Advanced Governor Controller for Pumped-Storage Power Plant and Its Simulation Tool

This paper presents new governor control strategy for hydroelectric power plant and plant simulation technique for functional tests of new governor equipment, which have been applied to advanced governor in Kannagawa pumped-storage power plant. The main feature of the advanced governor controller is an ability of reducing water level variation in surge chamber when a sudden flow rate change occurs in hydroelectric power plant. It leads to reduction of construction cost because of the chamber size reduction. In order to confirm control performance of the advanced governor equipment, we have developed a simulation tool and conducted plant simulations with the tool. The plant simulation model includes the governor system with a mechanical actuator, hydraulic turbine and tunnels with the surge chambers in hydroelectric power plant. We have compared measured data in functional tests with the simulation results. The control performance of the advanced governor equipment is successfully verified, and the effectiveness of the plant simulation model is also confirmed. The 1st unit of Kannagawa pumped-storage power plant, where the advanced governor controller was put to practical use, is now in commercial operation