The effect of system faults on generating plant

When considering the effects of faults on transmission and distribution networks, it is traditional to look closely at the T&D circuit parameters and to assess the power flows, voltage swings, etc. associated with fault isolation and reconnection of supplies. There are of course good reasons for focussing on these areas, not least the statutory duty to maintain supplies. However, this presentation seeks to broaden the context of fault analysis, in particular into the area of how generation plant design is affected by the need to survive intact in the event of a power system fault. A brief review of the key design features of a large turbogenerator is given, followed by a discussion of two key areas of that design which are heavily governed by the fault tolerance requirement of the machine. Some examples of design methods (calculation techniques) are illustrated to give some feel for the depth to which these features are studied in order to achieve the requisite levels of generator ruggedness