Field Suppression Equipment with DC-Breaker and Electronic Switching-on of the Discharge Resistor 4. Objective of Field Suppression A fast de-excitation of the synchronous machine is necessary in order to limit the damage in case of intemal faults which cannot be switched off by tripping the generator breaker. It is therefore im- portant to rapidly eliminate the source voltage which Grives the fault current. The result is a forced suppression of the air-gap flux of the generator and of the field current (Fig.1).. Figure 1 By controlling the power converter from rectifier to inverter operation, the excitation equipment has also the facility of quick de-excitation. However, the field suppression must also be guaranteed in case of failure ofthe thyristor fring pulses andthe power converter. Therefore, a completely independent field suppression equipment has to be provided for each generator. The most severe intemal fault condition results froma S-phase short circuit a the generator termi- nals (a). The physical consequences of this faut determine the layout of the entire fied suppression ‘equipment. In order to avoid iron burning, al insu- lation failures of the stator winding must initiate an 10 DC-Breaker Converter Discharge Circuit immediate field suppression as well (b). A simple ‘ground fault of the rotor winding which is usually fully insulated from ground does not cause a fault current, But a very severe disturbance on the rotor side e.g. a short circuit atthe slip rings, calls for a uick separation of the voltage source (0). Also certain excitation failures (d) call for immediate separation. Physically field suppression with the usual equip- ‘ment is a conversion of the magnetic field energy to heat. This happens partly within the field winding, parily in a separate field discharge resistor. At the same time, the excitation source must be inter- rupted by a breaker. HIER 94 833 E 1ABB 2. Methods of Field Suppression There are various de-excitation circuits with ditfe- rent configurations, which areinpartclosely related to rotating exciters used in the past. For static excitation systems, the field suppression by means ofa parallaldischarge resistor as shown in Fig. 1 is generally in use today. Basically, the field suppression comprises two ‘functions: - The switching-on of the discharge resistor ~The disconnecting ofthe field-winding from the power converter It a conventional fieldbreaker is used, both func- tions are performed by the same apparatus. The ‘experience gained with fieldbreakers in the past was good. However, afieldbreakeris a very special device and an increasing number of manufacturers have meanwhile stopped their production, particu- larly for breakers with rated currents above 2000 Ampére. ‘A very reliable alternative is the application of a normal DC-breaker to open the field-circuit and a controlled thyristor to connect the field discharge resistor. The advantage ofthis solution is the use of a breaker which has proved its reliability in other applications (e.g. on traction vehicles). In both cases, the breaker rating is determined by the maximum field current, the dielectric strength of the rotor winding and the type and rating of the discharge resistor. The field de-excitation is initiated by the tripping ‘command: The discharge resistor Ris connected first whereby the voltage of the field winding U, appears across its terminals. The breaker starts to open immediately. The field current |is compelled to commutate to the field discharge circuit. Since the current decreases only slowly, the voltage across the field discharge resistanceincreases first tothe value Upe = I” Re. The inductance of the field winding acts here as driving source, whereby the 2 HIER 94 833 E induced voltage E, is added to the source voltage U, ‘These two voltages appear across the main pole of, the breaker during breaking and give rise to arcing. ‘The maximum arc voltage U,,.. which can be sustained by the contact, is therefore a defining ‘magnitude for the breaker and for the rating of the field discharge resistor Rena After the extinguishing of the arc the current flows over the field discharge resistor. Inthe caseol linear field discharge resistor (1) the current decays with the time constant 4 Re, By using a non-linear field discharge resistor (2), the de-excitation is realized faster. Asatast decay of he flux is required, itis important to realize that the flux decay can be forced only in. the direct axis. The time constants inthe quadrature axis cannot be influenced by the excitation system. Ma suppression resistor R, = R, field resistance) is connected in series, the effective time constants at no-load (T,,) and with load (T.,) are reduced to halt, The armature time constant T, and the one of the quadrature axis T,, remain unchanged. With an undisturbed excitation system, the de- excitation is initiated by controling the thyristor- bridge in the inverter mode before tripping the breaker. Thestrainon the breakeris reducedas the voltage across the main contact is much smaller when the breaker opens. However, because of possible excitation failures the design of the brea- ker and the discharge resistor must be based upon ‘maximum output voltage (ceiling). e910Figure 2 3. Components of Field Suppression Equipment ‘The main components of the field discharge circuit ciated firing electronics and current measuring as are the DC-breaker, the thyristor circuit with asso- well as the discharge resistor (Fig.3). 0c-Brekee Fring Unit Thyritors ® weet I Puse | tt 1 Ampifcaion | 3 0 Suopy | 21] (et wenitorng | 2 ea Current a 2 ts] wonitorng I i 5 J Pose - tt mpitecion ig sae Supy | j <—{_Weontoring te curent | 7 S21 wentoring | fl ° a ate teoletor Pulse Pulse Current Discharge Switch Control Unit Transformer Measuring Resistor Figure 3 e410 HIER 94 833 EABB 3.1 DC-Breaker Generally the DC-breaker has to interupt a direct current in a circuit with resistance and inductance. ‘At rather low voltage and current this is only possi- ble with the aid of the inverse voltage created across a well defined aro. More recent manufactured breakers are equipped with limiting means such as auxiliary arc gaps, limiting resistors and above all the feature of divi- ing the arc into a muttitude of series arcs. The result is a more controlled and rather constant arc voltage. ‘The most important criterion of a breaker is its interrupting capacity. It is determined by the follo- wing factors: - maximum are voltage ~ maximum interrupting current - maximum are energy The arc voltage mainly depends on the geometric dimensions of the arc chamber. For the current interruption, dynamic forces and the arc quenching capability are important. ‘Apart from their breaking capacity, DC-breakers are characterized by their rated current and rated voltage. Contrary to field breakers, DC-breakers are provi- ded with an electronic overcurrent release. It limits the fault current in case of a DC-short circuit, thus protecting converter thyristors and fuses from damage. 3.2 Field Suppression Resistor Apart of the field energy is converted to heat within the field suppression resistor. Its size is also deter- ‘mined by the heat storing capacity. Another impor- {ant factor is the rigidity of conductors, terminals and the resistor itself to withstand the dynamic forces of peak currents. For field suppression, 4 HIER 94 633 E linear and non-linear (voltage dependent) resistors are used, The field current decreases according to the well- known exponential function. For generators, the ‘maximum intial value of the field current appears in case of a 3-phase stator terminal short circuit. The field voltage is proportional to the current. Its initial value U,, = j,, “ Re must be smaller than the rotor insulation test voltage. On the other hand, the field breaker can commutate the current onto the sup- pression resistor only if its arcing voltage is higher than the sum of maximum field voltage U,, and the ceiling voltage U, of the excitation source. ‘The energy to be absorbed is given by the following integral: We= Re F (ot To speed up the field suppression mainly for large machines, voltage dependant resistors made of silicon-carbide are used. With decreasing voltage this material shows a remarkable rise of its specific resistance. The initial resistance value is the same as fora linear suppression resistor, being limited by the maximum admissible voltage. As a result of the increase in resistance, the voltage decreases slow- ly, however, the current very rapidly. The effective time costant becomes a function of the momentary voltage. 3.3 The Thyristor-Crowbar circuit ‘The thyristor-crowbar circuit consists basically of the following functional blocks: - One thyristor each for the positive and the ne- gative current direction - Firing electronics close to thyristors including covervoltage detection - Thyristor current measuring - Control electronics ‘The thyristors are selected based on the thermal stress during the field suppression and the maxi- mum are voltage of the DC-breaker. The thyristors e010ABB ‘are mounted in a suitable press-unit and are natu- rally cooled ‘The functional safety ofthe thyristor-crowbarcircuit is treated with spacial care. Consequently, the fring of the discharge-thyristor (positive current direc- tion) is assured by multiple measures. ~ Simultaneously with the breaker OFF-command, the discharge thyristor is fired continiously by two independent firing circuits. ~ Should this controled fring fail, the DC current builds up a sufficiently high voltage to fire the thyristors by overvokage. Two independent BOD's (BOD = Break-over Diodes) break over at apre- determined voltage level fre thereby the thyri- stors. ‘The thyristor itself serves as a last protection ‘measure. Its peak inverse voltages selectedto bbe lower than the arcing voltage of the breaker. ‘Should both described firing circuits fail, the thyristor is fired by itself by overvoltage. In this case the thyristor might be injured, however, fur- ther damage to the field winding is prevented. Overvottages resulting from induced negative field ‘currents should, with a safety margin, always remain below the insulation level of the rotor winding, ie. below the test voltage, as well as below the peak reverse voltage (PIV) of the converter thyristors. Under all circumstances to avoid an insulation fault or thyristor failure by overvottage - asynchronous running for instance - an additional thyristor for the negative current direction is provided. For its firing, a BOD is used as well. ‘current in the discharge circuit is measured, also with respect to its direction, and further processed. Measuring and processing circuits are redundant. (On each field-discharge the unilormity of two ‘measurings aremonitored. Analarm-signalisinitia- ted upon failure. 4. Advantages of the DC-breaker solution The application of a DC-breaker instead of a con- ventional fieldbreaker offers the advantages listed below: = Commercially available and also used for other applications. It is worldwide manufactured by several companies. Insensitive to vibration and shock due to simple ‘mechanical construction and application on traction vehicle . = High arcing voltage resulting in shorter dischar- ge time, + Automatic overcurrent release limits the fault ‘current in case of DC-short circuits. - No movable parts in the discharge cicuit High insulating level In comparison to the conventional fieldbreaker, following features are to be considered: ~ Inordertoachieve a suitable arcing voltage, field breakers are often equipped with two or more main contacts with arc chambers which are connected in series. It was evident to separate these contacts on the positive and the negative pole, thus achieving a galvanic separation bet- ‘ween the field winding and the voltage source. However, with respect to fault clearance, a double pole breaking is not necessary. There are no faults which could only be cleared by double pole interruption. ~ Should existing safety regulation ask for double pole separation between field winding and con- verter, e.g. for maintenance work, an additonal isolator-switch will be mounted in the negative pole. HIER 94 833 E 5ABB ~ In case of the fieldbreaker, the discharge con- tacts are operated by a mechanical link on of shortly before the opening of the main contacts. ‘A mechanical failure of the discharge contact canon theotherhand prevent the maincontacts ‘rom opening, Such a serious fault is not possi- ble with the DC-breaker solution. 5. Mechanical construction of the Thyristor-Crowbar circuit ‘The crowbar circuit is built as follows: Base plate UNS 4014’a. for § kV Test Voltage UNS 4024 a for 10 kV Test Voltage Var. 1 for |,, < 4000 A Var. 2 for |, > 4000 A ‘The base plate contains, apart from the two pulse transformers, the redundant current measuring and. the RC-circuits for the thyristors. Thyristor press-unit For 2" and 3” disc thyristors: UNS 4012a, Var. for thyristor CS 1000-18 Var.2 for thyristor YST 36-22 Var.3 for thyristor CS 1702-44 For 4" disc thyristors: UNS 4022a, Var. for thyristor YST 60-22 Var.2 for thyristor CS 2402-44 Firing unit UNC 4610a The firing unit comprises of the two redundant fring, circuits for the positive thyristor. Each firing circuit consists of a coupling diode to the pulse transfor- mer and an emergency firing by means of a break over diode. For the negative thyristor, a simple overvoltage firing by means of another break over diode is Provided, 6 HIER 94 833 E Control unit UNC 46114 ‘The control unit contains two independent chan- nels. Each one is equipped with Pulse amplifier for the firing pulses of the positive thyristor Monitoring of the external supply voltages 415 Vand +48 V Evaluation of the current measuring.