TURBINE GOVERNING SYSTEM – ELECTRO HYDRAULIC CONTROLLER ( EHC )

INTRODUCTION
THE FOLLOWING TOPICS ARE COVERED UNDER THIS TITLE ARE AS FOLLOWS

1) WHY EHC IS REQUIRED?

2) TYPES OF GOVERNING
3) FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNING.
4) ELECTRO HYDRAULIC CONTROLLER.
5) CONTROL LOOPS FUNCTIONS.
6) SPEED SIGNAL ACQUISITION.
7) LOAD SIGNAL ACQUISITION.
8) DETAILS OF EHC DESK OPERATING CONSOLE.
9) SPEED CONTROL LOOP DESCRIPTION AND LOGICS.
10) LOAD CONTROL LOOP DESCRIPTION AND LOGICS.
11) PRESSURE CONTROL LOOP DESCRIPTION AND LOGICS.
12) SELECTION OF CONTROLLER.
13) ADMISSION OR POSITION CONTROLLER.
14) AUTOMATIC SELECTION OF CONTROL.
15) EHC AND FOLLOW UP PISTONS.
16) TRACKING DEVICE.
17) EHC – OPERATIONAL FEATURES.
18) EHC - PARAMETERS TO BE MONITERED.
19) EHC – INCOMING AND OUT GOING SIGNAL DETAILS.
20) CONCLUSION.

[Link] EHC GOVERNING IS REQUIRED?

 MUCH DEVELOPED CONTROL SYSTEM EMPLOYED IN POWER GENERATING SYSTEMS REQUIRES UPGRADATION OF THE
TURBINE GOVERNING SYSTEMS.
 PRESENT DAY GRID DEMAND ASKS US FAST ACTING AND MORE SENSITIVE GOVERNING SYSTEMS DUE TO THE COMPLEXITY
INVOLVED IN THE GRID SYSTEM AND THE LOAD DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM.
 EXISTING MECHANICAL GOVERNING SYSTEM REQUIRES ALL THE TIME HUMAN INTERVENCE IN ORDER TO ADOPT THE SYSTEM
CHANGES WHEN EVER THE NEED ARISES.
 IN ORDER TO AVOID HUMAN INTERFERENCE AND TO TAKE ACTIVE AND SPEEDY RESPONSE EHC HAS DEVELOPED AND PUT
INTO USE.
 THE USAGE OF EHC GOVERNING PAVES WAY TO THE FREE GOVERNING REGIME FOR THE FUTURE REQUIREMENT.

[Link] OF GOVERNING SYSTEMS.

 INITIALY IN LOCAL BY CHANGING THE HAND WHEEL POSITION OF THE GOVERNING SYSTEM CONTROL OIL PRESSURE IS
VARRIED WHICH IS PURELY MANUAL.
 NEXT BY USING MOTAR OPEARATED VALVES THE GOVERNING SYSTEM OPERATION IS CARRIED [Link] IS CALLED
MECHANICAL GOVERNING SYSTEM .IT IS NOW ACTS AS A BACK UP SYSTEM FOR THE [Link] IS SEMI AUTOMATIC.
 NOW, BY USING ELECTRONIC CONTROLS AND LOGIC CIRCUITS AND INSTRUMENT CONTROL SYSTEM TECHNIQUES BY
OPERATING A SERVO SYSTEM THE GOVERNING OPERATION IS BEING CARRIED OUT AT MUCH FASTER AND MORE
ACCURATELY WHICH IS NOTHING BUT THE ELECTRO HYDRAULIC CONTROL (EHC) GOVERNING SYSTEM. WHICH IS FULLY
AUTOMATIC CONTROL.

[Link] SYSTEM FUNCTIONS.

 TO OPERATE TURBINE VALVES NAMELY ESV,MCV,RHSV,ICV AND FCNRVS.
 TO CONTROL THE SPEED OF THE TURBINE WHEN IT IS NOT TIED WITH GRID AND ALSO TO REGULATE THE SPEED OF THE
TURBINE WHEN IT IS IN OPERATION.
 TO MAINTAIN FREQUENCY BY MAINTAINING THE SPEED OF THE TURBINE WHEN IT IS FEEDING UNITLOADS ONLY.
 TO ALTER THE STEAM FLOW INTO THE TURBINE ACCORDING TO THE REQUIREMENT OF LOAD DEMAND.
 TO PROCESS EXTERNAL CONTROL SYSTEM SIGNALS SUCH AS THE DEMAND SIGNAL FROM LOAD DESPATCH CENTRE.
 TO CO-ORDINATE WITH THE ACTION OF BOILER COMBUSTION CONTROL DURING NORMAL OPERATION IN ANY ONE OF THE
MODES SAY BOILER FOLLOWS TURBINE OR TURBINE FOLLOWS BOILER.
 TO PROTECT TURBINE FROM ANY OF POSSIBLE DAMAGES DUE TO EXCESS AXIAL SHIFT VACCUM FAILURE AND LUB OIL
PRESSURE FAILURE.
 TO EXECUTE PRE EMERGENCY OPERATION LIKE, (a) TO LIMIT POWER GENERATION AS PER LOAD LIMITER ACCORDING TO
THE CONDITION OF THE UNIT.(b)TO CONTROL OVER SPEEDING OF TURBINE THERE BY AVOIDING TRIPPING.(c) TO REDUCE
POWER GENERATION THERE BY AVOIDING TRIPPING DUE TO LOW VACUUM AND MAIN STEAMPRESSURE DROPS.

[Link] HUDRAULIC CONTROLLER .

  IT COMPRISES OF SPEED,LOAD AND PRESSURE CONTROL LOOPS WITH A DOWN STREAM POSITION CONTROL LOOP OF A
SERVO VALUE MECHANISM.

 FINAL ELECTRICAL OUTPUT OF THE EHC IS FED TO AN ELECTRO HYDRAULIC CONVERTER WHICH CONVERTS THE
ELECTRICAL SIGNAL INTO HYDRAULIC PRESSURE SIGNAL IN THE SERVO SYSTEM WHICH IS LEADING TO THE CHANGES IN
THE CONTROL OIL PRESSURE. THIS CONTROL OIL PRESSURE IS THE FINAL SIGNAL USED TO POSITION THE DIFFERENT
TURBINE GOVERNING VALVES.

 MEASURING OFSPEED,LOAD,PRESSURE,SERVO VALVE PLUNGS,POSITION FEED BACK AND COMPARING THEM WITH THE
SET VALUES OR PRE DETERMINED VALUES IN ORDER TO GENERATE THE CONTROL SIGNAL AND THEN TO REPOSITION
THE SERVO VALVE PLUNGER THERE BY EFFECTING THE CHANGE IN THE CONTROLOIL PRESSURE IN THE PRIME FUNCTION
OF EHC.

[Link] OF CONTROL LOOPS.

 THREE CONTROL LOOPS SAY SPEED,LOAD AND PRESSURE ARE READILY AVAILABLE TO TAKE OVER CONTOL OF THE
TURBINE APPROPRIATE TO THE OPERATING MODE AND NEED AND CONDITIONS OF THE TURBINE .

 THE CONTROLLER SELECTION CIRCUIT IS A LOGIC ARRANGEMENT TO SORT OUT WHICH CONTROL LOOP IS TO TAKE OVER
AND IT ALSO ENSURES THE COMPLETE ISOLATION OF ONE CONTROL LOOP TO ANOTHER WHEN ONE LOOP IS IN SERVICE.

[Link] OF SPEED CONTROLLER LOOP.

 MAIN FUNCTION OF THIS LOOP IS TO EXECUTE THE CONTROL FUNCTION FOR THE TURBINE DURING START UP
AND [Link] RAISE,LOWER,OR TO MAINTAIN SPEED DURING ROLLING

 DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF TURBINE IT ACTS AS AOVER SPEED CONTROLLER TO ENSURE THAT THE SPEED OF THE
TURBINE TO BE KEPT BELOW THE OVER SPEED LEVEL
.
 IT REMAINS AS A BACK UP CONTROLLER AND READY TO TAKE OVER IMMEDIATE CONTROL OF THE TURBINE IN THE
EVENT OF FAILURE OF OTHER CONTROL LOOPS.

 DURING SPEED RAISING OF THE TURBINE IT TAKES DUE CONSIDERATION OF TURBINE STRESS LEVELS WITH THE HELP
OF TSE AND TO RAISE,LOWER OR MAINTAIN THE SPEED OF THE TURBINE ACCORDING TO THE CONTROL FUCTION OF TSE.

 DURING LOAD REJECTIONS THE OVER SPEEDING OF THE TURBINE IS PREVENTED AND THE SPEED IS RESTORED
IMMEDIATELY APPROXIMATELY TO THE RATED VALUE DURING LOAD REJECTION.

[Link] OF LOAD CONTROL LOOP

 IT TAKES CONTROL OF TURBINE AFTER SYNCHRONISATION AND IT IS THE ONE WHICH IS IN SERVICE DURING NORMAL
OPERATION.

* WHILE DECIDING LOAD SET VALUES IT TAKES PRESSURE CORRECTIONS INTO CONSIDERATION AND THUS AVOIDS LARGE
SCALE FLUCTUATIONS.

IT ALSO CONTROLS THE LOAD SET VALUE ACCORDING TO THE DIVIATION OBTAINED FROM THE GRID FREQUENCY AND
 REFERENCE FREQUENCY.

* ABSOLUTE LIMITING OF LOAD IS POSSIBLE.

 IT HELPS TO MAXIMISE THE TOTAL POWER GENERATION.

* LOAD SET VALUE IS DECIDED AFTER TAKING THE DEMAND POSED BY LOAD DESPATCH CENTRE INTO CONSIDERATION.

 RATE OF LOADING AND UNLOADING IS DECIDED ACCORDING TO THE SIGNALS OBTAINED FROM TURBINE STRESS
VALUATER. (TSE).

5. [Link] OF PRESSURE CONTROL LOOP.

 IT IS CAPABLE OF CONTROLLING TURBINE ON TWO OPERATING [Link] CAN OPERATE ON ANYONE OF THE
FOLLOWING. TWO MODES ON SELECTION.(A)LUIMIT PRESSURE MODE (BOILER FOLLOWS TURBINE MODE) OR
(B) INITIAL PRESSURE MODE (TURBINE FOLLOWS BOILER MODE).

 LIMIT PRESSURE MODE ACTS AS ABACK UP LOOP FOR THE LOAD CONTROL LOOP. IN THIS MODE BOILER COMBUSTION
CONTROLLER CO- ORDINATION IS ESSENTIAL FOR FINE PERFORMANCE.

 BOILER COMBUSTION CONTROLLER AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTS THE COMBUSTION RATE ACCORDING TO THE LOAD
SET POINT THUS VARYING THE STEAM FLOW,AIR FLOW,FUEL FLOW BY MAINTAINING THE STEAM PRESSURE WITHIN THE
 LIMITS.

 THE PRESSURE CONTROL LOOP IN THIS MODE ACTS AS A BACK UP CONTROLLER AND IT COMES INTO ACTION ONLY
STEAM PRESSURE GETS REDUCED TO A PREDETERMINED LEVEL WHEN THE COMBUSTION CONTROLLER CANNOT
RESTORE IT. IT REDUCES THE LOAD AND BUILD UP THE PRESSURE AND CEASES TO EXIT ONCE THE NORMAL PRESSURE
RESTORED.

 IN TURBINE FOLLOWS BOILER MODE OR INITIAL PRESSURE MODE THE COMBUSTION CONTROLLER OF BOILER IS KEPT IN
MANUAL MODE AND VARIATIONS IN COMBUSTION IS REFLECTED IN STEAM PRESSURE WHICH WILL BE MAINTAINED BY
PROPORTIONALLY ADJUSTING THE STEAM FLOW RATE THUS VARYING THE LOAD. THIS IS POSSIBLE BY CLOSING OR
OPENING OF THE GOVERNING VALVES. IN THIS MODE IT TAKES CONTROL OF TURBINE DIRECTLY.

6.0 ACQUISITION OF SPEED SIGNAL.

I
B

SEMI CONDUCTOR PLATE

* ********** BB *

I – SUPPLY CURRENT

B—TRANSVERSE [Link]
FLUX DENSITY

V—OUTPUT VOLTAGE

HALF EFFECT METHOD:

 WHEN A SEMI CONDUCTOR PLATE IS FIXED AND A CONSTANT CURRENT IS PASS THROUGH AND APPLYING A MAGNETIC
FIELD WITH VARYING FLUX DENSITY PRODUCES AN OUTPUT VOLTAGE.
* A NON MAGNETIC DISK FIXED WITH PERMANENT MAGNETS OF ALTERNATE POLARITY IS COUPLED TO THE TURBINE ROTOR.
THE HALL EFFECT GENERATOR IS KEPT AT A DISTANCE FROM THIS WHEN THE TURBINE ROTATES IT WILL DEVELOPE
AN ALTERNATING VOLTAGE WHOSE FREQUENCY IS PROPORTIONAL TO THE SPEED OF THE TURBINE.
* RATED CONTROL CURRENT=50 M.A.
MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE CONTROL CURRENT=60 M.A.
RATED CONTROL VOLTAGE=24 V.D.C .SIGNAL OUTPUT=300 TO 800 M.V O/P VOLTAGE =10 V MAXIMUM

HP PC PA

DC VOLT
HP PC PA PM F/V
n act

HP PC PA

7.0 ACQUISITION OF LOAD SIGNAL.

 * THE MEASUREMENT OF LOAD IS ACHIEVED BY MEASURING THE VOLTAGE AND CURRENT IN THE HIGH VOLTAGE
CIRCUITS THROUGH VOLTAGE AND CURRENT TRANSFORMERS.

* THESE SIGNALS ARE BROUGHT TO THE MULTIPLIERS THROUGH THE MATCHING TRANSFORMERS SO AS TO
TRANSFORM THE MEASURED SIGNAL INTO A SUITABLE VOLTAGE SIGNALS TO THE MULTIPLIER CIRCUITS

* * THE OUTPUT VOLTAGE OF THE MULTIPLIER CIRCUITS IS THEN SUMMED UP IN THE SUMMER MODULE THEN IT IS
SUITABLY AMPLIFIED IN THE AMPLIFIER AND FINALY FED TO THE VOLTAGE TO CURRENT CONVERTER WHERE IT IS
CONVERTED AS 4 TO 20 MA SIGNAL PROPORTIONAL TO THE LOAD.

L1 L2 L3

MT IR LT1
IL1
CT

MT S
VT VL1
S

VT VL2
S U/U U/I
LOAD
VT VL3 SIGNAL
LT2 Y1 Y2 4 TO 20
MA

IL2
MT

[Link] HYDRAULIC DESK INSERTS (OR) EHC DESK CONSOLE.

* IT ACTS AS A GUIDE FOR THE ENGINEER TO KNOW ABOUT THE HEALTHY FUNCTIONING OF DIFFERENT CONTROL
LOOPS.

* THE ENGINEER CAN CONTROL THE OPERATION OF TURBINE BY INTERACTING WITH IT.

* THE MANUAL SETTING OF THE REFERENCE SPEED,LOAD,THE RATE OF LOADING/UNLOADING AND THE SELECTION
MODE OF OPERATION LIKE LP ORIP AND INCLUTION OR ENCLUSION OF AGC & FREQ INFLUENCE ARE ALL POSSIBLE
WITH THE HELP OF THIS.

THE ARRANGE MENT OF THE CONTROL DESK INSERT IS SHOWN IN THE FIGURE. THE FOLLOWING FACILITIES ARE AVAILABLE.

I ) PUSH BUTTONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES.

a) SETTING THE REFERENCE SPEED.

b) INCLUDIND/DELETING THE INFLUENCE OF GRID FREQUENCY.
c) SETTING THE REFERENCE LOAD.
d) SELECTION OF THE WAY OF SETTING THE REFERENCE LOAD.(MANUAL/DESPATCH CONTROLLER)
e) SETTING THE REFERENCE LOAD GRADIENT
f) SELECTION OF THE MODE OF OPERATION.(INITIAL PRESSURE /LIMIT PRESSURE)
g) CHANNEL SELECTION OF TURBINE STRESS EVALUATER.
h) RELEASE FUNCTION AND LAMP TESTING.
i) TRACKING DEVICE X ON/OFF.
j) SETTING THE LIMIT LOAD.

II) THE FOLLOWING VISUAL INDICATIONS ARE ALSO PROVIDED FOR THE GUIDANCE.

a) “EHC FAULTY”.
b) “POSITION CONTROLLER OFF”.
c) “SPEED CONTROL ACTIVE”.
d) “LOAD CONTROL ACTIVE”.
e) “PRESS CONTROL ACTIVE”.
f) “TSE CONTROL OFF
g) “TSE TEST”.
 h) “LOAD CONTROL OFF”.

III) THE FOLLOWING INDICATORS ARE AVAILABLE.

a) REFERENCE SPEED/SPEED SET POINT (Nr)
b) FINAL SPEED SET POINT (Nr lim)
c) REFERENCE SPEED/SPEED SET POINT (2700 rpm – 3600 rpm)
d) REFERENCE LOAD/LOAD SET POINT.
e) REFERENCE LOAD GRADIENT.
f) LOAD SET POINT (AFTER LOAD REFERENCE LIMITER)
g) ERROR IN LOAD ACCORDING TO THE GRID FREQUENCY DEMAND.
h) LIMITING LOAD.
i) FINAL LOAD SET POINT.
j) THE PRESSURE SET POINT DEVIATION.

THE ABOVE DETAILS ARE USEFUL FOR UNDERSTANDING THE FUNCTIONAL ASPECTS OF THE DIFFERENT CONTROL LOOPS.

9.0. SPEED CONTROL LOOP

FUNCTIONS:
 BY OPERATING THE PUSH BUTTONS EITHER FROM THE CONTROL DESK OR FROM THE CONTROL CABINET REFERENCE
SETTER CAN BE VARIED. THIS SIGNAL IS Nr.
 INPUT VOLTAGE 0 TO 10 . 8 V IS PROPOR TIONAL TO 0 – 3600.
 FINER SETTING OF THE SPEED REFERENCE SETTER IN THE RATIO OF 1:5 IS MADE POSSIBLE ABOVE 2820 RPM FOR THE
PURPOSE OF SYNCRONIZATION.
 THE SPEED SET POINT NR IS DISPLAYED ON 2 INDICATORS ONE IS FULL RATAGE SAY 0 – 3600 RPM AND THE OTHER ONE IS
2700 TO 3600 RPM.
 THE SPEED SET POINT NR IS THEN FED TO SPEED REFERENCE LIMITER IT DECIDES THE SPEED GRADIANT ACCORDING TO
THE GUIDANCE OFFERED BY TSE AND GIVE AN OUTPUT SIGNAL Nr (lim). THE MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE SPEED GRADIANT IS 300
RPM.
 INPUT SIGNAL TO THE SPEED CONTROLLER IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN Nact WHICH IS NOTHING BUT THE ACTUAL SPEED
SIGNAL AND Nr(lim) THE SPEED REFERENCE LIMITER.
 IT IS A SIMPLE PRO PORTIONAL CONTROLLER OUTPUT OF WHICH IS SENT TO THE SELECTION CIRCUIT.
LOGICS:
1* WHEN LOAD CONTROLLER IS IN ACTION TSE INFLUENCE OVER SPEED REFERENCE LIMITER IS NOT AVAILABLE.
2* IN CASE OF FAILURE OF TSE ITS INFLUENCE IS AUTOMATICALLY DISABLED.
3* IT SPEED SET POINT NR(lim) IS MORE THAN ACTUAL SPEED Nact BY 30 RPM THEN THE SPEED REFERENCE LIMITER OUTPUT
WILL BE CONSTANT.
4* ON TRI PPING OF TURBINE THE SPEED SET POINT AUTOMATICALLY FOLLOWS THE ACTUAL SPEED Nact BY A MARGIN OF 2%.

[Link] CONTROL LOOP

FUNCTIONS:

 IT TAKES CONTROL OF TURBINE IMMEDIATELY AFTER SYNCHRONIZATION PROVIDED IF THE BOILER COMBUSTION CONTROL
IS ALREADY IN AUTO LOOP.
 IT CONSISTS OF LOAD REFERENCE SETTER , LOAD REFERENCE LIMITER AND A LOAD CONTROLLER.
 BY OPEARATING THE PUSH BUTTONS EITHER FROM CONTROL DESK CONSOLE OR FROM THE CONTROL CABINET. THE LOAD
SET POINT Pr CAN BE VARIED.
 LOAD REFERENCE LIMITER LIMITS THE LOAD SET VALUE AND ALLOW IT TO RAISE ONLY AFTER TAKING GUIDENCE FROM TSE
OR FROM LOAD RATE SETTER dp/dt = MW/MIN(MAXMW/MIN) WHICH EVER IS MINIMUM THROUGH MINIMUM [Link] OUTPUT
SIGNAL OF LOAD REFERENCE LIMITER IS Pr(lim)
 THE OUTPUT SIGNAL Pr(lim) IS GETTING CORRECTED FOR a) ABSOLUTE LOAD LIMIT SETTER (IN CASE OF FAILURE OF ONE
SERIES OF HT EQUIPMENTS) b) STEAM PRESSURE VARIATIONS AND c)FREQUENCY VARIATIONS BEFORE IT REACHES AS THE
INPUT TO LOAD CONTROLLER.
 THE CONTROL ACTION OF THE LOAD CONTROLLER IS PI (PROPORTIONAL & INTEGRAL ACTION)THE OUTPUT SIGNAL OF THE
LOAD CONTROLLER IS DERIVED BT TOTALLING THE 2 SUB LOOPS AT THE OUTPUT OF THE LOAD ONTROLLER.
 THIS ARRANGEMENT IS TO ENSURE THAT THE ACTUAL LOAD DISTURBANCES CAUSED BY THE GRID ARE COMPENSATED BY
THA PI CONTROLLER AND HIGH SPEED ALTERATIONS OF THE LOAD SET POINT ARE PASSED ON THROUGH GREATER P-
AMPLIFICATIONS.

LOGICS: