Electrical Features of Raccoon Mountain Pumped-Storage Plant

This paper describes unique features of the electrical equipment and some of the considerations involved in its selection for a 1,700-MVA underground pumped-storage project with four reversible pump/turbines. Considerations of cost and maintenance of the machines, transmission system, and powerhouse construction led to selection of generator/motors with direct water-cooled stator and rotor windings, static-converter synchronous starting of pumps with synchronous dynamic braking, use of generator circuit breakers, and underground main transformers with self-contained 161-kV single-section cables having 1,100-ft change in elevation.