New Method to Detect Loss of Excitation in Synchronous Generators

ABSTRACT

The loss of excitation (LOE) is a very common fault in synchronous machine operations and can be caused by a short circuit in the field winding, unexpected operation of the field breaker. Several methods are proposed to detect LOE, but most of them are impedance-based. It is possible that these methods will not be able to identify between LOE and stable power swing (SPS). In this paper, a new method for LOE fault detection is presented, which is designed based on the derivative of the terminal voltage and the derivative power angle of the synchronous generator. According to the proposed idea, complete simulation studies have been performed by considering different fault modes in the synchronous generator and the different conditions governing it to check the accuracy of the performance. These studies show that the proposed algorithm is faster and more accurate in detecting LOE fault. It also has higher security in distinguishing LOE fault from SPS.

KEYWORDS:

• Fault
• Generator protection
• Stable power swing (SPS)
• Loss-of-excitation (LOE) detection
• Synchronous generator
• System disturbance

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Reza Fathi Shoob

Reza Fathi Shoob was born in Babol, Iran. He received his BS degree in electrical engineering from Power and Water University of Technology (PWUT), Tehran, Iran, in 2003. He graduated in MS degree in the Department of Electrical Engineering, Noshirvani University of Technology, Babol, Iran, in 2005. In 2007, he joined Mazandaran Province Power Distribution Company. He is currently pursuing the PhD degree in Department of Electrical Engineering, Sari Branch, Azad University, Sari, Iran.Email: [email protected]

Milad Niaz Azari

Milad Niaz Azari was born in Babol, Iran. He received his BS degree in electrical engineering from Noshirvani University of Technology, Babol, Iran, in 2007. He graduated in MS degree in the Department of Electrical Engineering, Amir Kabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran, in 2009. Also, he graduated in PhD degree in Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran, in 2013. Since 2014, he has been at University of Science and Technology of Mazandaran, Behshahr, Iran, as an assistant professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering. His areas of interest are electrical machines design and power electronics.