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The objectives of visiting the BUET power plant are as follows:

(i) Gaining practical knowledge about a power plant.
(ii) Getting an overview of how different components of a power plant work.

As an electrical engineer, acquiring basic knowledge about the constituents of power systems is
important. A power plant is at the heart of power systems as it generates the power and also
distributes it. BUET, one of the top engineering universities of our country, has a power plant of
its own which meets up the power demand of the university during the peak hours. The BUET
Power Plant has 3 units and a combined generation capacity of a little over 4 MW. Two of these
are of 1MW capacity per unit. The latter is the running unit with 2 MW capacity or load 1.5 MW.
1.8 MW is the safe highest load of this unit as it is advised to load a generator at 90% of its rated
load.
The power plant is located south of the ECE building. It uses gas as its primary source of energy.
The power plant supplies electricity to three substations via underground cable. The substations
distribute this to every building and street light at 230 V. The peak demand of BUET campus is
1.75 MW at present. The plant supplies power from early morning till late night and during the
rest of the hours the energy is supplied through the DESA distribution system. The change is done
using Automatic Transfer Switches (ATS) located at the substation.

The power plant consists of the following sections:

1. Generation unit
2. Control unit
3. Distribution unit
The generation unit and the control unit are housed in a two storey building just beside the ECE
academic building at West Palashi whereas the constituents of the generation unit which consists
of feeders and substations are spread out all over BUET campus and residential area. There are
substations at the residential halls of BUET which distribute electricity to the adjacent area in
possession of BUET authority.
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This part consists of generator engines which use natural gas as fuel and synchronous generators.
The gas engine driving the 1MW generator has 16 cylinders whereas the one driving 2MW
generator has 20 cylinders. The synchronous generators start with the help of DC motors which
use 24V DC batteries for excitation. At present, 2 generators are operating in parallel and another
generator (2MW) is supposed to be installed very soon. The cooling system that is being used to
cool down the generators is air cooling system. Water is circulated in a closed path and it is cooled
by fan from 100C down to 90C. Each of the generators has its own radiator which helps to
accelerate the cooling process. Lubricant oil is used for smooth running of machines and rated
pressure of supply gas is 11 psi. The machines operate at 60% rated KW for better efficiency of
the power plant.

Figure : Generation Unit.

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Manufacturer: Caterpillar
Capacity: 1030 KW
Number of cylinder: 16
Number of radiator fan: 10 (for each generator)
Number of ventilation fan : 4
Fuel : Natural gas.
Speed of machine: 1500 rpm.
DC battery voltage: 24 V.
Generating voltage: 400V (LL).
Frequency: around 50 Hz.
Power factor (pf): > 0.8
Temperature inside cylinder: 600-700 degree Celsius.
Rated pressure of the supply gas: 11 psi.
Observed pressure of supply gas: 7 psi.

KVA rating 1288 KVA

Power rating 1030 KW
Power factor .8
Frequency 50Hz
Winding Wye-Delta
Rated voltage 400V
Rated current 1859A
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Sub-transient X .1539pu(.0101ohms)
Transient X .2422pu(.0159ohms)
Excitation 19V 5A
Insulation Class F

KVA rating 2437 KVA

Power rating 1950 KW
Power factor .8
Frequency 50Hz
Winding Wye-Delta
Rated voltage 400V
Rated current 3517A
Sub-transient X 0.1539 per unit 0.0101
Transient X 0.2422 per unit 0.0159
Excitation 36V 7.79A
Insulation Class H
Maximum Temperature 105 (degree centigrade)
Ambient Temperature 40
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Figure: Generator Specifications

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Control unit of BUET power plant consists of

1. Two control panels for generator
2. Radiator fan control for cooling
3. Software control

Before supplying electricity to the load, the control panel analyses the line voltage, line current,
amount of production, power factor etc. to ensure that right amount of power is being supplied. If
any fault occurs during the production, the control panel will identify it to protect generators from
unexpected accidents. If necessary, it will shut down the generator.
The power plant has two control panels. Control panel 1 is recently out of service as the
generator which was under its inspection has been replaced by another 2MW generator. But control
panel 2 is in service.

From this panel, we can control and protect generator 2.

Power generation: 750 KW, 335 KVAR.

Frequency: 50.6 Hz.
Power factor (pf): 0.91
Voltage (3-): 400.3v, 404v, 403v.
Current (3-): 20A, 110A, 121A.

There are 10 radiator fans for cooling down each generator. Maintaining a moderate
temperature is important for efficient production of power and ensuring safety of
operation.Radiator fans have to be controlled carefully so as to not allow the temperature of the
generators go beyond certain specified maximum temperature. This section ensures that the
radiator fans are switched on as soon as any hint of overheating appears.
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One of the generators is monitored by a computerized control system. If any problem (such as
pressure drop or rise, voltage fluctuation etc.) occurs, it can be easily detected by this system.
Generator switching system, fan control, gas flow speed and amount of gas are controlled by this
system.

Protection system is another important part of generator. Protection devices are set in
generator control panel. Protection systems keep generator safe from damages. Emergency
protection is taken against:
1 Reverse power trip
2 Over voltage
3 Under voltage
4 Frequency drop
5 Emergency stop
6 Failure to start
7 Over speeding of turbine
8 Low pressure of lubricating oil
9 High coolant (water) temperature
10 EMCP diagnostic fault
If one of these faults occur then corresponding light and alarm will switch on.
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This alarm goes off when any problem occurs in engine or

generator.

This gives signal when generator fails to start.

When generator runs at a speed beyond safe operating limit then

this alarm goes off.

When lubricating oil pressure reduces below

the minimum pressure rating provided by manufacture, then this alert light turns on.

When temperature of coolant water rises above

the maximum rated temperature given by manufacture then this alert light becomes on.

If generated voltage rises above maximum acceptable voltage

then this warning is on.

If generated voltage goes down minimum acceptable voltage then

this warning switches on.

If the generator is operated at a frequency lower than minimum

acceptable frequency, the low frequency alarm goes off.

When a generator starts consuming power rather delivering

it, reverse power trip separate the generator from line to prevent the generator from
running as a motor.
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Figure: Control Panel

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Generation unit generates power in a controlled way. Then the power is distributed to different
substations to distribute power to the load. Power is distributed to the substations through feeder
switchgears.
Feeder switchgear is mainly ACB (Air Circuit Breaker) which is being used to distribute power
to different substations. Each Feeder is connected to a substation.
Power distribution system consists of two parts namely-
1. Feeder
2. Substation

There are 9 feeder switchgears in BUET POWER PLANT. Among them only data of 5 feeders
were taken as the rest dont have any display. The data and covering area are given below.

Covering Area Nazrul Islam Hall S/S (new)

Supplied Power 298 KW
Reactive Power 165 KVAR
Frequency 50.36 Hz
Power Factor 0.87
Line to line voltages 405 V, 404.4 V
Phase voltage 234.9 V
Phase current 479 A
Line Currents 479 A, 483 A, 497 A
From this feeder electricity is distributed through Nazrul Islam Hall (new) substation to the
following areas:
1. N.I.H. pump
2. Shahid Shriti Hall
3. Titumir Hall
4. Ahsan Ullah Hall
5. Lal quarter
6. Polashi quarter
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7. 10,11,14,15 no. building

Covering Area Main Substation 02

Supplied Power 77 KW
Reactive Power 28 KVAR
Frequency 50.61 Hz
Power Factor 0.94
Line to line voltages 405.3 V, 405.4 V
Phase voltage 234.4 V
Phase current 105 A
Line Currents 105 A, 129 A, 126 A
From this feeder electricity is distributed through Main substation 02 to the following areas:
1. Auditorium
2. A/C Plant
3. Civil Building with Pump
4. Bank
5. Officers Club
6. Architecture Building
7. URP Building
8. Cafeteria

Covering Area Dr. M. A. Rashid Hall

Supplied Power 192 KW
Reactive Power 58 KVAR
Frequency 50.56 Hz
Power Factor 0.92
Line to line voltages 404.7 V, 404.6 V, 404.8V
Phase voltage 234.2 V
Phase current 300 A
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Line Currents 301 A, 286 A, 289 A

From this feeder electricity is distributed through Dr. M. A. Rashid Hall substation to the
following areas:
1. S.W.Hall
2. Sher E Bangla Hall
3. M.A. Rashid Hall
4. Azad Pump (40HP) and Azad Quarter
5. IPCDR & IAT Bhabon
6. Ladies Hostel
7. Old Pump House (60 HP)

Covering Area Nazrul Islam Hall S/S

Supplied Power 0
Reactive Power 0
Frequency 50.49
Power Factor 0
Line to line voltages 0
Phase voltage 0
Phase current 0
Line Currents 0

Covering Area Main substation 01 (one)

Supplied Power 52 KW
Reactive Power 29 KVAR
Frequency 50.62 Hz
Power Factor 0.88
Line to line voltages 405 V, 404.9 V, 404.8V
Phase voltage 233.9 V
Phase current 85 A
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Line Currents 85 A, 91 A, 90 A
Other feeders had no display and so we were unable to collect data of those feeders.

Figure: Switchgears
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There are 9 substations in BUET and they are:

New Academic Building (3)
M.A. Rashid Hall (1)
Nazrul Islam Hall (2)
Main Campus (3)
Each substation consists of some components as given below.

1. Step down transformer

2. Incoming and Outgoing feeders
3. HT and LT panel
4. Circuit Breaker
5. Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS)
6. Relays
7. Metering Instruments (CT,PT meters)
We only visited the main substation. So a brief description of main substation is given below.

There are circuit breakers connected in series with each of the phase serves the purpose of
saving the system from danger occurred from fault current. These circuit breakers are automated;
however, feature manual control is also associated with those.

Operating Voltage 12kV

Impulse Level 75kV

Rated current 630A

AC Control Voltage 220V (r.m.s)

Frequency 50Hz

DC Control Voltage 110V(DC)

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Short Time Current 25kA

Serial Number 1342

Rated voltage 11kV

Operating voltage 10kV
Rated current 630A
Short time current 25kA
Impulse level 75kV
Frequency 50Hz
AC Control voltage 220V
Dc Control voltage 110V

Rating 1250A
Serial Number 1509
Observed current 500A, 725A, 500A
Observed voltage 420V
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Figure: Low Tension Switchgear

Every PFI is automated, hence it doesnt require any manual support to improve the power factor
of the system.
Rating: 325Kvar
Serial Number: 1402
Type: Auto
Number of steps: 6
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The DPDC line is connected to the power system through ATS (Auto Transfer Switch). It takes
only a few seconds to switch on the power supply of DPDC if the generator power supply is
stopped. The system is built in a way so that either generators or DPDC can supply the necessary
power at a time. It is SPDT type switch which switches line from DPDC to BUET and vice versa.

Rated Voltage 660V

Frequency 50Hz
Rated Capacity 1600A
Serial No (APC/A.T.S): 6012

Current 300A, 300A, 280A

Voltage 390V
Frequency 50Hz

Current 620A, 580A, 620A

Voltage 385V
Frequency 50Hz

Current 440A
Voltage 395V
Frequency 50Hz
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Figure: Automatic Transfer Switch(ATS)

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Rated Voltage (HT Side) 11000V

Rated Voltage (LT Side) 415V
Rated Current (HT Side) 41.98A
Rated Current (LT Side) 1112.96A
Rated Power 800kVA
Impedance Voltage 6%
Rated Frequency 50Hz
Class A

The rating of other transformers besides the ones at ECE building are as given below.

Transformer Rating

Main substation 1 500 KVA

Main substation 2 750 KVA
Main substation 3 750 KVA
Rashid Hall ATS 2
Nazrul Islam Hall (new) 500 KVA
Nazrul Islam Hall (old) 750 KVA

Cooling system is an important part of power station. In absence of this system, the generator may
be damaged to the excessive heat produced during power generation. We need to cool down the
whole system to get uninterrupted power supply. It is placed on the roof of the building.
The cooling system has a gear driven centrifugal pump. Four temperature regulators regulate the
temperature of the coolant.
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There are two types of cooler to cool the system namely water cooled and oil cooled. Both of these
are extensively used for cooling purposes but the type of cooling method to be used is selected
based on the type of circuit i.e. amount of heat to be handled and other relevant factors. The
cogeneration uses energy from the engines heat in addition to the electrical energy that is
generated. The oil cooler is not in the jacket water circuit because the jacket water is too hot. The
circuit for the oil and the circuit for the after cooler may be either a combined system, where the
auxiliary pump circulates water through both the after cooler and oil cooler cores. The combined
system uses a thermostatic control to regulate the oil temperature. This prevents over cooling.

Figure: Cooling System

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Because of the excessive heat produced by the generator, temperature of vapour can rise to
about 600 degree Celsius. The water of 100 degree Celsius goes to the cooler and decreases the
temperature to 90 degree Celsius. The hot water exchanges heat with the surroundings in the heat
exchanger and goes back to the generator. Two different coolers are used for the generators.
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The BUET power plant is a well maintained fully functional power plant with all necessary checks
and preventive measures in place. In case of any emergency there are multiple safety mechanisms
in place to prevent power from ever going out in the BUET campus. It has served efficiently thus
far and will hopefully continue to keep doing so as it is under constant renovation and maintenance.
Hopefully as time goes its capacity will increase with the demand and further safety precautions
will be in place for accidents not to occur.