of
the normal positive current flow produced by the excitation system. A large negative in-
duced current with no current path will result in a very high positive voltage transient
across the power rectifiers. The large voltage transient can cause damage to the solid
state devices and cause severe pitting of the generator slip rings and stator. With the
crowbar circuit, the positive induced field voltage will be detected and cause the gating of
SCR (B). This allows the current to flow from the field through the discharge resistor. When
the crowbar circuit turns on, the rectifier bridge 6 thyristors are blocked to insure proper
thyristor coordination.

Short Time Transients

Additional surge protection is required for the first 150 microseconds due to the time delay
in the crowbar operating time. Here, metal oxide varistors (MOV) are utilized.

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AUTOMATIC VOLTAGE CONTROL

To achieve automatic control, the combination of sensing transformers and automatic

voltage regulator and a firing circuit is utilized.

Sensing transformers
The sensing transformers provide isolation and voltage matching between the generator
instrument transformer and the automatic voltage regulator.

Parallel compensation
Generators operating in parallel need to share reactive power equally to prevent circulating
currents. Excitation systems accomplish this by the addition of a paralleling signal to each
regulator. A quantity is derived from a current transformer from the generator output that
adds with the vector quantity derived by the generator voltage via the sensing transform-
ers. The composite signal enables the exciter to correct its output and attain balanced
operation of reactive power between synchronous machines.

Automatic voltage regulator

Automatic voltage regulator features include:
• ¼% voltage regulation
• Underfrequency voltage limiting
• Generator voltage soft start
• Reactive current sharing

The automatic voltage regulator rectifies and filters a sample of the generator voltage, and
then compares it with a stable dc reference voltage. If it determines the generator voltage
deviates from normal, an error signal results that passes to the firing circuit, it causes the
rectifier bridge output to change appropriately to restore generator voltage to a normal
level.

A hand operated or remote adjustable setpoint controller permits adjustment of the genera-
tor voltage either locally or remotely. Another signal, generated in the firing circuit, and
shaped by the stabilizing network, is directed to the automatic voltage regulator to prevent
instability.

Underfrequency limiter.
When a generator voltage is maintained at rated output and the generator frequency falls
below rated, equipment can be damaged due to overheating. An underfrequency limiter
feature avoids generator overfluxing by causing terminal voltage to progressively decrease
when generator frequency falls to less than about 90% rated. The voltage/frequency char-
acteristic of the underfrequency limiter is shown in Figure 10. Slope 1 can be applied to a
gas, steam or hydro turbine generator. Slope 2 can be applied to a turbo-charged diesel
for resistive block load to achieve better speed recovery. See Paper Reference 9.

10
 Figure 10: Regulator Volts/Hertz Characteristic
Generator Softstart
For many systems it’s not uncommon to see generator voltage overshoot upon
energization of the excitation system. The generator voltage may overshoot 15-20%
before stabilizing to its steady state value. Generator voltage overshoot occurs when the
excitation system is initially energized and the static exciter forces the field with substantial
power to quicken the generator voltage to steady state. Generator softstart is important
because overvoltage can stress the machine windings and even cause corona (ionization
of air due to a high voltage that can affect insulation life.)

By controlling the rate of generator voltage rise via the field excitation system, generator
voltage will build up to rated value with little to no overshoot. See Figure 11.

Figure 11: Generator Voltage Buildup Characteristic

11
Base Control Firing Circuit
The firing circuit generates turn-on pulses with an adjustable time relationship for the
gating of thyristors. This will cause the balanced output of the bridge to increase or de-
crease in response to command signals supplied to the firing circuit. One of these signals,
taken from a base control potentiometer (known as manual control) allows control of the
excitation system when the automatic voltage regulator is not in service.

SELECTION CRITERIA FOR CHOOSING A STATIC EXCITER REGULATOR

The field power required by the generator is based upon two factors.

1. Generator Size - The larger the machine, the greater the field power required to
maintain rated generator voltage at rated load.

2. The Rotational Speed - Mr. Faraday, the discoverer of electromagnetic induction,

observed that the faster a loop of wire passes through a magnetic field, the
greater the magnetomotive force produced. In a synchronous generator, this
indicates that it takes less field excitation to excite a generator operating at high
speed than is required on the same generator operating at lower speeds.

The type of turbine used on a generator plays a dominant role in determining the size of
the excitation system. Hence, it is not surprising that a gas or steam turbine rotating at
3600 rpm would require a much smaller excitation system as compared to a hydro turbine
rotating at 120 rpm that has the same generator kW rating.

Choosing the Static Exciter

The procedure for selecting a static excitation system involves little more than the use of
Ohm’s Law to determine the rating of the static exciter appropriate for a given generator. In
most applications, the excitation system is nominally sized to meet the generator continu-
ous field rating requirement. This information can be obtained from the machine name-
plate located on the side of the generator. If the machine has been rewound, it is most
important to obtain operating dc amperes and dc volts required by the field that represents
the maximum continuous machine loading at rated power factor. Often, a +10% operating
margin will be added to the excitation system to obtain a more conservatively sized unit
rating.

BEHAVIOR OF THE STATIC EXCITER DURING FAULT CONDITION

Many times the question arises: Is excitation support necessary for the generator? In
reality, the application and type of fault that occurs determines behavior of the shunt static
exciter in response to the fault.

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 Type of Fault Impedance Limited Exciter Output
Distance Fault Yes Static Exciter Output
Reduced by % AC Input
Single Phase Fault No Reduced Field Forcing
3 Phase Fault at Generator No No Exciter Output

Table 1: Excitation System Response to Faults for Shunt Type Static Exciter
The location of the fault affects the response of the excitation system, hence, the generator
output. Table 1 describes the output of the excitation system based upon various system
fault possibilities.

Generating systems can be divided into two categories: those systems that operate totally
isolated, and systems that are connected in parallel with the utility bus. The information
below offers an explanation of how the excitation system will behave without excitation
support for each condition.

Isolated Bus-Motor Starting

When a generator provides isolated power to local loads, the machine(s) capacity normally
provides for normal loading and some degree of overload depending upon the system. If
the loads are motors, the starting inrush KVA required by the motor must be considered.
Depending upon the size and type of synchronous or induction motor used, voltage dips of
various magnitudes can be anticipated due to the starting inrush KVA of the motor. Exces-
sive voltage dips during motor starting may reduce the available field power from the excita-
tion system and cause longer motor starting time. See Figure 12.

Computers are often used to model the generator with its reactance and the load in order to
determine the expected voltage dip when motors are applied across the generator output.
The models will preview the system’s performance by calculating the voltage dip and volt-
age recovery time. The factors that affect voltage dip include: reactances and time constant
of the generator, the inrush KVA of the motor, and the static exciter transfer function and
field forcing capability. The higher the field forcing level, the shorter the motor starting time.
Typical amounts of field forcing range from 145 - 150%.

13
 Figure 12: Motor Starting Characteristic with Various Levels of Field Forcing
Isolated bus-sustained generator short circuit.
Another consideration involves a fault at the generator output terminals. Should a sus-
tained three phase fault occur at the generator output, a shunt type static exciter output will
collapse, eliminating the possibility of generator fault contribution. See Table 1. Lack of a
sufficient fault current from the generator may prevent proper relay coordination necessary
to trip system breakers that may otherwise cause equipment damage. Here, careful selec-
tion of protective relays must be considered to ensure adequate generator protection upon
loss of excitation.

PARALLEL BUS
The second category affects the use of a shunt static exciter on a machine connected to
the utility bus. When the generator connects to the utility, the increased MVA capacity of
the system improves motor starting and aids to minimize the voltage dip in the system.

Should a three phase fault occur at the generator terminals, the generator’s voltage will
decay and there will be insufficient voltage for the excitation system to feed power to the
field. Unlike the discussion of a isolated bus, however, relay coordination may be achieved
through the utility bus intertie that is also feeding current into the fault. Here, the fault cur-
rent for relay tripping will be provided by the stiffer power source (utility) and not from the
generator relaying.

Where a fault occurs in the distribution system (See Table 1), often transformers and line
impedance will limit the fault current between the generator and the source. See Figure 13.
For these faults the system impedance tends to limit the magnitude of the generator volt-
age drop and the static exciter is able to force the generator field momentarily to support
the voltage needed for high speed relays to clear the fault and bring the generator voltage
back to normal.

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 Figure 13: Shunt Static Exciter Paralleled to the Infinite Bus

Excitation Support For The Shunt Exciter

The use of excitation support must be evaluated based upon the system’s requirements
for fault clearing at the generator output. To determine if excitation support will be neces-
sary, questions need to be asked. Can the fault current be derived from the utility, or must
it be derived by generators independently? If the fault current must be derived indepen-
dently from the generator, excitation support should be considered.

Excitation support added to the shunt static exciter can aid motor starting and sustain fault
current for relay coordination by inserting large power current transformers into each of the
generator lines. When the voltage drops below a set value, the output from the current
transformers is rectified and applied into the generator field. See Figure 14.

Figure 14: Excitation Support Added to Shunt Static Exciter

The amount of short circuit current required is based upon the generator capability and
relaying requirements.

Time (Seconds) 10 20 60 120

Generator
Armature Current
in % of rated 226 154 130 116

Table 2: Permissible Generator Overload Versus Time

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ANSI C50.13 offer guidelines as indicated in Table 2 that show the permissible short time
overload current plotted against time.

When excitation support is being considered, the following additional questions must be
addressed.

· What is the generator short circuit current capability and permissible time al-
lowed?

· Is the switchgear designed to handle the possible sustained P.U. short circuit
current?

· Is sufficient machine data available to design the excitation system?

· What is the maximum allowable overcurrent time?

· Has there been proper consideration of relay coordination and tripping?

SHAFT VOLTAGE ON CYLINDRICAL TYPE TURBINE GENERATORS

Cylindrical rotor generators may have a voltage that exists between a rotating shaft and
the stationary parts of the turbine-generator. Voltages, if sufficiently high, can produce a
current between the rotor and the stationary parts to ground by way of the insulated bear-
ing. See Figure 15.

Figure 15: Shaft Voltage Suppression

These voltages are called shaft voltages. If not minimized, they can dramatically shorten
the operating life of the insulated bearings. Shaft voltages are caused by magnetic irregu-
larities in the generator long shaft and appear most commonly on high speed cylindrical
generators. In these applications, it has been found that bearing deterioration (pitting)
originates from electrostatic discharges. The electrostatic discharges can be caused by a
number of noise sources. One of the sources can be the switching thyristors in the static
exciter power rectifier bridge.
16
One solution to this problem involves adding a grounding brush seated at the end of the
shaft that connects to ground. Stray currents will flow through the grounding brush rather
than through the insulated bearing. This system, however, requires regular maintenance
checks to ensure good surface contact.

Today, resistor and capacitor snubber circuits are used to send high frequency noise to
ground. See Figures 2 and 4. The snubber circuit consist of a symmetrical resistor and
capacitor network connected across the field with a center tap to ground. The snubber
circuit responds to high frequency noise generated by the power thyristors. The snubber
circuit provides a low impedance circuit path that shunts high frequency currents caused
by the thyristors to ground.

PACKAGED EXCITATION SYSTEMS

Many power plants today are totally automated because of their isolated locations. In these
applications, the excitation system must be responsive to remote commands from the
supervisory station. Due to their remote location, the basic static exciter/regulator package
is usually equipped with other excitation accessories. Today, these accessories are en-
abled by software that allows easy implementation. The additional functions to ensure the
continuity of power and integrity of the system during system disturbances. A system
develops from a basic static exciter/regulator to one that includes excitation limiters, power
factor controller, semiconductor failure indicators and remote control based upon the
needs of the generator and its importance to the mill. See Figure 16 and Figure 1.

Figure 16: Static Exciter Cabinet

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CONCLUSION

Static excitation systems provide valuable solutions to problems with equipment obsoles-
cence. The benefits of retrofit to static excitation is far beyond the savings in maintenance.
They also provides excellent system performance for faster motor starting. Additionally,
they provide high operating efficiency, as compared to a rotating exciter, hence, consum-
ing less power. High operating efficiency translates into lower operating cost and fast
return upon initial investment.

As synchronous machines are being continuously pushed to their design limit, it becomes
increasingly important that the system be stable under any condition of loading. The exci-
tation system plays a significant role in assuring that the generator provides fast transient
performance regardless of load under any situation.

REFERENCES

1. ANSI C50.13-1965 Cylindrical Rotor Synchronous Generators.

2. IEEE 421.4-1990 Guide Specification for Excitation Systems.
3. NEMA MG1-22.16, July 1982.
4. Schaefer, R.C., “Performance Consideration for Selecting a Static Excitation
System”. Presented at Waterpower 85.
5. Schaefer, R.C., “Steam Turbine Generator Excitation System Modernization”.
Presented at IEEE Pulp & Paper Conference in Vancouver, Canada, June 1995.
6. Schaefer, R.C., “Voltage Regulator Influence on Generator System Stability”.
Presented at Waterpower Conference in Denver, Colorado, August 1991.
7. ANSI C37.18-1979 IEEE Standard Enclosed Field Discharge Circuit Breaker for
Rotating Machinery. Rev C, January 1996.
8. Riddle, K. A., “Renovation of a Paper Mill Steam Driven Turbine - Generators”.
Presented at IEEE Pulp and Paper Conference in Vancouver, Canada, June
1995.
9. Schaefer, R.C., “Generator Excitation Influence of Engine During Block Load
Pickup”. Presented at Society of Automotive Engineers in Peoria, Illinois, 1984.

18