Voith Hydro

Thyricon excitation system The intelligent choice

Voith Hydro is a global leader in hydro power plant equipment and services for both new and modernization projects. For more than 140 years, our name has been synonymous with excellence in the hydro power industry, with over 40,000 generators and turbines installed worldwide. Throughout our history, we have continuously set new records in performance and size of hydro power machines and components as well as having a high understanding of solutions from our staff around the world. This combination has supplied best-in-class designs and solutions, based on state-of-the-art engineering and manufacturing expertise.

Our reputation for excellence in products and services is predicated on reliability, trust and commitment in long-lasting, partnering relationships with owners and operators around the world. This applies to overall plant engineering as well as to single component and system design in electrical and hydraulic machines, including the entire range of hydro power plant control concepts and systems. We offer hydro automation from a single source to ensure complete service and seamless availability for your hydro power plant and all of its components and systems.

Our automation solutions are based on a variety of standard modules that provide for safe, reliable and cost-effective operation through our long-term process know-how and control system expertise in hydro power applications. Thyricon, the Voith Hydro excitation product line ensures excellence in generator control. This modular system can be customized to provide an optimized solution for hydro power generators and motors from 0.5 to 800 MW.

Reliable, leading-edge technology

The Thyricon excitation family represents the extensive experience and knowledge of Voith Hydro as one of the major hydro power generator manufacturers. Our excitation product line offers best-in-class technology to feed the hydro generators field windings as well as to intelligently and reliably control generator voltage and reactive power.

Thyricon offers many benefits for all types of projects in the hydro world. This applies to new installations, modernization, and rehabilitation projects. Functions and features like black start capability and extremely quick voltage responses are clear advantages. Our ambition is to surpass existing standards in the field of hydro power excitation systems through continuous improvement. With our highly efficient Thyricon system you will be able to significantly reduce the electric energy consumption needed to feed the generator. As a result, the replacement of an existing exciter can have a return on investment of less than ten years. Many configurations are available, including redundant controllers and fully or n+1 redundant thyristor bridges. All parts of the Thyricon family are factory-tested prior to shipment. The comprehensive controller software includes special features like trend function and special modules to support the service and commissioning team.

Advantages and benefits

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Reliable technology and engineering Wide range of excitation current Low energy consumption, high efficiency Fulfills fast grid response and stability demands Easy integration into existing power stations and control systems

High-end static excitation for Karcham Wangto, India

Thyricon is a highly flexible and adaptable product that can be easily implemented. With an application range up to 4,000 A rated current, at 50 or 60 Hz, it meets all protection and control requirements.

Technical advantages
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Available with redundancy of bridges and controller channels Cold and hot standby Local and remote control Quick response Supervision and protection of excitation parts Advanced de-excitation equipment Easy integration into Voith Hydro HyCon automation solutions

Excitation, turbine governor and automation are one uniform system with same look and feel operation philosophy integrated interfaces/protocols advanced graphic programming tools Compatible with third-party automation systems

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Static excitation power device

Superior requirements on dynamic control characteristics and the need to improve the transient grid stability are clear decision criteria in favor of a static excitation system out of the Voith Hydro Thyricon family.

Power converter

Excitation transformer

The power converter is a fully controlled three-phase rectifier bridge assembled in B6C-connection, in order to supply necessary field current. Depending on the required output, the thyristor rectifier may consist of a single or several bridges in parallel. The thyristors are protected by ultra fast fuses, RC circuits, and monitoring devices. Each converter is equipped with either natural cooling or forced cooling. For maintenance reasons the cooling fans for the forced cooling are mounted in removable racks.
Field breaker

This device is specially designed and built for feeding rectifier bridges. As our standard, a high-quality cast resin transformer is provided, which withstands high short-time, is flameretardant, and self-extinguishing.
De-excitation

Medium-sized static excitation device

The de-excitation circuit and field over voltage protection are designed to drain the field winding energy in order to prevent damage in the generator and excitation system.

Low losses and ultra fast de-excitation through a dedicated resistor that protects the generator in case of electrical faults are additional benefits making clear that Thyricon will fulfill and surpass your requirements on excitation systems.

Field flashing device

An AC breaker is used as an excitation field breaker. It is a highly reliable, low voltage circuit breaker, requiring minimal maintenance. The circuit breaker has one or two trip coils. Trip coils, closing coils, and motors are available in all standard voltages. A DC field breaker can be provided as an option.

Independently of the generator remanent flux, the field flashing device provides the initial energy to the field winding during the machine starting. It can be adapted to different power supplies depending on battery and/or station supply.
Electrical break

As an option, we also offer the electrical break. This wear-free system reduces outages and increases the life time of mechanical brakes.

Rotating excitation power device

Installing a rotating exciter is an effective way of eliminating maintenance cost and risk introduced by carbon dust caused by the wear of brushes feeding the generator rotor via slip rings.

Rotating power diodes

AC machine

AC machine

Pulse width modulation

Power diodes

The exciter is a three-phase AC machine of external pole-type, mounted on the same shaft as the main generator. The exciter stator is supplied with DC voltage and thereby a three-phase AC voltage is induced in the rotor. This AC voltage is then rectified in a diode bridge and fed to the rotor terminals connected to the main rotor poles. The rotor diameter and power output of the rotating exciter can vary from 1,200 mm and 1,500 A up to 2,200 mm and 2,500 A. The adaptation of the required excitation voltage is realized by variation of the core length.

The DC-current to the exciter stator is controlled by a highly reliable Pulse Width Modulating module (PWM). The closed regulator loop is formed by measuring transformers and converters, a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) with a Human Machine Interface (HMI) named Thyricon controller, breakers and the PWM module.

The cooling blocks with power diodes act as a fan during rotation and provide sufficient ventilation of the exciter power electronics, rotor and stator. The RC-snubber modules are arranged close to the diodes in order to reduce the commutation notches.

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Thyricon controller
The Thyricon controller is based on highly reliable hardware and is designed for easy operation and maintenance.

Reactive setpoint VAr & PwFact Pow. fact. setpoint Stator voltage setpoint Logic PSS & limiters AVR PID Stator voltage FCR PI Programmable logic controller Logic Limiters Firing card Power part Field current Stator measurements Digital transducer UI PQf Excitation transformer

Grid

Step-up trafo

Generator

Field current setpoint

Measurements transformers

Local Human Machine Interface

Thyricon Excitation System

All regulation and control software is engineered according to IEEE standards, which is your guarantee to obtain the best system behavior as well as reliable and safe operation within the generator limits. The controller is designed to cope with all application ranges. Interaction with the controller is provided by a user-friendly Human Machine Interface. This operation panel comprises of an LCD and a numerical keyboard for easy operation.

The system status and alarms can be monitored both remotely and locally. As an additional function, trend displays on the operator panel are provided. All these features make this HMI an excellent diagnostic tool to accelerate commissioning and maintenance of the Voith Hydro Thyricon controller.

Main control and regulation functions

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Automatic voltage regulator Field current regulator Field voltage regulator Reactive power regulator Power factor regulator Field flashing supervision and control Soft-start with adjustable rise time Fast generator field de-excitation, by inversion of excitation voltage Follow-up between automatic and manual channels Follow-up between redundant regulators in case of 1+1 redundant systems

Additional functions and options

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Trip and alarm detection and signalization Partial stop Bridge and cubicle temperature monitoring Rotor temperature monitoring Excitation transformer temperature monitoring Excitation transformer over current protection Supervision and protection of main equipment parts Trend functions Power system stabilizer according to IEEE PSS2B

power oscillations. Voith Hydros vast experience and its powerful calculation tools ensure that the implementation of a Thyricon power system stabilizer module obtains excellent practical results.
Thyricon limiters

Features

Controllers are based on standard Siemens electronic components and parts. The program language of the Thyricon controllers is identical to the Siemens automation product line, which facilitates the handling of the excitation system. Therefore, training and maintenance becomes easier and faster. Additional software modules are available running on PCs providing supplementary functions on trending and reporting.

Thyricon limiters assure the operation of the excitation system, generator and/or the step-up transformer within their operational limits. The following limiters are implemented within Thyricon:
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High quality state-of-the-art software programming is provided by the Continuous Function Chart software tool, which allows easy visualization of control and regulation circuits in logical block format. The modular software complies with all IEEE standards, and was developed by highly experienced specialists to obtain the best possible controller for your needs. The power system stabilizer module is available as an option. It improves the stability in the grid by damping

Under-excitation limiter Field over-current limiter Generator over-current Volts/Hertz limiter Fast field current limiter

Communication

To exchange information with different plant control systems a digital communication interface is provided. Available protocols include:
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Profibus DP Dedicated point to point channel, for example Sinaut ST1, IEC 870-5-101, IEC 870-5-104, RP570 Profibus FMS Industrial Ethernet 6 7

Voith Hydro Holding GmbH & Co. KG Alexanderstrasse 11 89522 Heidenheim / Germany Tel. +49 7321 37 0 Fax +49 7321 37 7828 info.voithhydro@voith.com www.voithhydro.com A Voith and Siemens Company

Service
Complete project execution from one source
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Complete excitation system design for new and rehabilitation projects Manufacturing, erection, commissioning and after-sale services Grid and system stability calculations, protection calculations Real time simulation tools incorporating all relevant mechanical and electrical data such as waterway, turbine and generator Remote access, service, diagnosis Training Support

Our experts use a remote diagnosis interface to provide our customers with prompt, highly efficient and valuable support over standard communication network services. Expensive, time-consuming visits as required for re-commissioning after inspections, for example are a thing of the past. Our mission does not end with the commissioning of the plant. We want to be your partner during the entire life cycle of the plant. This includes a well organized update and migration concept for keeping your system up-to-date.

t3355 e 09/2010 1000 KO/BA Printed in Germany. Technical data and illustrations subject to change.