Control-Dynamic Power Plant- and Grid Interaction in a Deregulated Power Industry - Power Plant Load Reduction Options; Complementing Project

Project Number 285

Control-dynamic combination of power plants and grids in the light of a deregulated power industry has been investigated in the VGB Research Project 243. One main emphasis was the investigation of the influence of non-linear tracking filters, i.e. insensitivity zones for non-control of the consumer capacity noise, for the sake of saving the control devices in the power plant units. The consumer capacity noise is based upon the continuous uncontrolled connection and disconnection of consumers and manifests itself on the grid side in grid frequency noise.

The investigation referred both to an individual primary controlled power plant unit from the perspective of the power plant for the case that only the individual power plant unit investigated uses a non-linear tracking filter, and to the effect to the grid frequency noise from the grid perspective for the case, that all primary-controlled power plant units are equipped with non-linear tracking filters. It proved that the effect of the non-linear tracking filter to the grid frequency noise is the stronger, the more power plant units are equipped with non-linear tracking filters.

Further, it turned out during the investigations and subsequent discussions, that there are some considerable differences in design and switching of the non-linear tracking filters in use. These various types of non-linear tracking filters have different effects, both on the power plant side on the individual unit, and on the grid side on the grid frequency noise.

The follow-up project aims at a comprehensive simulation analysis of the different types of non-linear tracking filters. This includes the comparative evaluation of different types of non-linear tracking filters, creating the basis for an advantageous choice of the filter type, both operators and manufacturers can make use of.

The follow-up project will be realised in June 2006 by the Electricity Generation and Automation Department at the Process Technology and Steam Boiler Institute of the Stuttgart University, headed by Tobias Weißbach. The Technical Committee “Electrical Engineering, I&C, and IT” will technically support the investigations.