Genset Power Control for Grid Fault Ride-Through Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for responding to network faults in energy supply networks, such as electrical short circuits, often result in significant increases in the load angle of generators, leading to potential loss of synchronization or damage, and existing control measures are insufficient in quickly mitigating these changes.

Innovation Solution

A genset equipped with a detection device for network errors, a device to determine the generator's operating state, and a control device that adjusts the drive device's power based on pre-fault operating conditions to minimize load angle deviations, using threshold values and a lookup table to determine the duration of power reduction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional control measures are taken to reduce rotational speed and load angle during grid faults, then the generator's synchronization is maintained, but the response time is insufficient and load angle deviations are still significant

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegenerator synchronizationVSAvoidresponse time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The control device stores the generator's operating state (active power, reactive power, voltage, frequency) immediately before the grid fault occurs. This preliminary capture of operational data enables the system to calculate the pre-fault load angle and use it as a reference for rapid corrective action, eliminating the delay associated with detecting fault conditions and then measuring operational parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces conventional mechanical control methods (such as throttle adjustment) with an electronic control system that directly modulates the drive device's power output. The control device calculates the required power adjustment based on stored pre-fault operating states and applies corrective power modulation electronically, achieving faster response times compared to mechanical adjustment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the drive device's power output is reduced to counteract load angle increase, then generator stability is improved, but the control system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegenerator operating stabilityVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control device continuously monitors the generator's operating state and compares it against the stored pre-fault reference values. Based on this feedback comparison, the control device automatically adjusts the drive device's power output to maintain the load angle within acceptable limits. This closed-loop feedback mechanism provides stable control without requiring complex manual intervention or overly sophisticated control algorithms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The control device modifies the drive device's power output parameter dynamically in response to grid faults. By changing the power output parameter based on the calculated deviation from pre-fault operating conditions, the system maintains generator stability without requiring complex multi-parameter control strategies. The approach focuses on the key parameter of power output modulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3411575B1Stationary electric generator
Publication Date: 2024.02.28 GE JENBACHER GMBH & CO OG
  • EP3411575B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3411575B1 patent drawingFigure 2a
  • EP3411575B1 patent drawingFigure 2b

AI summary

A genset having at least one generator (2) which can be driven by a drive device and which serves for generating electrical energy, having a detection device for detecting the presence of a system fault in at least one phase of an energy supply system (1), having a device for determining an operating state of the generator (2) immediately before or upon detection of a system fault, having a regulating device (11) to which the signals of the detection device and of the device for determining the operating state can be fed, wherein the regulating device (11) is designed to, after detection of a system fault, regulate a power of the drive device in a manner dependent on that operating state of the generator (2) which was determined immediately before or upon detection of the system fault.