Experience with excitation systems in National Power

Although their earlier types of excitation systems are performing reasonably well, there are more frequent problems appearing especially associated with the mechanical plant of National Power, UK, which although are not causing significant loss of generation, are causing increased operational costs and engineering. Company staff skilled in these areas are spending time on other project work and are becoming increasingly unavailable for attending breakdowns. Here, the author describes National Power´s experience with their power station generator excitation systems