FEASIBILITY STUDY TO AVOID TRIPPING OF CAPTIVE

COGENERATION POWER PLANT DUE TO THE STATE UTILITY GRID

DISTURBANCES

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 The Gas turbine generators installed in the Captive Cogeneration Power Plant are run in
parallel with the State Utility Grid in order to maintain the power generation and the
steam generation at their optimum level so as to obtain the best overall plant efficiency.

1.2 Though an overall plant performance achieved during the year 1998 has been
satisfactory, the plant has experienced the disturbances from the State Utility system
like reflected faults in 11 kV HT line network, voltage fluctuations, system under
frequency conditions, etc.

1.3 The detailed analysis of GT trippings, THE STATE UTILITY power failures and THE
STATE UTILITY system disturbances during the year 1998 shows the trend as follows.

i. GT tripping on its internal problems : GT#1 - 5 trippings/ GT#2 - 5 trippings

ii. The State Utility power failures : 9 occurrences - 7 occurrences due to
failure of 66kV supply
2 occurrences due to 11 kV failure
iii. The State Utility disturbances : -22 occurrences (No THE STATE UTILITY
power failure)
-GTs tripped during 8 occurrences
-Shear pins damaged in GT 4 times due
to 11kV system disturbances as protection
against sudden extra load

1.4 While parallel running of GTs with the State Utility grid, it would not be possible to
prevent simultaneous tripping of GTs in the event of the State Utility 66 kV power
failure. However, it would be technically feasible to prevent of tripping of Gas turbines
during grid disturbances by modifying the existing system as described in succeeding
paragraphs.

2.0 MODIFICATION IN EXISTING 66 KV SWITCHYARD

2.1 At present, the GTs are paralleled directly with 11 kV system of the State Utility, which
results into reflection of all faults on the main plant system. The effect of reflected faults
can be avoided only by connecting the main plant system to 11 kV through some
resistance. After evaluating technically feasible alternatives, the scheme involving
modification of existing 66 kV system in subsidiary area is found the best one as
described hereunder.
2.2 MODIFICATION IN 66 KV SWITCHYARD

2.2.1 The modification would require installation of additional 2 nos of 7.5 MVA, 66/11 kV
power transformers along with 66 kV breakers, CT/PT units, isolators, 11 kV HT VCB
Panels and GI gantry structures.
2.2.2 11 kV Grid Feeders No. 1,2,3 & 4, presently supplying power to the main plant from the
State Utility substation will be shifted to draw 11 kV power supply from the proposed
66/11 kV transformer as per modification. The existing 11 kV HT cables would only be
diverted and no new cables would be required to be procured and laid.

2.3 ADVANTAGES OF MODIFICATION IN 66 KV SWITCHYARD

2.3.1 Modification considered as above would offer following advantages.

i. Avoidance of disturbance to the main plant 11 kV system due to reflected faults

from the State Utility system due to drawl of 11 kV power through high
impedance/resistance like 66/11 kV transformer and no direct connection with 11
kV the State Utility bus, and no tripping of GTs on this account.
ii. Avoiding shear pin damage in GTs during disturbances and resultant damage to GT
which may take place in the event of some very severe disturbance.
iii. Avoiding adverse effect of higher system voltage of 12 kV on insulation strength of
electrical equipment like generators, motors, breakers, etc due to feasibility of
maintaining of constant system voltage to 11 kV with on-load tap changer
provided on 66/11 kV power transformers.
iv. Avoiding simultaneous tripping of large number of HT and LT motors in the plant
during system disturbance due to low voltage condition, plant people experiencing
difficulty in starting all the motors thereafter affecting production many times.
v. Further Improvement in overall power factor due to availability of constant 11 kV
system voltage helping in maintaining a balance in sharing of the plant reactive
load (kVAr) between the State Utility grid and Cogen Plant, and generator
excitation helping in better sharing.
vi. No disturbance to the normal plant operations when implementing the proposed
modification in 66 kV system, helping in maintaining the production schedules of
the main plant and subsidiary plant.
vii. Availability of Cogen Plant power to the subsidiary area in the event of any
extreme eventuality through the proposed modified power supply arrangement by
back feeding of 11 kV power supply from existing main plant system to subsidiary
plant through the same 11 kV cables.
3.0 ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE FOR PROPOSED SYSTEM MODIFICATION

3.1 The estimated cost of the proposed modification in existing 66 kV Switchyard is Rs

140.00 Lacs inclusive of equipment cost and the cost of erection/commissioning.
3.2 The estimate is based on the prevailing prices of requied equipment obtained from the
budgetary quotations and price lists.

4.0 CONCLUSION

4.1 As the running of Cogeneration Plant GTs in parallel with the grid has definite technical
and economic advantages, the avoidance of the State Utility grid system disturbance to
the Gas turbines by proposed modification is the best technically feasible option.
4.2 The feasibility study is also conducted for modification in the existing 11 kV system in
the plant. Though the estimated cost of modification in 11 kV system would be less than
that of modification in 66 kV Switchyard, it would not be possible to avoid the reflection
of grid disturbances even after modification resulting into tripping of GTs.
4.3 In the long run, an alternative of 66 kV Switchyard would provide better technical
advantages as described above and would also prove more beneficial than other
alternatives due to avoidance of number of problems connected with the grid system
disturbances even if GTs are run in parallel with the grid.
4.4 Considering that a drawl of power from the State Utility system would further reduce to
bear minimum after installation 3rd GT, and the capacity of 66 kV switchyard
modification could be brought down to affect 30% reduction in the cost. However,
considering simultaneous outage of all 3 GTs, though a distant possibility, the
switchyard should be designed to cater to the total plant load in the above event with
better flexibility.
4.5 The proposed modification would not help in avoiding the tripping of GTs in the event of
failure of 66 kV power supply, which is the unfavourable factor to be considered.