WHAT IS EXCITATION?

By Kirti Ratwa


THE MAGNETIC FIELD CREATED IN ALTERNATOR IS CALLED EXCITATION. THE MAGNETIC FIELD CREATED BY USING A DIRECT CURRENT(DC) FIELD.

THE DC FIELD OBTAINED FROM EXTERNAL SOURCE IS CALLED AN EXCITER.

WHY TO USE D.C FOR A SYNCHRONOUS MACHINE?

As synchronous machines is constants speedy machine for a constant frequency supply, the output voltage of the machine depends on the excitation current.

DESIRABLE QUALITIES OF EXCITATION SYSTEM

RELIABILITY STABILITY QUICK RESPONSE

The excitation system must be reliable, stable & must respond quickly to excitation current requirements. Nominal exciter response is defined as the ratio:

Rate of increase of exciter voltage in volts per second

nominal excitation voltage of generator

EXCITER VOLTAGE RESPONSE.

TYPES OF EXCITATION

D.C. SYSTEM

USE IN MOST OF OLDER UNIT IN THE COUNTRY. D.C. EXCITERS ARE BASICALLY ROTATING SHUNT WOUND MACHINES THIS EXCITER CAN BE DRIVEN FROM MAIN GENERATOR SHAFT EITHER BY DIRECT COUPLING OR THROUGH REDUCTION GEARS.

THE GENERATION OF D.C. SUPPLY IS ACHIVED IN TWO STAGES,

D.C EXCITATION SYSTEM

Controlled either manually or via an AUTOMATIC Voltage Regulator(AVR) The AVR measure the generator terminal voltage & compares it to desired set value.

A.C. EXCITATION SYSTEM

The A.C. exciter gained favour of the problems & constraints associated with DC excitor.

Commutator & DC brush gear were eliminated giving place to simple rotor slip rings & associated brush gear.

Types A.C. excitation system

Rotating System : This is high frequency excitation system with an AC exciter, permanent magnet piolt exciter & an uncontrolled rectifier. Static Excitation : This is generator potential fed static excitation system with controlled rectifier (SCR) & a rectifier transformer.

STATIC EXCITATION SYSTEM

For maintain system stability, it is to necessary to have fast excitation system for large synchronous machine which means the field current must be adjusted extremely fast to changing operational condition.

STATIC EXCITATION SYSTEM

THE AC POWER IS TAPPED OFF FROM GENERATOR TERMINALS. STEPPED DOWN BY RECTIFIER TRANSFORMER. RECTIFIED BY FULLY CONTROLLED THYRISTOR BRIDGE. FED TO GENERATOR TERMINALS BY SLIP RING AND CARBON BRUSH ASSEMBLY. THE GENERATOR FIELD INPUT CONTROLS THE GENERATOR OUTPUT VOLTAGE.

Rotor current limiter

Regulator Power supply

X-mer prot >1 X-mer prot >1 Pulse supervision

Rectifier transformer 15.75kv/575

575/380 575/380

Stator current limiter Rotor angle limiter

Filter

Filter

THYRISTOR
Gate ckt
Pulse final Stage

Auto channel Automatic voltage regulator Auto/Man M Grid control Pulse amplifier

Fan supply

PT CT
Slip stabilizer M

DC source

Manual channel Grid control Comparator& Follow up Pulse amplifier

Field flashing

o/ v prot
AC source

G
Field breaker

STATIC EXCITATION SYS: BLOCK DIAGRAM

PARTS OF STATIC EXCITATION SYSTEM

RECTIFIER TRANSFORMER SCR OUTPUT STAGE EXCITATION START UP AND FIELD DISCHARGE EQUIPMENT REGULATOR AND OPERATIONAL CONTROL CIRCUITS.

RECTIFIER TRANSFORMER :
1.

The excitation power is taken from generator o/p & fed to the exaction transformer(rectifier ) which is step down to the required voltage for SCR bridge & fed through the field breaker to generator field.

Its dry type cast coil type transformer.

Its provide current for over current protection also its capable of supplying ceiling currents at the ceiling excitations for a short period of ten seconds.

THYRISTOR RECTIFIER BANKS(SCR OUTPUT STAGE)

The thyristor Rectifier Bank consists of a suitable number of bridges connected in parallel. Each thyristor bridge comprises six thyristors , fuses and snubber ckt for protection. Current Carring capacity of eacg bridge depends on the rating of indivusual thyrisor By changing the firing angle of thyristors, variable o/p is obtained.

SCR OUTPUT STAGE

Each Bridge is contolled by one final pluse stage & cooled by fan. N-1 Bridge operation is ensured.

These bridges are euipped with protection devices & failure of one bridge causes alarm.
Failure of two tyristor bridges excitation current will be limited to a predetermined value lesser than normal current. Failure of three bridges result in generator tripping & rapid de-excitation of the generator.

EXCITATION START UP AND FIELD DISCHARGE EQUIPMENT

As residual magnetism of generator is not sufficient to start voltage built up. This type of system needs separate equipment for excitation start up( Field Flashing). The field flashing is done with Station supply / Dc voltage(battery) for reliability. At the moment closing the field breaker ,field flashing breker also closes and generater voltage builds up to 30% of rated voltage.

The field flashing breaker is automatically switch off as the generator voltage reaches to 70% of full voltage of generator.

FIELD DISCHARGE EQUIPMENT

On Tripping of generator, Its stored energy is required to be discharged. This is done through a non linear discharge resistance.