Exploration of Operation Modes of a Thermal Power Unit across Two Power Grids

Abstract

A power plant explores its thermal power unit operation mode across two power grids to overcome the low load rate, low efficiency, and poor thermal power stability at the end of the power grids. After theoretical analysis of the terminal power grid’s general characteristics and existing problems, combined with the load characteristics of large thermal power units in efficiency and control, this paper performs experimental research, including unit operation in several typical power grids with 50% rated load shedding. The concreted protection strategies are then employed to transform the unit from one power grid to another. The concrete recovery strategies of auxiliary power are also optimized and put into practice to reduce the system blackout time and improve the unit’s security according to the unit’s typical blackout accident. Finally, the unit performs primary frequency and peak regulation tests under different control modes. Moreover, detailed optimized strategies are presented to improve the power grid and absorb new energy generators. All optimized protection and operation strategies improve the profit of generated electrical energy and the regional power grid’s stability and safety.

Keywords:

• power grid
• thermal power unit
• control strategies
• primary frequency regulation

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This work was supported in part by Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing, China (cstc2020jcyj-msxmX0027) and scientific research project of Chongqing Municipal Education Commission, China (KJZD-K202202601).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jiasheng Wang

Jiasheng Wang received his B.S. and M.S. in Power engineering from School of Power Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China, in 1998 and 2004 respectively. He received his Ph.D. degree in thermal engineering in 2018 co-trained by School of Power Engineering of Chongqing University and Guizhou Power Grid Co., Ltd of China. From 2001 to 2004, he was a power plant technician with Tongling Power Plant, Tongling, China. From 2004 to 2010, he was a senior engineer in power engineering with Electric Power Research Institute of Guizhou Power Grid Co., Ltd. From 2011 to 2019, He was an expert with China Southern Power Grid Co., Ltd which engaged in power system research, accidents prevention and analysis. Since 2019, he is a senior engineer with Chongqing Electric Power College. He is the author of a book, more than 50 articles, and more than 20 inventions. He is also a part time expert with some large stateowned energy enterprises and a member of expert database of National Energy Administration in China. His research interests are the operation and optimization of thermal power unit, power system stabilization, and modeling of the steam turbine and its speed governing system.

Ling Xiao

Ling Xiao received her B.S from School of Mathematics and Physics, Lanzhou Jiaotong University in 2012, and Ph.D from the School of Mathematics and Statistics, Lanzhou University in 2017. She worked as a full-time teacher at School of Economics and Management, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications from 2017 to now, and now she is an associate professor. She has published 6 high level papers, and as of April 1, 2021, her Web of Science Core Collection has been cited 147 times in total, among all of them, “Combined forecasting models for wind energy forecasting: A case study in China” has been Cited for the highest number of times and is Highly Cited Papers in ESI. She presided 1 National Natural Science Foundation of China, and as a partner of 1 National Natural Science Foundation of China, several other Foundation of scientific researches. She has published an academic monograph. She focused on the research of wind speed, wind power, power load forecasting, prediction theory and method, and machine learning research.

Yunzhong He

Yunzhong He received his B.S. from School of Power Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China, in 1997. From 1997 to 2005, He is a thermal engineering technician with Sichuan Guang’an Power Generation Co., Ltd, China. From 2005 to 2012, he is a senior engineer with Chongqing Hengtai Power Generation Co., Ltd of China. From 2012 to 2016, he was Vice General Manager of Chongqing Wind Power Development Co., Ltd. Since 2017, he is Vice General Manager of Chongqing Hengtai Power Generation Co., Ltd. He is the author of 6 articles and 5 inventions. His research interests are the operation and optimization of thermal power unit, wind turbine operation and power system stabilization.