LA 2675EN

Project:
Title:

Format: A4

EL. BRAKING OF SYNCHRONOUS

GENERATOR IN HYDROELECTRIC
POWER STATIONS

No. TD:

Scale: 1 : -

Book:

Arch.No: LA 2675EN

Sheet: 1 of

ELECTRIC BRAKING OF SYNCHRONOUS GENERATORS

IN HYDROELECTRIC POWER STATIONS
INTRODUCTION
Mechanical braking is frequently used to stop quickly the hydro-generator, to bring a
turbine and its rotor at a standstill. These braking functions on a principle of mechanical
friction which slows down a rotating mass of the generator. In case of peak-load and
pump-storage power plants where frequent unit starts and stops are present, and where a
normal time required for stopping the generator is long, the mechanical braking, due to its
characteristic, does not represent entirely the most convenient solution. In such cases it is
better to use electric braking characteristics of which are described further in the text.

MECHANICAL BRAKING
After deloading and disconnecting the generator from the network and after closing a
water supply to the turbine, the generator continues to rotate due to a great moment of
inertia of rotating masses. Its rotation speed decreases and drops to zero because of a
braking torque of turbine (a turbine rotor rotates in the water), friction in bearings and
ventilation losses. A period of time which is required for stopping the generator, without
additional braking actions, depends on many factors and in some cases it can be longer
than half an hour which means that the generator is not available within that period of time
and have to be under control of the staff. Additional losses appear in bearings because of
insufficient self-lubrication ("dry friction") at low speeds of only a few percent of the rated
generator speed. This problem is especially evident in cases where there is no highpressure oil pump which additionally lubricates the bearings during the generator stopping.
In order to avoid the above stated problem and to reduce the load of bearings to minimum
and also to protect the bearings from damages, it is necessary to stop the generator as
soon as possible. The mechanical braking is frequently used in such cases. Functioning of
the mechanical braking is based on friction of brake linings which press a braking ring
placed on the rotor of generator. The brake's mechanism and the brake linings are placed
on the stator casing. The mechanical braking is not usually used during higher generator
speeds (30 - 100% of rated speed) because a conversion of high kinetic energy into
thermal energy causes over temperatures in the braking equipment and great mechanical
strains too.
It means that the application of the mechanical braking does not essentially shorten the
time required for stopping the generator. The mechanical braking has also some negative
effects. During operation, the brake linings become worn out and must be replaced by new
ones. While worming out the brake linings produce a dust which makes dirty the generator
casing.

ELECTRIC BRAKING
The electric braking, in contrast with the mechanical braking, is applied a few
seconds after deloading and disconnecting the generator from the network (at 80 - 90% of

LA 2675EN

Project:
Title:

Format: A4

Scale: 1 : -

EL. BRAKING OF SYNCHRONOUS

GENERATOR IN HYDROELECTRIC
POWER STATIONS

No. TD:

Book:

Arch.No: LA 2675EN

Sheet: 2 of

rated speed of the generator) and it functions until the generator standstill. It means
that the electric braking brakes during all the time required for stopping the generator, not
only at low speeds, and it considerably shortens the generator stopping time. After closing
the water supply to the turbine, switching off the main circuit breaker and automatic
deexcitation of the generator by shifting the trigger pulses of converter (by a speed relay at
around 90% of rated speed), the
rotation speed reduces and the sequence of electric braking can start.
Therefore, the following is to be done:
- the sequence of electric braking is activated by a speed relay (80% of rated speed)
- the generator armature is short-circuited, directly or across an additional load resistance,
by the disconnector Q4. Depending on a concept of the plant, a short circuit can be done
on the generator side (Fig.1) or on the high voltage side (Fig.2)
- the excitation transformer T2 is switched off by the circuit breaker Q5

Fig.1 - Circuit diagram of the electric braking with a short circuit on the generator side

- the circuit breaker Q6 is switched on to enable the supply of the excitation system during
the braking process. It is realized by means of the transformer T3 from the plant common
service supply.
- the excitation system is activated and the generator is excited to an appropriate constant
value of the excitation current which induces a armature current of approximately rated
value. The interaction of these two currents causes an electromagnetic breaking torque.
- at low speeds of the generator (a few % of rated speed) the mechanical brakes are
activated to accelerate the generator stopping and to prevent the rotor creeping of the
standstill generator.
- generator is deexcited by shifting the trigger pulses of converter
- when the generator is standstill, all the devices are returned in their initial positions, and
the generator is ready for a new start

LA 2675EN

Project:
Title:

Format: A4

Scale: 1 : -

EL. BRAKING OF SYNCHRONOUS

GENERATOR IN HYDROELECTRIC
POWER STATIONS

No. TD:

Book:

Arch.No: LA 2675EN

Sheet: 3 of

Fig.2 - Circuit diagram of the electric braking with a short circuit on the high-voltage side
Electric braking is fully automatic. Its operation is automatically controlled and supervised,
and in case of any malfunction, the generator will be quickly deexcited. If the protection
system either of the generator or of the electric braking supervision is operated, the
electric braking will be interrupted and a transfer to the sequence of mechanical braking
will be automatically done. In that case the generator will be stopped by the sequence of
mechanical braking.

LA 2675EN

Project:
Title:

Format: A4

Scale: 1 : -

EL. BRAKING OF SYNCHRONOUS

GENERATOR IN HYDROELECTRIC
POWER STATIONS

No. TD:

Book:

Arch.No: LA 2675EN

Sheet: 4 of

Fig.3 - Braking torque characteristics for different armature resistance

The armature and rotor currents causes the appearance of electromagnetic braking
torque which additionally breaks the generator. The electromagnetic torque also depends
on the speed of rotation. This braking torque has its maximal effect at low generator
speed. It is essential for the loading of bearings which otherwise might have mentioned
problems of insufficient lubrication. This advantage can be fully utilized by means of an
additional resistance R1 which optimizes a maximal braking effect (fig.3).

LA 2675EN

Project:
Title:

Format: A4

Scale: 1 : -

EL. BRAKING OF SYNCHRONOUS

GENERATOR IN HYDROELECTRIC
POWER STATIONS

No. TD:

Book:

Arch.No: LA 2675EN

Sheet: 5 of

ADVANTAGES OF ELECTRIC BRAKING

During the electric braking a time required for stopping the generator is considerably
shortened.
A lifetime of bearings is expanded and possible damages which may be caused by "dry
friction" are reduced to minimum.
During stopping of the generator a distribution of mechanical strains and vibrations is
rather equalized.
A lifetime of the brake linings is considerably expanded and their strains as well as their
failures (faults) are reduced to minimum (breaking of the brakes can cause great damages
in the windings of stator and rotor).
The problems with dust are insignificant here.
The excitation transformer T3 can be used as a spare transformer if a failure appears on
the main excitation transformer T2. The transformer T3 can be also used to supply
independently the excitation system during testing the generator protection system. In that
way, hard and dangerous temporary reconnections of the cables are avoided.
The electric braking equipment consists of units which are reliable and easily maintained.
Complete automation and high efficiency factor of the electric braking equipment
guarantee a long time and safe operation of the generator, and contribute to an increased
availability and reliability of the plant.
The electric braking is successfully used in many power plants for which
we made projects and delivered the equipment.