Simplified Model For Simulation of Fault Ride Through at Hydropower Units

As new requirements for grid connected generators were implemented, the requirements for evaluating the Fault Ride Through capabilities of the generators became stricter. When refurbishing a power unit, proof that the power unit meet the requirements must be submitted to the authorities. Performing simulations of the Fault Ride Through of a production unit is an extensive process and requires advanced simulation models and tools. Therefore, the need for a simplified tool for estimating the Fault Ride Through capability arose, which is what the project produced. Also, knowledge of which production module characteristics (such as the generator parameters, transformer and excitation system) have the largest effect on the Fault Ride Through time, would also be beneficial. Through the creation of Simulink simulation models of two hydropower stations and a sensitivity analysis of station parameters, the relative effect of the parameters on the Fault Ride Through time is estimated and implemented into a time independent Fault Ride Through time estimation tool, based on the Equal Area criterion. The purpose of the time-independent Fault Ride Through time estimation tool is to provide an insight into the approximate transient stability of the hydropower station and which parameters affect the performance the most. Simulations show that the transient reactance of the generator, the generator inertia, the transient time constant and the transformer inductance have the largest effect on the Fault Ride Through capability. The results show that a simplified tool cannot estimate the Fault Ride Through as accurately as a time-domain simulation model can