What are the Common Generator Problems and It's Protection


Generator protection is very important in power plant operation. The protection of generators involves the consideration of more possible abnormal operating conditions than the protection of any other system element. In unattended power stations, automatic protection against all harmful abnormal conditions should be provided.






Figure 1. Short Circuit in Generator



When a short circuit occurs in an electrical system close to an AC generator, the fault current looks like that shown in figure 1. The maximum short-circuit current value should be calculated taking into account the machine's substransient impedance X"d . The value of the current detected by a protection device, which is very slightly time delayed (by about 100 milliseconds), should be calculated taking into account the machine's transient impedance X’d.

The value of steady state short-circuit current should be calculated taking into account the synchronous impedance X. This current is weak, generally less than the AC generator's rated current.

Common Generator Faults

Over Excitation
When the ratio of the voltage to frequency (volts/Hz) exceeds a set value for a given generator, severe overheating could occur due to saturation of the magnetic core of the generator and the subsequent inducement of stray flux in components not designed to carry flux. Such over-excitation most often occurs during start-up or shutdown while the unit is operating at reduced frequency, or during a complete load rejection, which leaves transmission lines connected to the generating station.

A volts/Hz relay, with an inverse time characteristic that matches the capabilities of the protected equipment and with definite time setpoints, is used to protect the generator from over excitation.

Loss-Of-Synchronism Protection
When two areas of power systems, or two interconnecting systems, lose synchronism, there will be large variations in voltages and currents throughout the systems. The voltages will be maximum and the currents minimum, when the systems are in phase. The voltages will be minimum and the currents maximum, when the systems are 180 degrees, out of phase.


Negative Phase Sequence or Unbalanced Currents
Unbalanced faults and other system conditions can cause unbalanced three phase currents in the generator. The negative sequence components of these currents cause double frequency currents in the rotor that can lead to overheating and damage.

Over Voltage
Generator over voltage may occur during a load rejection or excitation control failure. In the case of hydroelectric or gas turbine driven generators, upon load rejection, the generator may speed up and the voltage can reach high levels without necessarily exceeding the generator’s V/Hz limit.

The voltage regulating equipment often provides this protection. If it is not, it should be provided by an AC overvoltage relay. This relay should have a time delay unit with pickup at about 110% of the rated voltage. It should also have an instantaneous unit with pickup at about 130% to 150% of the rated voltage. It is not generally required with steam turbine driven generators.

Under Voltage
An under-voltage condition is a decrease in the rms AC voltage, to less than 90% at the power frequency for a duration, longer than 1 minute. The term "brownout" is often used to describe sustained periods of under voltage initiated by the utility to reduce power demand. Under voltages result from events which are the reverse of those causing over voltages.


Reversal of Power
For generators operating with another generator, it is imperative that the power direction be supervised. If the prime mover fails, the alternator operates as a motor and drives the prime mover. A relay detects the reversal of power direction and switches off the alternator. Power losses and damage to the prime mover are avoided.

Dead Generator Energization Protection
If a dead generator is accidentally energized, while on turning gear, it will start and behave as an induction motor. During the time when the generator is accelerating, very high currents are induced in the rotor and it may be damaged very quickly.


Over Frequency
Faults in the system can result in a system breakup into islands, which leaves an imbalance between available generation and the load. This results in an excess of power for the connected loads. Excess power results in an over frequency condition with a possible overvoltage from reduced load demands.

Full or partial load rejection can lead to overspeed of the generator, therefore, over frequency operation. In general, over frequency operation does not pose any serious overheating problem unless the rated power and about 105% voltage are exceeded. Control action can be taken to reduce the generator speed and frequency to normal, without tripping the generator.

Under Frequency
When insufficient power is being generated for the connected load, under frequency results with a heavy load demand. The drop in voltage causes the voltage regulator to increase the excitation, which results in overheating in both the stator and rotor. At the same time, more power is being demanded with the generator less able to supply it at the reduced frequency.

Prolonged operation of a generator, at reduced frequencies, can cause particular problems for gas or steam turbine generators, which are susceptible to damage from operations outside of their normal frequency band. The turbine is more restrictive than the generator, at reduced frequencies, because of possible mechanical resonance in many stages of the turbine. If the generator speed is close to the natural frequency of any of the blades, there will be an increase in vibration, which can lead to cracking of the blade structure.

While load shedding is the primary protection against generator overloading, under frequency relays should be provided to provide additional protection.

Stator Ground Fault
Although a single field-ground fault will not affect the operation of a generator or produce any immediate damaging effects, the first ground fault establishes a ground reference, thereby making a second ground fault more likely. This will increase the stress to ground at other points in the field. A second ground fault will cause extensive damage by:
  • Shorting out parts of the field winding
  • Causing high unit vibrations
  • Causing rotor heating from unbalanced currents
  • Arc damage at the points of the fault



Generator Protection

Overload Protection
The overload protection devices for AC generators are the same as for motors:
  • IDMT overcurrent,
  • thermal overload,
  • temperature probe.
  1. IDMT (Inverse Definite Minimum Time) overcurrent protection is a type of protection that is commonly used in generators and motors to detect and respond to current overloads. This protection device is designed to trip the circuit breaker when the current exceeds a predetermined level. The trip time is inversely proportional to the amount of overload current. In other words, the greater the overload, the faster the protection device will trip. This feature helps prevent the equipment from sustaining damage due to excessive current. 
  2. Thermal overload protection is another commonly used protection device for AC generators and motors. This protection device is designed to detect and respond to excessive heat generated by the equipment. When the temperature exceeds a preset level, the thermal overload protection device will trip and shut down the equipment. This protection device helps prevent the equipment from overheating and causing damage or posing a safety hazard. 
  3. Temperature probes are also used to provide overload protection for AC generators. These devices are designed to monitor the temperature of various parts of the generator, such as the windings, bearings, and stator core. When the temperature exceeds a preset level, the temperature probe will signal the control system to initiate a protective action, such as tripping the circuit breaker or reducing the load on the generator.




Ground Fault Protection
One of the main causes of ground fault is insulation failure. The zero sequence impedance of a generator is usually lower than the positive or negative sequence impedance, therefore, for a solidly grounded generator, the single phase to ground fault current is greater than the three-phase fault current. Generators are usually grounded through an impedance, to limit the ground fault current.

The fault current available for sensing a phase to ground fault, on an impedance grounded generator, can be very small compared to phase-to-phase faults. Depending on the location of the fault and the method of grounding the generator, separate ground fault protection is usually provided.

Stator Overheating Protection
This problem is caused by overloading or by failure of the cooling system. Overheating because of short-circuited laminations is very localized and it is just a matter of chance whether it can be detected before serious damage is done.

The practice is to embed resistance temperature-detector coils (RTDs), or thermocouples in the slots with the stator windings of generators larger than 500 to 1000 kVA. Fig. 9 shows the bridge circuits employed with RTDs. Enough of these detectors are located at different places in the windings so that an indication can be obtained of the temperature conditions throughout the stator.

Several of the detectors that give the highest temperature indication are selected for use with a temperature indicator or recorder, usually having alarm contacts. The detector giving the highest indication may be arranged to operate a temperature relay to sound an alarm.


Figure 2. Typical Generator Protection Setting Parameters | Source: Merlin Gerin




Overspeed
Overspeed protection is recommended for all prime mover driven generators. The overspeed element should be responsive to machine speed by mechanical, or equivalent electrical connection. If it is electrical, the overspeed element should not be adversely affected by generator voltage.

The overspeed element may be furnished as part of the prime mover, or its speed governor, or of the generator. It should operate the speed governor, or whatever other shutdown means is provided to shut down the prime mover. It should also trip the generator circuit breaker. This is to prevent over frequency operation of the generator itself from the AC system.

The overspeed element should be adjusted to operate about 3% to 5% above the full load rejection speed.

Phase Fault Protection
Phase faults, in a generator stator winding, can cause thermal damage to insulation, windings, and the core, and mechanical shock to shafts and couplings. Trapped flux within the machine can cause fault current to flow for many seconds after the generator is tripped and the field is disconnected.

Primary protection, for generator phase-phase faults, is best provided by a differential relay. Differential relays will detect phase-phase faults, three phase faults, and double phase-to-ground faults. With low-impedance grounding of the generator, some single phase to ground faults can also be detected.


  • External phase-to-phase short-circuits - as the value of short-circuit current decreases over time to within the range of rated current, if not weaker, in steady state operation, a simple current detection device can be insufficient. This type of fault is effectively detected by a voltage restrained overcurrent detection device, the setting of which increases with the voltage (see Figure 2).

Figure 3. Setting Current Ir (tripping current)


  • Internal phase-to-phase short circuits - the high impedance or percentage-based differential protection provides a sensitive, quick solution. Also, in certain cases, especially for an AC generator with a low power rating compared to the system to which it is connected, the following combination can be used for internal phase-to-phase short-circuit protection (see Figure 3). In this case, the instantaneous overcurrent protection (A), validated when the AC generator circuit breaker is opened, with current sensors located on the neutral side, with a setting lower than rated current. The instantaneous overcurrent protection (B), with current sensors located on the circuit breaker side, with a setting higher than AC generator short-circuit current.


Figure 4. Internal Phase to Phase Protection




Lightning Arrestors
Lightning arrestors are used to cause the conduction to ground of excessively high voltages that are caused by lightning strikes or other system problems. Power lines and associated equipment could become inoperable when struck by lightning. They are designed to operate rapidly and repeatedly, if necessary. Lightning arrestors are connected to transformers or the insides of switchgear.


Grounding System
A ground is defined as a reference point of zero voltage potential, which is usually an actual connection to the ground of the earth. The need for grounding is very important in that an open ground condition could present severe safety problems to anyone operating the power generation equipment. Grounding assures that any person who touches any of the metal parts will not receive a high voltage electrical shock. The conductor, which is used for this purpose, is either a bare wire or a green insulated wire.

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