Abstract Recently, the expansion in power system capacities leads to the development of large-scale steam turbine generator units. As a result, a fault on the power system may induce large fault current and give rise to serious torque vibrations on turbine shafts and blades, which ought to be improved in order for the reliable operation of a turbine-generator system. In the thesis, countermeasures are proposed from electrical viewing-point and from mechanical viewing-point respectively. Based on electrical viewing-point, the apparatus in the generator stator side and in the rotor side respectively is applied to suppress the induced disturbing source. The high temperature superconductive fault current limiter bank introduces a large normal-state resistance to restrict the dc component of stator fault current. The choke coil acts as a low pass filter to restrict the system-frequency component of field fault current. Both of them lead to the reduction in electromagnetic torque of system-frequency and effectively improve the vibrating behavior of blades. Based on mechanical viewing-point, it is found from the electromechanical analysis that the Generator/LP-Turbine shaft stiffness and the Generator rotor inertia constant determine the responses of all turbine blades. Once the stiffness on this shaft section is reduced by replacing the rigid shaft coupling with a flexible one or the inertia constant is augmented by a system-frequency mechanical filter, the blades become intrinsically less responsive to electrical disturbances. As a result, the blades will bear less stress impact and can be designed with smaller safety factor. On the other hand, LP-turbine long blades operated in corrosive environment and underwent the statistical stress impact due to randomly distributed negative sequence current is studied also. In such situation, the blades may be subjected to corrosion fatigue and the long term effects of power system unbalance may become the cause of fatigue damage on blades though the negative sequence current is still within the limitation of generator thermo-rating. As a result, turbine blades are possibly unprotected by traditional system unbalance protection scheme. Therefore, it will depend on the operating environments and the blade materials whether such long-term stress can be neglected or not. If there is the potential of blade damage, one has to reconsider the I2 protection settings and rearrange the load distribution to limit the system unbalance.

ABSTRACT Federal regulations have recognized that arc flash hazards are a critical source of potential injury. As a consequence, in order to work on some electrical equipment, the energy source must be completely shut-down. However, power distribution systems in mission critical facilities such as hospitals and data centers must sometimes remain energized while being maintained. In recent years the Arc Flash Hazard Analysis has emerged as a power system tool that informs the qualified technician of the incident energy at the equipment to be maintained and recommends the proper protective equipment to wear. Due to codes, standards and historically acceptable design methods, the Arc Flash Hazard is often higher and more dangerous than necessary. This dissertation presents detailed methodology and proposes alternative strategies to be implemented at the design stage of 600 volt facility power distribution systems which will decrease the Arc Flash Hazard Exposure when compared to widely used code acceptable design strategies. Software models have been developed for different locations throughout a power system. These software model simulations will analyze the Arc Flash Hazard in a system designed with typical mainstream code acceptable methods. The model will be changed to show implementation of arc flash mitigation techniques at the system design level. The computer simulations after the mitigation techniques will show significant lowering of the Arc Flash Hazard Exposure.

Kungälv Energi äger och ansvarar idag över Kungälv Kommuns elnät. Med en ökande befolkningsmängd ställs allt högre krav på elnätet och framför allt leveranssäkerheten. Med kalla vintrar och stort energibehov ger detta upphov till en svårare situation gällande leveranssäkerhet. I nuläget har Kungälv Energi två mottagarstationer, en 130/10kV-station espektive 130/20kV-station. 30/10kV-stationen börjar närma sig en gräns där effektbehovet närmar sig den maximala istributionskapaciteten. Därför fastställs en plan för att kunna klara av effektbehovet vid averi på en av två 130/10kV-transformatorer i mottagarstationen M1. Resultatet av rapporten visar att tillräcklig kapacitet finns i närliggande fördelningsstationer för att klara av reservdrift under hög belastning utan att några övriga komponenter skadas. Rapporten behandlar främst effektflöden för att kontrollera att dessa ej överskrider transformatorernas, ledningarnas och kablarnas märkeffekt. I flertalet fall har även faktorer för nödbelastning räknats med vilket resulterar i att samtliga linjer hos Kungälv Energi klarar av den ökade belastningen. Upptäckta flaskhalsar i nätet har uppmärksammats och delgetts samt förslag till förändringar för att förhindra framtida problem. / Kungälv Energi owns and is responsible of Kungälv municipality's electricity grid. With an increasing population and increasing demands on the grid and especially security of supply. With cold winters and large energy gives rise to a more difficult situation regarding security of supply. Currently, Kungälv Energi two receiving stations, a 130 / 10kV station and 130 / 20kV station. 130 / 10kV station is approaching a point where power demand is approaching the maximum distribution capacity. Therefore sets out a plan to cope with the power demand at the failure of one of two 130 / 10kV transformers of the receiving station M1. The results of the report shows that sufficient capacity is available in nearby distribution stations to cope with the emergency operation under high loads without any other components damaged. The report deals primarily with power flows to check that they do not exceed transformers, lines and cables rated power. In the majority of cases have also factors for distress load been counted with, which gives the result that all lines of Kungälv Energi can handle the increased load. Detected bottlenecks in the network have been highlighted, communicated and proposed changes to Kungälv Energi to prevent future problems.

With the rapid increase in electrical loads, a considerable percentage of global power systems have been stretched to their designed capacity, leading to a sharp rise in the fault current. High fault current levels have severe impact on power systems. They can increase the likelihood of overcurrent damage, which may destroy electrical facilities or even cause system blackout. The resistive-type superconducting fault current limiter (RSFCL) is a device that can help to mitigate the increasing level of fault currents. It can also contribute to the performance, stability and efficiency of electricity grids. In order to promote the RSFCL more effectively, it is essential to study the device itself and conduct simulations regarding the performance and applicability from the system point of view. Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 of this thesis introduced fundamentals of superconductivity and RSFCLs, respectively. In Chapter 3, a power system model was built, and the transient analysis of short-circuit currents was given. Then, the operating principle of RSFCL was explained, and a step-resistance RSFCL model was introduced. To validate the current limiting performance of the SFCL module, wind farm protection schemes were studied under various fault scenarios. After thorough analysis it was concluded that the optimal allocating strategy of SFCLs was the installation of one SFCL at the integrating point of the system model. Chapter 4 presented a comprehensive study on the performance and optimal allocation strategy of RSFCLs. The two power system models used in this chapter were built based on the UK network standard. To assess the impact of incorporating SC material properties on the performance of SFCLs, three different models were compared throughout the study. Although computing time can be reduced when step-resistance and exponential equation models were used, such simplifications led to strong overestimations of the SFCL performance and resulted in wrong conclusion of optimal installing strategies. For both power system models, the simultaneous use of three SFCLs was the best protection strategy in terms of the performance, economic efficiency and reliability of the overall grids. To draw this conclusion, all the potential combinations of two, three, four, and five SFCLs were studied under a wide number of fault scenarios and measuring strategies. In Chapter 5, a series of experiments were performed to study the magnetic field-angular dependence of the critical current of different commercial YBCO samples. We selected ten 2G-HTS tapes with broad differences in width, fabrication process, and laminar structure. The obtained I_c (B,θ) characteristics of HTS samples were applied in the simulation of RSFCLs, showing unneglectable effect on the first peak limiting performance during faults. This study is helpful to the design and simulation of RSFCLs and other HTS applications which require superconducting wires operating inside magnetic fields. In Chapter 6, we presented a High Frequency (HF) AC-assisted quench study of the YBCO conductor. The differences in quench processes triggered by HF AC field were recorded and studied. We found that AC signals of 10 kHz can trigger quench of the HTS tape. Also, the device proved to be effective at guaranteeing uniform quench of the sample. After then, we placed the experimental device in a magnet, to study whether the quench process can be accelerated by external DC magnetic field. It was found that the DC field can reduce the quench time, but its performance was dependent on the amplitude of transport current and the characteristics of HF AC signals. In addition, the angle between the DC magnetic field and the tape surface showed a huge impact on the quench time. Finally, a comprehensive field-angular dependence study about the quench time of the YBCO sample was conducted, revealing the same pattern as J_c (θ,B) dependence of the tape, but with a greater anisotropy. To summarize, this technique showed outstanding performance regarding quench acceleration and tape protection, and therefore has huge potential to be applied in RSFCLs.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / This dissertation presents the development of methodologies that aim to reduce the effect of distributed generation sources in the protection of electric power systems. First were analyzed problems associated with integration of Distributed Generation sources in electric power systems, focusing on the influence of these sources in protecting these systems. Considering the problem associated with increased short circuit current and its resulting influence on overcurrent, it's developed a methodology that aims to restore the coordination of such devices by inserting fault current limiters together with sources of GD installed. In a second step is developed a method for allocation of fault current limiters in distribution systems for which insertion of source GD does not cause a miscoordination between fuses and reclosers. This methodology uses genetic algorithms and aims to determine the installation location and sizing of limiters. Coordination between the fuses and also between these and reclosers is verified, and if necessary, it is suggested to replace equipment that was overloaded. The developed methodologies aimed at minimizing the cost of replacing equipment and limiters so that the limiters are allocated considering not only the optimal location and sizing, as well as the number of devices to be replaced. / Essa dissertação apresenta o desenvolvimento de metodologias que visam reduzir o efeito da inserção de fontes de Geração Distribuída na proteção de sistemas elétricos de potência. Primeiramente foram analisados problemas associados à inserção das fontes de Geração Distribuída em sistemas elétricos de potência, focando na influência dessas fontes na proteção desses sistemas. Considerando o problema associado ao aumento da corrente de curto-circuito e sua consequente influência nos relés de sobrecorrente, desenvolve-se uma metodologia que visa restaurar a coordenação desses dispositivos através da inserção de limitadores de corrente de falta juntamente com as fontes de GD instaladas. Em um segundo momento desenvolveu-se um método para a alocação dos limitadores de corrente de falta em sistemas de distribuição para que a inserção das fontes de GD não cause uma descoordenação entre elos-fusíveis e religadores. Essa metodologia faz uso de algoritmos genéticos e visa determinar o local de instalação e o dimensionamento dos limitadores. Verifica-se a coordenação entre os elos fusíveis e também entre elos e religador, e se necessário, sugere-se para substituição de equipamentos superados. As metodologias desenvolvidas têm como objetivo a minimização dos custos de limitadores e a substituição de equipamentos de forma que os limitadores são alocados considerando-se não só o local e dimensionamento ótimos, como também o número de dispositivos a serem substituídos.

In this thesis first the behavior of induction generators under unbalanced voltage conditions is studied. In this context, first the existing schemes for characterizing the unbalance in simple ways have been studied. The two schemes IEC, NEMA which are in use to quantify the unbalance, as an unbalance factor require the use of complex algebra. A new scheme to characterize voltage unbalance, without using any complex algebra has been proposed and its effectiveness is compared with the NEMA scheme. The performance of the induction generators under unbalanced voltage conditions is first studied using the symmetrical component approach and a detailed simulation. The machine currents for the same unbalanced conditions are estimated using the proposed scheme and its effectiveness is highlighted. Existing approximate schemes based on unbalance factor do not consider the phase differences between positive and negative sequence voltages while estimating currents. A method of including this feature is proposed here. A simple way to find the maximum line current among the three phases as a function of the positive and negative voltages has been proposed. Knowing the positive, negative sequence voltages and the angle between them, a scheme to compute the generator currents under unbalanced conditions is proposed. Finally a few affecting the machine heating due to unbalanced currents have been studied. The nature of the induction generator fault currents is studied to understand their implication on the system performance. First the fault currents that have been recorded from experiments on relatively small induction motors(26kW and 122kW) are compared with those obtained through detailed dynamic simulation, in order to validate the usage of the detailed dynamic simulations to study the fault current behavior of the induction machines in the absence of experimental or field records. In order to assess the impact of error in the measured machine parameters on the estimated fault current values, the sensitivity of the estimated values of fault currents to machine parameter variations is investigated. The fault currents in large grid connected induction generators (3MW to 500kW) have been estimated through detailed simulation. The effect of the instant of fault (w.r.t voltage cycle), input load levels and shunt capacitors on the fault current values is investigated. An eigen value analysis of the generator model has been carried out to understand the reasons for the observed behavior using the linearized machine model. Fitting functions have been adopted to quantify the fault currents, in order to facilitate comparison of fault currents. A method of including induction generators into the system fault studies has been proposed. Methods of choosing proper sequence impedances for representing the induction generator have been developed and validated using simulated values of balanced and unbalanced fault currents. Simulations of self excited generators have been used for determining the unbalanced fault currents, so as to ensure that the induction generator fault currents correspond to only those contributed by the machine. The impact of the induction generators penetration on the short circuit levels is investigated considering a 14 bus test system by incorporating the proposed induction generator models in a system level fault study.

Le principal objectif de nos travaux était l’établissement de modèles suffisamment précis pour étudier le comportement des machines électriques en présence d’un défaut de court-circuit entre spires et d’en déduire les signatures pertinentes pour la détection de ce type de défaut. L’autre objectif était de dimensionner des machines électriques à courant de court-circuit d’amplitude limitée pour réduire le risque de propagation du défaut. La première approche de modélisation consiste à effectuer une étude complète en utilisant la méthode d’éléments finis pas à pas dans le temps. Les résultats obtenus par ce modèle "éléments finis" concernant une MSAP et une MAS, saines et aussi en présence de plusieurs défauts "entre spires" de niveaux de sévérité différents, concordent avec ceux obtenus expérimentalement sur deux bancs d’essai. La seconde approche a consisté à mettre au point un modèle "circuits électriques" dont la complexité dépend du type de structure magnétique et du type de bobinage de la machine étudiée. Nous avons proposé deux méthodes de détermination des paramètres : 1- des méthodes numériques (éléments finis) ; 2- l’établissement des nouvelles expressions analytiques. Dans le dernier chapitre, une méthode basée sur la segmentation des aimants sous un pôle qui n’est en fait qu’une démultiplication du nombre de pôles au rotor sans modification du bobinage statorique est proposée est utilisé pour réduire le courant de défaut / The main objective of this research is to establish the sufficiently precise models to study the behavior of electrical machines in the presence of inter-turn short circuit fault and then find the relevant signatures to detect this type of fault. The other objective is to design a limited short-circuit current electrical machines to reduce the risk of fault development. The first modeling approach is a comprehensive study using the time stepping finite element method. The results obtained by this model "finite element" on a MSAP and MAS, healthy and faulty, for different levels of fault severity, are close with those obtained experimentally by two test benches. The second approach is to develop a model circuit electric, whose complexity depends on the type of magnetic structure and the type of machine winding. We have proposed two methods for determining the model parameters: 1 - numerical methods (FEM) which require long time bur very precise; 2 – establish new analytical expressions which is fast but less precise. In the last part, a method based on segmentation of the magnet is presented in order to reduce the short circuit current. The segmented PM motor contains the reduced fault current and can be used in the application which requires high degree of reliability

Die vorliegende Arbeit beschäftigt sich nach der Analyse und Optimierung der Stromzuführungen auf Flüssigstickstoff-Temperaturniveau, hauptsächlich mit der Untersuchung einer Gemisch-Stickstoff-Kaskade als Kälteversorgungssystem eines resistiven HTSL-Kurzschlussstrombegrenzers. Unter einem Kurzschlussstrombegrenzer versteht man einen veränderlichen elektrischen Widerstand, welcher, gegebenenfalls in Serie mit konventionellen, mechanischen Stromunterbrechern, direkt in den zu schützenden Stromkreis eingebaut ist. Als veränderlicher elektrischer Widerstand kann z.B. ein supraleitendes Element verwendet werden. Im normalen Betriebsfall setzt dieser dem fließenden Strom praktisch keinen Widerstand entgegen. Die Dimensionierung wird so gewählt, dass im Falle eines Überstroms ein rascher Übergang in den normalleitenden Zustand erfolgt. Durch den nun vorhandenen Widerstand wird der Stromfluss sehr effektiv begrenzt, bis beispielsweise nachgeschaltete mechanische Schutzeinrichtungen ansprechen. Sobald dies erfolgt ist, kann der Supraleiter regenerieren und in den Ausgangszustand zurückkehren. Die Verwendung von HTSL-Material als Supraleiter erscheint hier höchst vorteilhaft, da damit ein Arbeiten auf Flüssigstickstoff-Temperaturniveau erlaubt wird. Ein entscheidender Punkt für die erfolgreiche Einführung der HTSL-FCL ist die Bereitstellung einer geeigneten Kälteversorgung. Dies kann entweder durch regelmäßiges Nachfühlen mit flüssigem Stickstoff oder durch den Einsatz einer Kältemaschine zur Stickstoffrekondensation realisiert werden. Beim Einsatz einer Kältemaschine hat man einen von der Stickstoffnachlieferung unabhängigen Betrieb mit geschlossenem Kühlsystem. Die Energiedissipation in dem HTSL-Element selbst ist unter Normalbedingungen vernachlässigbar klein. Für die Auslegung des Kühlsystems ist von Bedeutung, dass der größte Teil der Wärmelast durch die metallischen Stromzuführungen verursacht wird. Die Auslegung des Kühlsystems muss sich daher an der thermodynamischen Analyse der Stromzuführungen orientieren. Das Ziel dieser Arbeit bestand in der Analyse von Kühlmethoden für solche Stromzuführungen hinsichtlich ihrer Effektivität und Wirtschaftlichkeit. Ein neues Kühlsystem auf der Basis einer Gemisch-Stickstoff-Kaskade wird vorgeschlagen als Alternative zu den derzeit in Frage kommenden Kühltechniken. Es wurde folgende Vorgehensweise gewählt: 1. Verschiedene Kühlmethoden zur Kühlung von SZF werden aufgeführt und thermodynamisch bewertet. 2. Kühlsysteme, basierend auf einer Gemisch-Stickstoff-Kaskade, werden vorgeschlagen und deren Charakteristika mittels numerischer Simulation bestimmt. 3. Ein auf der Basis einer Gemisch-Kältemaschine gebauter Stickstoffverflüssiger wird in Betrieb genommen und getestet. 4. Die Funktion und die Effektivität der Gemisch-Stickstoff-Kaskade zur Kühlung der Stromzuführungen werden bewertet. 5. Zugehörige Kühlsysteme auf der Basis verschiedener Kühltechniken werden analysiert 6. In einer Wirtschaftlichkeitsbetrachtung werden die Kühlsysteme einander gegenübergestellt Insgesamt kann als Ergebnis festgehalten werden, dass der Einsatz der vorgestellten Gemisch-Stickstoff-Kaskadenanlagen zur Kälteversorgung im vorgestellten Anwendungsfall eine durchaus wettbewerbsfähige, voraussichtlich sogar überlegene Alternative zu den sonst verfügbaren Methoden darstellt.

Les travaux de cette thèse portent sur l'intégration dans le réseau électrique du limiteur supraconducteur de courant (SCFCL). Un modèle du ruban supraconducteur ont été développé et validé grâce à une comparaison avec des tests expérimentaux. Premièrement, ce modèle a permis le dimensionnement du SCFCL du projet Eoccoflow (projet européen). Dans un deuxième temps, le modèle de SCFCL est intégré dans différents types de réseau. D'une part, l'intégration du SCFCL dans les réseaux haute tension continu maillés rend vraisemblable la protection de tels réseaux. D'autre part, grâce au SCFCL de nouvelles architectures du réseau de distribution sont proposées permettant l'intégration massive de génération distribuée. Cette thèse se clot sur le dimensionnement et les tests d'un SCFCL pour un réseau à taille réduite. / This PhD deals with superconducting fault current limiter (SCFCL) network integration. A model of a superconducting tape had been developed and validated in comparison with experimental quench tests. This SCFCL model allowed us to design the SCFCL of the european project Eccoflow. Using this SCFCL model, SCFCLs are integrated in various types of networks. On one hand, SCFCL benefits are first studied in case of meshed HVDC networks. Indeed, the SCFCL makes realistic the protection of such networks. On the other hand, thanks to the SCFCL some new distribution network topologies are suggested in order to increase the distributed generation integration capacity. This PhD ends with the design and the test of a SCFCL in a downsize scale network.

abstract: The future grid will face challenges to meet an increased power demand by the consumers. Various solutions were studied to address this issue. One alternative to realize increased power flow in the grid is to use High Temperature Low Sag (HTLS) since it fulfills essential criteria of less sag and good material performance with temperature. HTLS conductors like Aluminum Conductor Composite Reinforced (ACCR) and Aluminum Conductor Carbon Composite (ACCC) are expected to face high operating temperatures of 150-200 degree Celsius in order to achieve the desired increased power flow. Therefore, it is imperative to characterize the material performance of these conductors with temperature. The work presented in this thesis addresses the characterization of carbon composite core based and metal matrix core based HTLS conductors. The thesis focuses on the study of variation of tensile strength of the carbon composite core with temperature and the level of temperature rise of the HTLS conductors due to fault currents cleared by backup protection. In this thesis, Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) was used to quantify the loss in storage modulus of carbon composite cores with temperature. It has been previously shown in literature that storage modulus is correlated to the tensile strength of the composite. Current temperature relationships of HTLS conductors were determined using the IEEE 738-2006 standard. Temperature rise of these conductors due to fault currents were also simulated. All simulations were performed using Microsoft Visual C++ suite. Tensile testing of metal matrix core was also performed. Results of DMA on carbon composite cores show that the storage modulus, hence tensile strength, decreases rapidly in the temperature range of intended use. DMA on composite cores subjected to heat treatment were conducted to investigate any changes in the variation of storage modulus curves. The experiments also indicates that carbon composites cores subjected to temperatures at or above 250 degree Celsius can cause permanent loss of mechanical properties including tensile strength. The fault current temperature analysis of carbon composite based conductors reveal that fault currents eventually cleared by backup protection in the event of primary protection failure can cause damage to fiber matrix interface. / Dissertation/Thesis / Fault current temperature relationship program in C / Current temperature relationship program in C / M.S. Electrical Engineering 2014