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AbstractGenerator ground-fault protection aspects are analyzed for midsize cogeneration plants. In these plants, the generators may be connected to a common generator bus. The
overall bus-connected system should be considered when applying generator high-resistance grounding schemes. Calculations
are reviewed for sizing generator neutral-ground resistance and
evaluating third harmonic originated in the scheme. The relevant
applications of third harmonics in applying 100% stator groundfault protection schemes are examined. Practical considerations
are presented for establishing selectivity of ground-fault protection schemes in the case of common generator bus.
Index Terms High-resistance grounding, stator protection,
third harmonic.
I. INTRODUCTION
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(a)
(b)
(a)
Charging Current
(1)
where
-phase capacitive current;
-phase capacitive current;
line-to-line voltage;
line-to-ground voltage;
line-to-ground charging capacitance;
line-to-ground charging current;
(b)
Fig. 1. Typical plant bus configuration. (a) Dedicated bus/transformer used
in large thermal generating plant. (b) Common bus/transformer used in
cogeneration plants.
(2)
since
(3)
630
Fig. 4.
and
switchgear
gen. 1 cables
gen. 2 cables
trans. 1 cables
trans. 2 cables
trans. 3 cables
(4)
Therefore,
(5)
the charging capacitances of system
To calculate
components should be identified. Information on the generator stator capacitances and surge-protection capacitor can be
acquired from the generator supplier. At the early design stage,
the charging current capacitances for other system components
can be estimated from available references. A practical method
to evaluate capacitances of typical system components is
depicted in [7]. Fig. 4 represents typical system chargingcurrent capacitances. An example of numerical values of these
capacitances may be as follows:
generator 1
generator 2
surge capacitor 1
surge capacitor 2
transformer 1
transformer 2
transformer 3
631
Fig. 6.
one common neutral ground for the two generators will allow
high third-harmonic current circulation. In contrast, having a
separate high neutral ground resistance for each generator adds
high resistance in the pass of the third-harmonic current
[Fig. 5(b)], reducing such currents and their heating effects.
(a)
(b)
Fig. 5. Third-harmonic current distribution. (a) Common neutral resistance.
(b) Separate neutral resistance.
632
switchgear
transformers
and 1/2
for a total of 0.5486
generator #1 capacitance (0.5
F for this example. Assuming a selected neutral resistance
of a value of 740 referred to the primary side of the
neutral-distribution transformer, the corresponding calculated
impedances are as follows:
(9)
(10)
angle
(11)
(12)
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In a high-resistance grounding scheme, locating a phaseto-ground fault may be a challenging task. A simple overvoltage ground-fault relay (59G) mounted on the generator
neutral loading resistance, will be sensitive to faults from
approximately 10% of the respected machine neutral, past the
generator terminal, through the bus, up to all connected transformers, and into the feeders of other generators connected to
the same bus. Fault discrimination by current values cannot be
applied in this case. Also, discrimination by time intervals is
not applicable in its mere radial sense, as the feeders are not
in radial arrangements. Using restricted ground-fault protection
or directional ground-fault protection may provide a solution.
However, certain verifications are required.
When applying a restricted ground-fault protection, as
shown in Fig. 10, practical limitations emerge. The line-side
current transformers should be designed to carry generator
full-load current. For example, a generator of 40-MVA output
at 13.8 kV will probably have line-current transformers with
a ratio of 2000-5 A or 400:1. With a phase-to-ground fault
current in the order of 15 A, the corresponding CT secondary
ground fault will be 37.5 mA, or 0.75% of the full range of
the line-side current transformers circuit. Although such a low
current may satisfy some modern relay operating ranges, the
VIII. CONCLUSIONS
Elaborate considerations may be required when devising
and setting ground-fault protection schemes in midsize cogeneration plants. Design calculations for such schemes are
dependent on the plant main output configurations and their
electrical parameters. When applying schemes such as thirdharmonic generator-stator 100% ground-fault protection, consideration should be given to both machine and system extreme
conditions. Selectivity may be established by schemes such
as restricted ground fault or directional ground overcurrent.
However, prudent examinations should be applied to sizing
the current transformers serving such schemes.
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[11] R. L. Schlake, G. W. Buckly, G. McPherson, Performance of third harmonic ground fault protection schemes for generator stator windings,
IEEE Trans. Power App. Syst., vol. PAS-100, pp. 31953202, July 1981.
[12] J. W. Pope, A comparison of 100% stator ground fault protection
schemes for generator stator windings, IEEE Trans. Power App. Syst.,
vol. PAS-103, pp. 832840, Apr. 1984.
[13] C. H. Griffin and J. W. Pope Generator ground fault protection using
over-current, overvoltage, and under voltage relays, IEEE Trans. Power
App. Syst., vol. PAS-101, pp. 44904501, Dec. 1982.
[14] IEEE Guide for Generator Ground Protection, ANSI/IEEE Standard
C37.101-1985.
[15] IEEEPES Relaying Committee, Working Group on Generator Protection with Digital Computers, Survey of experience with generator
protection and prospects for improvements using digital computers,
IEEE Trans. Power Delivery, vol. PWRD-3, pp. 15111522, Oct. 1988.
[16] M. Stien and J. R. Linders Ground Fault protection of the complete
generator winding, presented at the 4th Annu. Western Protective Relay
Conf., Spokane, WA, Oct. 1820, 1977.
[17] N. Nichols, Electrical considerations in cogeneration, IEEE Trans. Ind.
Applicat., vol. IA-21, pp. 754761, May/June 1985.
[18] R. J. Marttila, Design principals of a new generator stator ground relay
for 100% coverage of the stator winding, IEEE Trans. Power Delivery,
vol. PWRD-1, pp. 4151, Oct. 1986.