Generating Units
The block diagram of a generating unit is shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1 Block diagram of a power generation unit
Electrical energy is produced by a synchronous generator driven by a prime mover, usually a
turbine or a diesel engine. The turbine is equipped with a turbine governor which controls either
the speed or the output power according to a preset power–frequency characteristic. The
generated power is fed into the transmission network via a step-up transformer. The DC
excitation (or field) current, required to produce the magnetic field inside the generator, is
provided by the exciter. The excitation current, and consequently the generator’s terminal
voltage, is controlled by an automatic voltage regulator (AVR). An additional unit transformer
may be connected to the busbar between the generator and the step-up transformer in order to
supply the power station’s auxiliary services comprising motors, pumps, the exciter and so on.
The generating unit is equipped with a main circuit-breaker on the high-voltage side and
sometimes also with a generator circuit-breaker on the generator side. Such a configuration is
quite convenient because, in case of a maintenance outage or a fault, the generator circuit-
breaker may be opened while the auxiliary services can be fed from the grid. On the other hand,
with the main circuit-breaker open, the generator may supply its own auxiliary services.
Synchronous Generators
Synchronous generators can be loosely classified as either high-speed generators, driven by
steam or gas turbines (and often called turbo-generators), or low-speed generators, driven by
water turbines. All generators have two main magnetic parts termed the stator and the rotor, both
of which are manufactured from magnetic steel. The armature winding, which carries the load
current and supplies power to the system, is placed in equidistant slots on the inner surface of the
stator and consists of three identical phase windings. The rotor of a high-speed generator also
contains slots for the DC excitation winding while the excitation winding for low-speed
generators is wound on the salient poles of the rotor.
The rotor excitation winding is supplied with a direct current to produce a rotating magnetic flux
the strength of which is proportional to the excitation current. This rotating magnetic flux then
induces an electromotive force (emf) in each phase of the three-phase stator armature winding
which forces alternating currents to flow out to the power system.
Generally a synchronous generator is connected to the transmission network via a step-up
transformer. In the case of a small unit the generator and transformer are connected by cables
while a large, high-power generator may be connected to its transformer by a number of single-
phase screened busbars. The generator transformer is usually located outdoors and is of the tank
type. Power from the transformer is fed to the substation busbars via high-voltage cables or a
short overhead line.
Exciters and Automatic Voltage Regulators
The generator excitation system consists of an exciter and an AVR and is necessary to supply the
generator with DC field current as shown in Figure 1. The AVR regulates the generator terminal
voltage by controlling the amount of current supplied to the generator field winding by the
exciter.
Turbines and their Governing Systems
In a power system, the synchronous generators are normally driven by either steam turbines, gas
turbines or hydro turbines as shown in Figure 1. Each turbine is equipped with a governing
system to provide a means by which the turbine can be started, run up to the operating speed and
operate on load with the required power output.
Steam Turbines
In coal-burn, oil-burn and nuclear power plants the energy contained in the fuel is used to
produce high-pressure, high-temperature steam in the boiler. The energy in the steam is then
converted to mechanical energy in axial flow steam turbines. Each turbine consists of a number
of stationary and rotating blades concentrated into groups, or stages.
Hydro Turbines
The oldest form of power generation is by the use of water power. Hydraulic turbines
derive power from the force exerted by water as it falls from an upper to a lower reservoir. The
vertical distance between the upper reservoir and the level of the turbine is called the head.