Field experience with momentary fast turbine valving and other special stability controls employed at AEP´s Rockport plant

Several special stability controls, including fast turbine valving are in service at AEP´s Rockport generating plant to enhance the plant´s transient and voltage stability performance. An account of how these supplementary controls evolved over time to meet changing system needs is provided. An overview of field tests, maintenance practices and operating history of the fast turbine valving equipment is presented. Finally, one of the successful Rockport fast valving events is analyzed in detail, with respect to valve stroke characteristics and electrical response of the Rockport units. This paper emphasizes the lessons learned from the operating experience, which include a need to constantly monitor the adequacy of the special stability control equipment, through regular maintenance and analysis of actual operations