University of Cape Town EEE3100S, 2023
Department of Electrical Eng. Tutorials 6- 7 – Frequency and Voltage
ControlPower Control
Frequency Control
Question 1
Give three main reasons why we need to control frequency in power system.
Solution
a) To reduce mechanical and electrical stresses on the generators. To comply with an
acceptable standard of operation
b) To balance load and generation
c) To reduce damage to consumer devices connected to the grid through the distribution
networks.
Question 2
Two generators are supplying power to a power system. Their power ratings are
P1 = 50 MW and P2 = 500 MW. The frequency is 60 Hz and the generators are
half-loaded. The system load increases by 110 MW and as a result, the frequency
drops to 59.5Hz. What must the individual regulations (Rg) be, if the ratio of the
change in output of the two generators is same as the ratio of their rating?
Solution
∆𝑃1 𝑃1 1
= =
∆𝑃2 𝑃2 10
P2 = 10P1 ................. (1)
also P1 + P2 = 110. ....... (2)
solving (1) and (2)
P1 = 10MW , P2 = 100MW
Regulation or droop constant for smaller unit, P1:
∆𝑓 (59.5 − 60)
𝑅𝑔1 = − = = 0.05 𝐻𝑧/𝑀𝑊
∆𝑃1 10
Or in per-unit
𝑃1 50
𝑅𝑔1(𝑝𝑢) = 𝑅𝑔1 = 0.05 = 0.0417 𝑝𝑢
𝑓 60
Regulation or droop constant for smaller unit, P2:
∆𝑓 (59.5 − 60)
𝑅𝑔2 = − = = 0.005 𝐻𝑧/𝑀𝑊
∆𝑃2 100
Or in per-unit
𝑃2 500
𝑅𝑔2(𝑝𝑢) = 𝑅𝑔2 = 0.005 = 0.0417 𝑝𝑢
𝑓 60
University of Cape Town EEE3100S, 2023
Department of Electrical Eng. Tutorials 6- 7 – Frequency and Voltage
ControlPower Control
Note: if we expressed the regulation in per unit, i.e. p.u. Hz/p.u. MW, the regulation is the
same for both generators, that is, Rg1 p.u. = Rg2 p.u.
Generators working in parallel on the same network ought to have the same
regulation expressed in per unit of their rating), in order to share load changes in
proportion to their size or rating.
Question 3
a) What does a 5% speed droop mean?
b) Assuming a two-area power system has one generator in each area, with a total system
demand of 250 MW (Table Q3). Generator A and B contribute 150 MW and 100 MW,
respectively, to meet the load demand. Following a sudden load increase, the system
frequency dropped from the nominal value to 49.5 Hz. What is the magnitude of this
load increase and the new power output from generator A and generator B?
Table Q3
Network specifications
Gen A Gen B
Generator droop characteristic (p.u.) 0.1 0.05
Rated power output (MW) 200 150
Pre-contingency scheduled power (MW) 150 100
Nominal frequency (Hz) 50
Solution
a) The participation of a generator in correcting frequency deviation is such that the ratio of
the change in frequency to the change in active power, both with respect to rated values is
0.05. For instance, for a 2.5% decrease in frequency, a generator with a 5% speed droop
will increase its power output by 50%. Therefore, a generator with a speed droop at 5% will
contribute more to correcting frequency deviation when compared to one with a higher speed
droop.
b) Generator Droop characteristic:
∆𝑓 0.5
𝑓 −
𝑅𝑎(𝑝𝑢) =− = − 50 = 0.1 𝑝𝑢
∆𝑃𝑎 ∆𝑃𝑎
𝑃𝑎𝑜 200
where f= f-f0 and Pa= Pa-Pao
Pa =20 MW
∆𝑓 0.5
𝑓 −
𝑅𝑏(𝑝𝑢) =− = − 50 = 0.05 𝑝𝑢
∆𝑃𝑏 ∆𝑃𝑎
𝑃𝑏𝑜 150
Pb= 30 MW
The load increases by 50 MW
University of Cape Town EEE3100S, 2023
Department of Electrical Eng. Tutorials 6- 7 – Frequency and Voltage
ControlPower Control
The new outputs from generator A and B are 170 MW and 130 MW, respectively.
Volatge and reactive Power Control
Question 4
What is reactive power management?
Solution
The control of generator voltages, variable transformer tap-settings, shunt capacitors, reactors etc.
in a manner that best achieves the reduction in losses and acceptable voltage levels.
Question 5
State TRUE/FALSE for the following
(a) For a synchronous generator to supply reactive power, it must be under-excited.
(b) A generator is operating at no-load, when suddenly a capacitor bank is connected at
its terminal. The generator should be over-excited to absorb the reactive power
generated by the capacitor.
(c) Voltage collapse is as a result of the unbalance between the reactive power demand
and the real power supplied by the system.
(d) The main functional similarity between synchronous condensers and static VAR
compensators (SVCs) is that they both have rotating parts.
(e) A synchronous condenser has an overload capability of 10% - 20% for more than 30
minutes.
(f) Series capacitors could cause excitation of low-frequency oscillations (sub-
synchronous resonance), which may damage turbine-generator shafts.
(g) Series capacitors can increase the loadability of a line at only a fraction of the cost of
new transmission.
(h) Off-load tap changing transformer is used when the changes in voltage ratio need to
be frequent.
Solution
(a) False
(b) False
(c) False
(d) False
(e) False
(f) True
(g) True
(h) False
Question 6
Discuss the relationship between voltage magnitude and the reactive power flow. How does
SIL relates to reactive power?
University of Cape Town EEE3100S, 2023
Department of Electrical Eng. Tutorials 6- 7 – Frequency and Voltage
ControlPower Control
Solution
Reactive power flows from a bus of higher voltage magnitude to one with a lower voltage
magnitude. If a line’s loading is higher than its SIL, the line absorbs reactive power, and this
may lead to a sag in the voltage profile of the line. The opposite is the case if the line loading is
lower than the SIL.
Question 7
Due to contingencies in the power system, certain points in the network may experience over
voltage or under voltages. When such occurs, the system operator is tasked with
implementation certain measures to curb the problem. List three of that a system operator can
use to curb:
a) Under Voltages
b) Over Voltages
Solution
a) Ensure that all available equipment (generators, underload tap-changing transformers, and other
voltage control equipment) are in service; remove (switchable) shunt reactors; insert (switchable)
shunt and series capacitors.
b) Remove (switchable) shunt and series capacitors; insert (switchable) shunt reactors; adjust taps
on ULTCs.
Question 8
List the three different voltage control schemes. Discuss each of these control schemes and
what it entails.
i)Primary Control: involved with controlling the reactive power production from a device so that
the voltage magnitude is kept at or close to the set value of the controller.
ii) Secondary Control: selection of the set values of the controller to adjust the set-points of the
reactive power control devices.
iii) Tertiary Control: achieved through an overall system economic optimization using real-time
calculations. This process finds an optimal solution that is used to adjust settings of the secondary
voltage controllers, that are further used to determine settings for the primary voltage control
devices.
Question 9
List three devices that can be used to provide static reactive power compensation and three devices
for dynamic reactive power compensation. For each of these categories, state the main characteristic
of each.
Solution
Static sources have a slow response. Examples are shunt reactors, shunt capacitors and series
capacitors.
Dynamic sources have a fast response. Examples are: Synchronous condensers, Tap Changing
transformers, Synchronous machines (generator and motor)
University of Cape Town EEE3100S, 2023
Department of Electrical Eng. Tutorials 6- 7 – Frequency and Voltage
ControlPower Control
Question 10
According to the South African grid code, what is voltage Ride Through Capability of RPP?
Solution
Capability of the RPP to stay connected to the network and keep operating following voltage
dips or surges caused by short-circuits or disturbances on any or all phases.
University of Cape Town EEE3100S, 2023
Department of Electrical Eng. Tutorials 6- 7 – Frequency and Voltage
ControlPower Control
