Subsynchronous

y Resonance Studies
Using Power Factory

Glenn Jennings
Gl J i /
Geeven Moodley
DIgSILENT BUYISA

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Wh t is
What i SSR?

Subsynchronous Resonance – Simplified Explanation

The cause of SSR is the use of series capacitors to shorten the electrical
distance between the two ends of an AC transmission line.
line

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Important points:

ƒ a resonant frequency f er exists in the transmission line impedance;

ƒ the resonant frequency f er is subsynchronous;

ƒ f er depends on the percentage compensation of the line;

ƒ at the resonant frequency, very large currents flow because the impedance of
the line is almost zero.

This Series Compensation

p can lead to 3 forms of SSR:

ƒ Induction Generator Effect

ƒ Torsional Interaction

ƒ Torque Amplification

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The Induction Generator Effect
The induction generator effect is a purely electrical form of self excitation.
When viewed from its stator terminals
terminals, the rotor of a generator presents a
negative resistance to all subsynchronous components of current. A series
compensated transmission line presents a small, but positive resistance to
currents at its resonant frequency
frequency. If the negative resistance of the
generator rotor (when referred to the stator) exceeds the positive
resistance of the transmission line at their combined resonant frequency,
then the flow of subsynchronous currents becomes self self-sustaining
sustaining.

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Mechanical Resonances of the Turbine System
In a large turbine-generator, the prime mover typically comprises several
intermediate turbine stages, connected with torsionally-flexible (i.e. “twistable”)
shafts.
shafts

After any asymmetrical disturbance to the shaft, the natural tendency of

the turbine stages is to oscillate backwards and forwards relative to one
another
another.

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Torsional modes and mode frequencies

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Effect of torsional motion on stator voltages

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Effect of transmission line resonances on generator electrical torque

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Torsional Interaction SSR

If the transmission system is compensated with series capacitors, the

coupling between the mechanical and electrical subsystems can become
potentially
t ti ll hazardous
h d for
f two
t reasons: if the
th complementary
l t frequency
f off
the induced voltages in the stator due to torsional motion coincides with a
resonant minimum in the impedance of the transmission system then:

the amplitude of the complementary frequency currents will be

large, and hence so will that of the induced electrical torques.

the phase of the induced subsynchronous torques is such that they

tend to sustain, or even reinforce, the original torsional motion, ie.
the twisting
g of the shaft becomes sustained (never
( dies away)
y) or
even negatively damped.

This mechanism of energy exchange between the electrical and

mechanical resonances is referred to as torsional interaction.

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 Frequency Scanning
Frequency scanning involves determining the driving point impedance as viewed
from the neutral point of the generator over the frequency range of interest.

In Powerfactory it is convenient to perform the frequency scan from the HV

busbar of the power station, with the transformer HV breaker open. This gives
the network impedance
p (R
( net and Xnet) seen byy the power
p station.

Rnet
Xnet

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The frequency scan impedance from the generator neutral point can then be
obtained by adding the generator and transformer impedance to the network
impedance in Excel®.

R = Rnet + Rgen(f) + Rtr(f)

X = Xnet + Xgen(f) + Xtr(f)

The advantage
d nt ge of thi
this approach
pp o h iis th
thatt you
o can
n assess
e the effe
effectt of diffe
different
ent
numbers of generators online at the power station without re-doing the
frequency scan.

For ‘n’ generators online at the station the required frequency scan
impedance would be:
R = Rnet + (Rgen(f) + Rtr(f) )/n
X = Xnet + (Xgen(f) + Xtr(f) )/n

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 Finally one obtains the R
R,X
X as seen from the generator neutral and this can
be plotted as a function of the frequency:

Resonance activity can

be see in the
subsynchronous range
of the impedance.

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The R and X obtained from frequency scanning can be used in the evaluation
of the three types of SSR.

• Torque Amplification (TA)

TA is a transient stability phenomenon and so requires transient
simulation studies for analysis. However, frequency scanning can be
used as a screening tool for TA.

• I d ti G
Induction Generator
t Effect
Eff t (IGE)
IGE is a steady state stability phenomenon that is purely electrical in
nature so frequency scanning gives accurate results.

• Torsional Interaction (TI)

TI is steadyy state stabilityy p
phenomenon that involves the electrical and
mechanical network, however frequency scanning can give reasonably
accurate results.

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 Frequency Scanning for Induction Generator Effect

IG SSR is indicated where: X = 0 and R < 0

To illustrate the Induction Generator Effect we re-visit the IEEE 1st benchmark
model.
model

The IG effect is not dependant on shaft dynamics so the generator shaft train
is modeled as a single lumped inertia.

First consider a moderate value of Xc1 = 0.36 p.u.

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 LENT
10

DIgSIL
49.084 Hz 59.993 Hz
0

-10 Mode Real Imaginary

E1 super-synchronous flux −4.71 ±620.0
E2 subsynchronous flux −2.71 ±133.8
-20
10.0 22.5 35.0 47.5
Terminal(4): Network Resistance in Ohm
60.0 [Hz] 72.5
M0 inertial mode −1.61 ±10.6

200 M magnetic stability −0.98 0

R1 −1.21 0
38.745 Hz
0 R2 rotor circuits −20.3 0
R3 −33.2 0
-200

-400

-600
10.0 22.5 35.0 47.5 60.0 [Hz] 72.5
Terminal(4):
T i l(4) NNetwork
t kRReactance
t iin Oh
Ohm

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Short duration 3 phase short circuit at the infinite busbar with Xc1 = 0.36 pu

DIgSILENT
2.00

D
Generator is Stable
1.00

0 00
0.00

-1.00
0.00 1.00 2.00 3.00 [s] 4.00
G: Electrical Torque in p.u.

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 LENT
10

DIgSIL
Now increase the series capacitor Xc1
to 0.625 p.u.
49.084 Hz 59.993 Hz
0

Note that at 52.3 Hz the reactance is

zero and the net system
y resistance is
-10

negative indicating IG SSR.

-20
10.0 22.5 35.0 47.5 60.0 [Hz] 72.5
Terminal(4): Network Resistance in Ohm

Mode Real Imaginary 200

E1 super-synchronous flux −4.77 ±697.1

52.266 Hz
0
E2 subsynchronous flux +0.53 ±55.8
55.8

M0 inertial mode −3.37 ±14.9

-200

M magnetic stability −1.80 0

R1 −1.21 0 -400

R2 rotor circuits −20.5 0

-600
R3 −33.7 0 10.0 22.5 35.0 47.5 60.0 [Hz] 72.5
Terminal(4): Network Reactance in Ohm

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Short duration 3 phase short circuit at the infinite bus with Xc1 = 0.625 pu

DIgSILENT
0.80

D
Generator is Unstable
0.70
due to IG SSR

0.60

0.50

0.40

0.30

0.20
0.00 1.00 2.00 3.00 [s] 4.00
G: Electrical Torque in p.u.

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Freq Scanning for Torque Amplification

(fo-fm) ± 3 Hz

“Reactance Dip” = 100 * (X-Y) %

X
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 Freq Scanning for Torque Amplification

Frequency scanning is useful as a tool for screening for possible Torque

Amplification
f problems as it enables you to eliminate the possibility off TA ffor
the studied conditions.

No Reactance Dip of > 5% within ± 3Hz of (fo – fm)

¾ There is no risk of Torque Amplification and no further
investigation is needed.
needed

Reactance Dip of > 5% occurs within ± 3Hz of (fo – fm)

¾ This is an indication that there may be a risk of Torque
Amplification and further investigation by transient simulation is
needed.
needed
¾ This does not mean there is a TA problem, but indicates that the
particular contingency should be studied in more detail.

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Torsional Interaction Analysis
y

The negative damping or undamping for mode ‘m’ due to Torsional

Interaction is determined from frequency scanning as:

or Δσm = Δσsub + Δσsup

fm is the frequency of mode ‘m’

m
Hm is the modal inertia of mode ‘m’ defined for a modal deflection at the
generator rotor of 1.0
Rsub and Xsub are determined at frequency fo – fm
Rsup and Xsup are determined at frequency
q y fo + fm

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Δσsub is p
positive (undamping)
( p g) indicating
g a negative
g damping
p g contribution

Δσsup is negative (undamping) indicating a positive damping contribution

Overall damping for a mode depends on the mechanical damping σmech

and the undamping Δσm due to TI.

σm = σmech - Δσm
If the undamping Δσm is greater than the mechanical damping σmech then
the resultant mode damping will be negative indicating instability.
instability

Typically an SSR study requires the analysis of many different cases which
consider variations in generation patterns as well as element outages
outages.

For such initial screening

g studies Rsub Rsup Xsub and Xsup are calculated for
each condition for each torsional mode and the undampings are
determined.

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One can calculate R,X at just the mode complimentary frequencies or
scan the whole frequency range of interest to obtain a plot of the
undamping as a function of frequency. e.g. for two different cases:

Δσsub

Δσsup

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D t Preparation
Data P ti for
f Frequency
F Scanning
S i
Preparation of data for frequency scanning studies can be divided into 3
main areas:

1. Turbine and Generator shaft Mechanical Data.

\ Torsional frequencies and mode inertias are required.

2. Generator and Network Electrical Data.

\ Primarily concerned with the generator impedance at
subsynchronous frequencies; particularly resistance
resistance.

3. Load Modeling.
\ Primarily concerned with modeling of induction motor
contribution to load.

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Turbo-generator
g Mechanical Data

The torsional motion equation is defined as:

[J]p2θ + [D]pθ + [K]θ = T

⎡ K 12 − K 12 L 0 ⎤
[J] iss diagonal
d ago a ⎢ ⎥
−K K 12 + K 23 O M ⎥
[K ] = ⎢ 12
⎢ M O K 45 + K 56 − K 56 ⎥
⎢ ⎥
⎣ 0 L − K 56 K 56 ⎦

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The torsional natural frequencies are found by solving for the eigenvalues λ
from the equation:
det | λ[I] – [J]-1[K] | = 0

The torsional frequencies are then given by:

ωi = √λi

The mode shapes are the eigenvectors which are found by solving the
equation:
[J]-1[K]Qi = λiQi
The mode shapes
p Qi can be scaled independently,
p y, however it is customaryy
to scale them either with the maximum value = 1.0, or with the entry
corresponding to the generator rotor = 1.0

The mode inertia for mode ‘i’ Jmi is determined from the mode shape and
inertia matrix as:
Jmi = QiT[J]Qi (Hmi = ½Jmiωo)
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Generator Electrical Parameters

The generator electrical parameters are required as a function of

frequency.
The best source of this information is from the manufacturer Rgen(f) and
Xgen(f) in
i tabular
b l format.
f

However, in many cases this is not available in which case one needs to
determine Rgen(f) and Xgen(f) from standard generator stability reactances
and time constants (Xd”, Xd’, Tdo’ , Tdo” etc).

This can be obtained from Powerfactory by disconnecting the generator

from the network and scanning R,X looking into the terminals of the
generator.

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It is important to tick the “Consider
Consider Transient
Parameter” on the Harmonics Tab of the
Synchronous Machine Type Data.

R,X

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Th R,X
The R X as a function
f ti off frequency
f is
i exported
t d to
t EExcel.
l

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Load Modeling for SSR studies

Loads have an impact on SSR calculations from two perspectives.

1. Load Level

Loads, particularly those near the terminals of a generator

Loads generator, provide
an additional path for subsynchronous currents to flow and thereby
‘tap off’ some of the current that flows between the capacitors and
the generator.
generator

In this respect they improve the damping of SSR oscillations. In

general, loads contribute damping to SSR oscillations.
SSR studies should therefore preferably be conducted at low system
load levels.

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2. Type of Load

The amount of SSR damping is also affected by the load mix.mix In

particular, it is necessary to model induction motor load in order to
accurately assess SSR damping.

\ Estimate a ratio of Resistive / Induction Motor Load

\ Define a suitable Induction Motor model

A study in the USA measured the apparent impedance of the network

over the subsynchronous range. The predominant load was
residential and commercial air-conditioning.
g This study found a good
g
impedance match using a model containing:

\ 60% IM load / 40% resistive load

\ Induction motor with Xd” = 0.135 p.u.

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Each
E h load
l d in
i the
th study
t d area is
i replaced
l d by
b a composite
it load
l d
including some feeder/transformer impedance and power factor
correction capacitance. This is done by means of a DPL script.

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Case Preparation

Set up identifier for Generators and

Transformers who’s scheduling is to be
varied.

Set up a Matrix which contains

the g
generation patterns
p which
you want to study.

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The frequency
Th f scan studies
t di are run b
by a DPL script
i t called
ll d “Gen
“G
Scheduling”

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“G S
“Gen Scheduling”
h d li ” DPL calls
ll an outage
t DPL (n-2
( 2 in
i this
thi case))

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The full frequency scan enables one
to determine the possibility of Torque
Amplification. These results are also
displayed in table form in Excel.

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The End

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