Resonant Neutral Grounding in Generators
Resonant Neutral Grounding in Generators
3, July 1991
1016
NEW ENGLAND ELECTRIC'S 39 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
WITH
RESONANT NEUTRAL GROUNDING OF UNIT - CONNECTED GENERATORS
lgm]7
d i s c u s s i o n o f a c t u a l o p e r a t i n g e x p e r i e n c e and by
c a l c u l a t i o n s f o r a t y p i c a l generator.
INTRODUCTION
59H-59X
59H 5( 2-86
1
Ground-faul t neutral i z e r grounding
grounding t h e generator n e u t r a l through a r e a c t o r
involves I TURBINESTOP
-G,~N,
which i s connected a c r o s s t h e 240 v o l t w i n d i n g o f a
RECORDING
VOLTMETER "A f E
d i s t r i b u t i o n t r a n s f o r m e r . The r e a c t o r i s t u n e d t o t h e ALARM
TRlPMAINAND
F I E L OBREAKERS
t o t a l c a p a c i t i v e reactance o f t h e generator windings B Y W A Y OF V A L V E
The p a r a l l e l r e s o n a n t c i r c u i t r e s u l t s i n a r e s i s t i v e
g e n e r a t o r n e u t r a l ground some 37 t i m e s g r e a t e r t h a n
t h e ohmic v a l u e o f t h e r e a c t o r used. T h i s i s shown i n
t h e Appendix. Fig. 1 Ground F a u l t N e u t r a l i z e r G e n e r a t o r P r o t e c t i o n
T h i s h i g h r e s u l t a n t r e s i s t a n c e l i m i t s ground f a u l t
currents to much s m a l l e r values than resistor
grounding, yet permits detection o f very high
impedance ground f a u l t s . This i s i l l u s t r a t e d i n the The 59 d e v i c e i s an o v e r v o l t a g e r e l a y s e t j u s t
appendix and summarized i n T a b l e 1. above t h e normal v o l t a g e t h a t appears between t h e
g e n e r a t o r n e u t r a l and ground. I t i s used t o a l a r m
Tab1 e 1 - Comparison o f Ground-Faul t N e u t r a l i z e r o n l y when t h e n e u t r a l v o l t a g e r i s e s above i t s normal
Ground and R e s i s t o r Grounding (see Appendix). value. D e v i c e 59H i s s e t t o p i c k up a t a v o l t a g e
l e v e l j u s t below t h e c o n t i n u o u s r a t i n g o f D e v i c e 59.
Ground F a u l t D e v i c e 59H p i c k s up a u x i l i a r y d e v i c e 59X which opens
Res i s t o r Neutralizer up t h e c o i l f o r d e v i c e 59 t h u s p r o t e c t i n g i t f r o m
Grounding Groundi na sustained overvoltage, and i n s e r t s a r e s i s t o r i n
Maximum C a l c u l a t e d s e r i e s w i t h t h e r e c o r d i n g v o l t m e t e r which m o n i t o r s
F a u l t Current 7.95A 0.45A generator neutral voltage. I n a d d i t i o n , d e v i c e 59X
s t a r t s a t i m e r ( 2 ) which w i l l t r i p t h e t u r b i n e s t o p
Maximum Value o f v a l v e s by way o f D e v i c e 86. The t i m e r i s s e t f o r an
F a u l t Resistance hour o r so t o p e r m i t t h e o p e r a t o r t i m e t o a r r a n g e f o r
t h a t can be d e t e c t e d 66,900 ohms 3,574,000 ohms an o r d e r l y shutdown o f t h e u n i t . I f t h e cause o f t h e
ground f a u l t overvoltage can be determined and
c o r r e c t e d , shutdown o f t h e u n i t can be avoided. This
30 JPGC 634-6 P'YRD A p a p e r recommended a n d a p p r o v e d was t h e case f o r B r a y t o n P o i n t U n i t 4 ( a 528 MVA
by t h e IEEE P o v e r System R e l a y i n g Committee of t h e o i l f i r e d u n i t ) which is d e s c r i b e d under o p e r a t i n g
IEEE Pover E n g i n e e r i n g S o c i e t y f o r p r e s e n t a t i o n a t e x p e r i e n c e summary.
t h e 1990 IEEE/PES I n t e r n a t i o n a l J o i n t Power G e n e r a t i o n
C o n f e r e n c e et Z x p o s i t i o n , Boston, H a s s a c h u s e t t s , A1 so d e s c r i b e d i n t h e o p e r a t i n g e x p e r i e n c e s e c t i o n
O c t o b e r 21-25. :'.lanuscript s u b m i t t e d F e b r u a r y 9 , 1990; i s a Salem Harbor U n i t No. 2 g e n e r a t o r w i n d i n g f a u l t
made a v a i l a b l e f o r p r i n t i n g August 13, 1990. t h a t p e r s i s t e d f o r 89 m i n u t e s w i t h no s t a t o r i r o n
damage; and a Salem H a r b o r U n i t No. 3 g e n e r a t o r c a b l e
f a u l t which was c l e a r e d a f t e r 1 hour w i t h no d u c t
damage whatsoever.
O
. m1991 E E E
0885-8977/91~0700-1016$01
1017
--
-<
@ GENERATOR
TRAWYOIIYEI
C A Y C OCCRATLD
DISCOYNECTING SWITCH
LOAD ORCAI wmcn
On Thursday, January 11, 1979. t h e f a u l t was f o u n d
i n t h e c o i l o f S l o t 16, 1 i n c h i n f r o m where t h e end
w i n d i n g s e n t e r t h e i r o n ( e x c i t e r end).
All end wedges were removed for a close
-C- c i n c u i ~a n c A n c n
---
OIL
e x a m i n a t i o n o f t h e a r e a f o r bad s p o t s i n t h e
AIR ctncutr ~ R C A K L R
i n s u l a t i o n and f o r r e p a i r i f necessary. The c o i l i n
I1Tm AIR CORE MCACTOR
S l o t 16 was opened a t each end and removed f o r r e p a i r
and f u r t h e r t e s t i n g . The ground f a u l t n e u t r a l i z e r d i d
a good j o b o f l i m i t i n g t h e f a u l t c u r r e n t . The damaged
Fig. 3. Salem H a r b o r U n i t No. 2 One-line Diagram a r e a was a b o u t t h e s i z e o f t h e t i p o f a p e n c i l e r a s e r
and t h e l o s s o f copper was n e g l i g i b l e . See F i g u r e 6.
1019
A l t h o u g h we have d e t e c t e d f a u l t s i n equipment
connected t o t h e g e n e r a t o r bus, t h i s case shows t h a t
t h e GFN i s a l s o capable o f d e t e c t i n g problems on t h e
high voltage side o f a transformer. I f a transformer
n e u t r a l d i s p l a c e m e n t o c c u r s , t h i s abnormal n e u t r a l
v o l t a g e i s t r a n s f e r r e d t o t h e g e n e r a t o r n e u t r a l and
t h e GFN d e t e c t i o n d e v i c e ( 5 9 and 59H) t h r o u g h t h e
Fig. 6 . Salem H a r b o r No. 2 Winding F a u l t t r a n s f o r m e r in t e r w i n d i ng c a p a c i t a n c e as d e s c r i b e d i n
[31.
"j. . :
20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
GROUND F A U L T N E U T R A L I Z E R VOLTAGE - VOLTS
B r a y t o n P o i n t No. 3 GFN V o l t a g e as a F u n c t i o n
o f Load
CONCLUSIONS
H i g h s e n s i t i v i t y t o ground f a u l t d e t e c t i o n i s
U n i t No. 3 i s a hydrogen c o o l e d t u r b i n e g e n e r a t o r o b t a i n e d as i l l u s t r a t e d b y f o u r e x p e r i e n c e s -
r a t e d 160MVA, 14.4 kV, p l a c e d i n s e r v i c e i n 1958. t h e i n a d v e r t e n t accumulation o f water i n a
g e n e r a t o r bus d u c t , t h e o c c u r r e n c e o f a
ground f a u l t a t t h e 25-percent p o i n t f r o m t h e
Brayton P o i n t U n i t 3 generator neutral, a recent generator cable
f a u l t , and a GSU h i g h v o l t a g e w i n d i n g f a u l t s .
A n o t h e r v e r y r e c e n t e x p e r i e n c e (June 1990) w i t h
ground f a u l t n e u t r a l i z e r f a u l t d e t e c t i o n i n v o l v e d t h e Upon t h e o c c u r r e n c e o f a f a u l t - t o - g r o u n d i n a
o p e r a t i o n o f a n e w l y re-wound g e n e r a t o r step-up g e n e r a t o r c o i l , t h e GFN l i m i t s t h e f a u l t
t r a n s f o r m e r (3C) f o r B r a y t o n P o i n t U n i t 3, a 695MVA c u r r e n t t o a small enough v a l u e t h a t i r o n
c o a l f i r e d u n i t . The t r a n s f o r m e r i s a spare u n i t , b u t damage does n o t o c c u r and copper damage i s
was p l a c e d i n s e r v i c e w i t h t h e i n t e n t i o n o f k e e p i n g i t v e r y s m a l l , as i l l u s t r a t e d b y an a c t u a l f a u l t
energized d u r i n g t h e warranty p e r i o d . A f t e r a few in c i d e n t .
days o f o p e r a t i o n o f U n i t 3 w i t h t h e 3C t r a n s f o r m e r i n
p a r a l l e l w i t h one o f t h e normal GSU t r a n s f o r m e r s , an The GFN i s s e n s i t i v e enough t o d e t e c t an open
i n c r e a s e i n GFN r e s i d u a l v o l t a g e o c c u r r e d . The GFN c i r c u i t on t h e h i g h v o l t a g e s i d e o f a GSU
v o l t a g e v a r i e d d i r e c t l y w i t h i n c r e a s e s and decreases transformer.
i n l o a d , ( F i g u r e 8 ) which i s n o t t h e normal b e h a v i o r
o f t h e GFN v o l t a g e f o r a ground f a u l t i n any equipment The use o f GFN p r o t e c t i o n f o r u n i t connected
connected on t h e g e n e r a t o r bus, o r d u r i n g l o a d changes g e n e r a t o r s s h o u l d b e a p p l i e d much more t h a n
w i t h n o f a u l t on t h e g e n e r a t o r bus. what i s now t h e c u r r e n t p r a c t i c e .
1020
and f o r t h e r e a c t o r ,
TABLE NO.Z
Q
I, 4,
75 1952
I, I,
3 160 1952 32
-t-+gT2*
,I I,
4 528 1972 18
Moore 1 39 1956 34 I
2 39 1956 34 3 975 M V A
3
4
39
39
1956
1956
34
34
- 345 k V -20.9 k V
Comerf ord 1
2
39
39
1956
1956
34
34
a BUSOUCT
3 39 1956 34
4 39 1956 34
Mars. Yaec 1 160 1960 30
B r a y t o n Point 1 260 1963 27
2 260 1964 26 I
A U X I L I A R Y BUS
3 695 1969 21
4 528 1974 16
Conn. Yaec 1 667 1967 23
Bear Swamp 1 333 1974 16
,I ,I
2 333 1974 -16
574 u n i t years
ZZkV I
REFERENCES
CZl E. M. G u l a c h e n s k i , E. W . C o u r v i l l e , "New
England E l e c t r i c ' s 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE WITH
RESONANT NEUTRAL GROUNDING OF UNIT-CONNECTED
GENERATORS," "IEEE T r a n s a c t i o n s , Volume PAS Fig. 9. G e n e r a t o r Ground P r o t e c t i o n One Line as
103, PP2572-2576, 1984. Assumed f o r Sample C a l c u l a t i o n s .
C31 K. J . S. Khunkhun, J. L. K o e p f i n g e r , M. V . SYMMETRICAL COMPONENTS SOLUTION
Haddad, "Resonant Grounding (Ground F a u l t
N e u t r a l i z e r ) o f a U n i t Connected G e n e r a t o r , W i t h symmetri c a l components, phase-to-ground
"IEEE Transactions, Volume PAS-96. pp. faults are calculated by connecting the
550-559, 1976. p o s i t i v e , n e g a t i v e , and zero-sequence networks
i n s e r i e s as shown i n F i g 10 ( a ) and s o l v i n g f o r
C41 IEEE C62,92-1989, IEEE Guide for the Io. The e q u i v a l e n t p o s i t i v e and n e g a t i v e
application of Neutral Grounding in sequence impedances o f t h e system and t h e
Electrical Utility Systems. Part zero-sequence impedance o f t h e g e n e r a t o r a r e
11-Grounding o f Synchronous G e n e r a t o r Systems e x t r e m e l y s m a l l , as compared t o t h e n e u t r a l
r e s i s t o r o r n e u t r a l r e a c t o r e q u i v a l e n t impedance
151 IEEE Committee Report, P o t e n t i a l T r a n s f o r m e r and t h e d i s t r i b u t e d zero-sequence c a p a c i t a n c e ,
A p p l i c a t i o n On U n i t Connected G e n e r a t o r s . and t h e r e f o r e can be n e g l e c t e d . F o r a
I E E E T r a n s a c t i o n s on Power Apparatus and
Systems, Volume 91, Jan/Feb 1972, pp. 24-28. u n i t-connected generator, the zero-sequence
n e t w o r k i s open a t t h e w i n d i n g o f t h e power
I E E E C37.101.1985. I E E E Guide f o r G e n e r a t o r € r a n s f o r m e r s and c o n s i s t s o f t h e g e n e r a t o r
[61
Ground P r o t e c t i o n neutral resistor and the phase-to-ground
capacitance o f t h e generator windings and
APPENDIX a s s o c i a t e d equipment. The e q u i v a l e n t c i r c u i t
GENERATOR GROUND PROTECTION EXAMPLES w i l l t h e n be t h a t shown i n F i g 10 ( b ) .
A 974 MVA, 22 kV g e n e r a t o r i s u n i t - c o n n e c t e d t o a
345 kV t r a n s m i s s i o n bus and grounded t h r o u g h a H i q h R e s i s t a n c e Grounding
d i s t r i b u t i o n t r a n s f o r m e r as shown i n F i g . 9. High
r e s i s t a n c e g r o u n d i n g and ground f a u l t n e u t r a l i z e r
g r o u n d i n g w i l l be c o n s i d e r e d . The phase-to-ground Io = Ion + Ioc
c a p a c i t i v e reactance o f t h e generator, transformers, Io= t o t a l zero-sequence f a u l t c u r r e n t
l e a d s , and a s s o c i a t e d equipment i s 6780 ohms p e r
phase. The d i s t r i b u t i o n t r a n s f o r m e r i s r a t e d 13,280 V
= zero-sequence c u r r e n t f l o w i n g i n t h e
Ion
- 240 V. The secondary r e s i s t o r , R, f o r h i g h neutral resistor
r e s i s t a n c e g r o u n d i n g and t h e secondary r e a c t o r , X f o r
GFN g r o u n d i n g a r e each 0.738 ohms as suggested i n [61. Io, = zero-sequence c u r r e n t f l o w i n g i n t h e
The secondary r e s i s t a n c e r e f l e c t e d t o t h e p r i m a r y d i s t r i b u t e d capacitance
c i r c u i t i s ( R secondary) ( t u r n s - r a t i o squared). Xoc = t o t a l phase t o n e u t r a l c a p a c i t i v e
r e a c t a n c e f o r one phase
The t o t a l f a u l t c u r r e n t Ifi s equal t o 31,.
-7"
which i s eaual t o I- I1
+ I-.c
1021
The v o l t a g e a c r o s s t h e secondary r e s i s t o r i s
V
r
= IR
s
= 311 . 0.738 = 229.5 V
Vr = ISminR Ismin
=*= 5.4= 7.317A
0.738
E,, -SYSTEM S O U R C E
Rf - FAULT RESISTANCE (a) Ion
= In ~ = 0'132 = 0.044A
3 3
The v o l t a g e a c r o s s t h e n e u t r a l r e s i s t o r i s :
V = I on . 3Rn = (0.044) ( 3 ) (2260) = 298.32 V
= (0.044 + j 0 . 0 4 4 ) = 0 . 0 6 2 2 h " A
Io = Ion+ I o c
D e f i n e 2 as t h e p a r a l l e l c o m b i n a t i o n o f 3Rn and Xoc
Z = R + j X
(3R, ) C-j Xoc) ( 3 ) (2260) ( j 6780)
z = -
F i g . 10. Phase t o Ground F a u l t S y m n e t r i c a l Component 3Rn-jXoc ( 3 ) (2260) - j 6 7 8 0
Equivalent C i r c u i t .
Z = 3390 - j 3390 Io( Z + 3Rf ) = Elg
(a) S y m n e t r i c a l Component E q u i v a l e n t C i r c u i t
(b) Reduced Symnetri c a l Component E q u i v a l e n t
I o R + I 3Rf + j Io X = Elg
Circuit.
From t h e Phasor Diagram o f F i g u r e 11:
The c u r r e n t t h r o u g h t h e g e n e r a t o r n e u t r a l i s 2 2
(IIOIR + 1101 3Rf) + (1101 X ) = E1g2
2 2
((IoIR + IIoI 3Rf) = Elg - ((Io( XI2
-Uoc xOC
Elg = generator phase-to-neutral voltage
= 12700/2260 = 5.62 A
In j 12700
IC= . 3 = j5.62A Tuned I n d u c t i v e Reactor Grounding
6780 R e f e r r i n g t o F i g u r e 10(b)
If= 5.62 + 35.62 = 7.95 A Xoc= 6780 ohms/phase XL = tuned n e u t r a l r e a c t o r
The c u r r e n t c o r r e s p o n d i n g t o t h i s v o l t a g e i s :
The f a u l t r e s i s t a n c e c o r r e s p o n d i n g t o t h i s value
o f f a u l t c u r r e n t i s n e x t determined.
L e t Roc r e p r e s e n t a s e r i e s connected r e s i s t a n c e w i t h
Xoc t o account f o r i n s u l a t i o n l o s s e s .
Impedance o f P a r a l l e l C i r c u i t = Ro
3 (RL + J XL) (Roc - J Xoc)
Ro = Eugene W . Courville SM i s a
3 ( R L + J XL) + Roc - J Xoc
Principal Engineer w i t h t h e New
3 J XL = J Xoc RLand Rocsmall compared t o XL+ Xoc England Power S e r v i c e Company i n
Westborough, Massachusetts. He
r e c e i v e d h i s BSEF. f r o m L o u i s i a n a
Ro = gXL xL L e t Roc = 3Rc S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y i n 1949 and i n
1955 g r a d u a t e d from the Power
3RL + Roc Systems E n g i n e e r i ny Program
sponsored by t h e General E l e c t r i c
Company i n Schenectady, New York.
P r i o r t o h i s p r e s e n t p o s i t i o n , he was employed by t h e
Consulting Engineering firms of KERR--ATKINSON,
Engineers and JACKSON & MORELAND, Engineers. He i s s
r e g i s t e r e d P r o f e s s i o n a l Engineer i n t h e Commonweal r h
For 3 = 25.0 ( c o i l c o n s t a n t ) , Ro=
3XL2 (25)
~ o f Massachusetts. He has been a c t i v e i n I E E E as
RIL 2x1L Member and Chairman o f s e v e r a l committees and was t h e
= (3)(2260)(25) = 84,750 ohms
1977-78 Chairman o f t h e Boston Chapter - Power
E n g i n e e r i n g S o c i e t y . A t p r e s e n t he i s a member o f t h e
(2)
e l e c t r i c System & Equipment Committee o f E d i s o n
Electric Institute. I n a d d i t i o n t o h i s general
P r o j e c t E n g i n e e r i n g r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s , h i s areas o f
specialization involve him with the planning,
engineering, design, and installation of major
g e n e r a t i n g p l a n t and w i t h r o t a t i n g machinery problems.