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IRSTC 2015 International Seminar

STATIC FREQUENCY CONVERTER ON GAS POWER PLANT

A.Sofwan 1) R.Harfi 2) dan Suprapto 3)
1) Presenter of Electrical Engineering Dep Faculty of Industrial Technology
ISTN Email:asofwan@istn.ac.id
2) Mechanical Engineering Dep Faculty of Industrial Technology
INSTITUT SAINS TEKNOLOGI NASIONAL Jl.M.Kahfi II Jagakarsa Jakarta 12640
3) PT.PJB JAKARTA Email : suprapto@ptpjb.com

Abstract
This Paper describes the characterizations of SFC-Using for discussion forum in the 3rd
International Conference on Innovation Research on Science, Technology and Culture
(IRSTC-ISTN) Banda Aceh, 2015. Indonesia has varied differential power plant to
produce power energy for Enhancing National Competitiveness in Energy sector. One of
main the power plants is gas power plant (PLTG). But operation of the gas power plant
requires a combustion process. So, the gas power plant needs auxiliary starting device as
prime mover to rotate gas turbine before combustion. The starting device of gas power
plant at MuaraKarangis used a static frequency converter (SFC). The function of static
frequency converter is to convert generator become motor when starting. The
component of SFC consists of a transformator, converter, DC reactor and inverter. SFC
3.7 kV input voltage is converted into a voltage that can be varied to be supplied to the
generator when the starting process. At MuaraKarang gas power plant, SFC output
voltage of 3300 volts is required. To produce the required output voltage SFC as
auxiliary prime mover amounting to 3300 volts, then can be settled the trigger of angle
α to the converter at 36.05°.

Key words : Energy, Static Frequency, Trigger angle, gas power plant , converter.

I. INTRODUCTION
Energy demand in the world continues to increase as increasing in
development and population growth. Gas, Hydrocarbon fuels, magnetic
materials and Renewable Energy provide the primary source of energy used in
the world. Electricity demand in Indonesia is growing too this is because more
consumers and population, growing residential and industrial sectors also
continued to increase. So it needs power plant is too increase. This power
house in this country also should be reliable in supplying power to the
consumer. The reliability of generating units is supported by the auxiliary
equipment in power plants. So, the performance of the electric generator is
very dependent on the properties of the prime mover as auxiliary equipment is
used.So, the applications of power electronic and electric drives in power
system are growing rapidly. For examples of auxiliary equipment is in between
the cooling system, lubrication system, oil seal system, start-up device.
Readiness power plant is an important factor in the power system. For
example the readiness is starting power plant. When stop condition and then 1
no order from PLN so the power plant should immediately start up and get
online to network interconnection. The gas power plant needs starting device
for start up process . The starting device at Muara Karang gas power plant is

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Static frequency Converter (SFC). Function of SFC is to change the generator

into the motor at start up process. This will rotate gas turbine for combustion.
After combustion, gas turbine can turn generator then it SFC auto stop at 2000
rpm.
Then gas turbine turn a generator up to rated speed at 3000 rpm. SFC
is the latest technological starting device for gas power plant, more reliable in
operation and more complete protection system. In the Muara Karang power
plant there are two gas power plants and two SFCs, they are: SFC A and B. So, it
can be choosen SFC A or SFC B for starting gas power plant. If SFC A fault so
can be changed over to SFC B or otherwise and The system can be more
protected.
2.1. SYNCRHONOUS GENERATOR AND INDUCTION VOLTAGE
Synchronous generator is a electrical machine that convert mecahanical power
to electrical power with syncron rotation. If a coil is rotated at a constant speed
in a homogeneous magnetic field, it will be a sinusoidal voltage induced in the
coil. The magnetic field can be generated by the DC current or permanent
magnets. To produce a magnetic field in the rotor coil excitation system it is
necessary to supply DC current to the rotor. The following figure shows a
synchronous generator excitation system.

Figure 1 Synchronous generator excitation system

In the above figure 1 , DC current is passed the slip ring and carbon brush to
the rotor windings to generate a magnetic field. The relationship between
speed rotating magnetic field with a frequency generator on the engine is [1]:
nr .p
fe 
120 (1)

fe = frekuensi of generator system (Hz), nr = rotor rotation speed , field magnet

speed (rpm) and p = pole. To determine the induced voltage are generated in 2
the stator [1]:

E= (2)

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E = induction voltage at stator, N = Total coil winding, Kp=Pitch factor, Kd =

Distribution factor, F= Frequency (Hz), Φ= Fluks (weber)
2.2 SYNCRHONOUS MOTOR
Synchronous motors are synchronous machines that are used to convert
electrical energy into mechanical energy. If the stator winding is connected to
the three-phase voltage source then the three-phase current will through in
the stator winding. Three-phase currents in the coil anchor produces a
homogeneous rotating field (BS). Unlike the induction motor, synchronous
motor excitation received from an external DC source is connected to the rotor
circuit via the slip rings and brushes. DC current in the rotor produces a
magnetic field of the rotor (BR) are fixed.
Rotor field poles got the pull of rotating stator field poles to also rotate at the
same speed (synchronous). The resulting torque synchronous motor is a
function of torsion angle (). The greater the angle between the magnetic field,
the torque produced will be greater as the following equation [1].

T = k .BR .Bnet sin  (3)

The equivalent circuit of synchronous motor shown in the below figure 2 :

Figure 2 Equivalent circuit of synchronous motor

Rf= Field resistance, Vf= Field Voltage, Ra= Stator resistance, jXs= Stator
Reactance, Ea= Induction voltage.
From Figure 2 can determine the formula for stator voltage :

V= Ea + Ia.Ra + jIa.XS (4)

2.3 Phase Controlled Rectifier

Three phase controlled rectifier bridge system is a 3-phase full-wave
rectifier that converts 3-phase AC wave into a wave of DC (direct current). The
Controlled 3-phase converter circuit is shown in Figure 3 below.This converter
is a 3-phase converters with two quadrant operation, wherein the thyristor is
turned on at intervals  / 3. Therefore thyristor switched on every interval of 3
60 °, then the frequency of the output ripple voltage is 6 times the frequency of
the voltage source. The order of conduction of the thyristor into 6 pieces will
follow the pattern of T1T2, T2T3, T3T4, T4T5, T5T6, and T6T1.
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Figure 2.3 3 phase controlled rectifier

Figure 3 phase controlled rectifier

To determine Vdc output converter using the following formula:

(5)

Where: Vdc =DC output voltage, Vm = Peak voltage = , Vs= and SFC
Input voltage Vin = 3700V, So, that

Vs = and Vm =

And the efective voltage (Vrms) can be determined :

(6)

2.4 Inverter
The Inverter is one of power electronics components. The power electronic
system is generally getting their power from the utility source. It is an enabling
technology, providing the needed interface between the electrical source and
the electrical load. Adjustable speed electric driver represent an important
application of power electronic. The controller to regulate the output voltage
must be designed with the following objectives in this research. In this
Research, the inverter is a used circuit to convert the DC voltage source
remains a source of AC voltage with a certain frequency. Figure 4 below is a
basic circuit of three phase inverter bridge.

Figure 2.4 Three phase circuit inverter

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Figure 4. Basic circuit of three phases Inverter Bridge.

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From figure 4 above is a basic circuit 3 phase inverter consists of 6 switches.

They are S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, and S6 by using thyristor as a switch. Three-phase
inverter with angle 120⁰ conduction mode switching allows each component to
conduction during 120⁰ with couple different conduction, eg the first 60⁰
between Q1 Q6, and the second 60⁰ between Q1 Q2, and so on. The Model of
switching inverter is shown in Table 2.1.

Table 2.1 Inverter switching

To determine effective output voltage (line to line) use this formula :

(7)

So, the effective out voltage phase to phase is about 0.8165 Vs

3. METHODOLOGY
Static Frequency Converter (SFC) is used for process start-up at Muara
Karang power plant. SFC block diagram is shown in Figure 5 below :

Figure 5 Block diagram of SFC

From the block diagram in Figure 5 above, there is some component of

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the SFC such as transformers, converters, DC reactor, inverter and control
panel. These components are connected to Generator System (Gen-Set). Before
Generator operation start-up, the gas turbine is rotated 3 rpm using a turning
motor. As in Figure 5 when start-up commands SFC operate to rotate the gas
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turbine. Because at first step, there is no combustion air supply. So it need SFC
to rotate the compressor which to provide air for combustion. After the air is
available then is blended fuels natural gas and given igniton so occur
combustion and produce gases combustion with temperature 1350 0C. This
high temperature gases combustion is used to rotate the turbine. When the
turbine wheel reach 2000 rpm SFC auto off and the gas turbine can spin their
own.
The function of SFC transformer is to change or to reduce the medium
switchgear voltage of 6.3 kV to SFC rating voltage 3.7 kV. This rating voltage is
used as the input voltage to the converter. Output voltage of SFC transformer
are rectified by the converter into DC voltage which can be adjusted according
to the ignition angle α. Because this DC voltage has too ripple voltage so it
needed DC reactor to reduce the ripple on the output converter. Then, this
filtered DC voltage is changed again to AC voltage that can be varied between 0
to 3300 volts which is then supplied to the generator that functions as a
synchronous motor for acceleration at start-up power plant.

Equation synchronous motor according to the formula 8 below: (8)

ns = synchronous speed (rpm), f = frequency (Hz), and p = pole

4. ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION

4.1 Converter operation
This functions of converter is to convert of the AC source voltage of 3.7
kV into a DC voltage that varies between 0 to 4999.29 volt. By using formula 5
can obtained are shown as table 4.1 below. From Table 4.1, if the angle α is
greater then Vdc converter output will be smaller and otherwise. So Vdc
maximum is achieved when α = 0 0.
4.2 DC Reactor
DC-Link reactors connected betwen converter and inverter . DC reactor as a
filter to reduce harmonic currents and ripple voltage . Depend on SFC rating
known the voltage at DC Reactor is 4000 volt and 850 amperes with
resistance R is 4.7 Ω and an inductor L is 30 mH. Inductance on DC-Link
Reactor is used to reduce harmonic current, voltage ripple and current ripple,
but the inductance L can make delay time of load [4]. Table 4 describes the
calculation result of DC-Link Reactor.

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Tabel 4.2 The calculation result DC-Link Reactor

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Idc
α1 Vdc 1 (Volt) Vrms 1(Volt) Vac ripple (Volt)
1(Ampere)

0˚ 4.999,29 5.001,71 155,57 1.063,67

10˚ 4.923,34 4.932,95 307,76 1.047,52
20˚ 4.697,79 4.729,38 545,71 999,53

30˚ 4.329,51 4.399,27 780,33 921,17

40˚ 3.829,67 3.956,88 992,25 814,82

50˚ 3.213,48 3.423,89 1.181,76 683,72

60˚ 2.499,64 2.833,09 1.333,49 531,83

70˚ 1.709,85 2.238,95 1.445,44 363,79

80˚ 868,11 1.745,27 1.514,05 184,7

90˚ 0 1.537,17 1.537,17 0

100˚ -868,11 1.745,27 1.514,05 -184,7

110˚ -1.709,85 2.238,95 1.445,44 -363,79

120˚ -2.499,64 2.833,09 1.333,49 -531,83

130˚ -3.213,48 3.423,89 1.181,76 -683,72

140˚ -3.829,67 3.956,88 992,25 -814,82

150˚ -4.329,51 4.399,27 780,33 -921,17

160˚ -4.697,79 4.729,38 545,71 -999,53

170˚ -4.923,34 4.932,95 307,76 -1047,52

180˚ -4.999,29 5.001,71 155,57 -1063,67

4.3 Inverter Operation

The converter output voltage changed again to AC voltage by an inverter. The
inverter switching with pulse width trigger 1200 . To calculate the output
voltage of this inverter using the formula 2.7 . The results of the calculation of
the inverter output is shown in Table 4.1 below. The inverter output voltage is
variable based on the trigger angle α to the converter. So can be adjust depend
on system . The voltage is then supplied to the generator s as a synchronous
motor when starting. If inverter output voltage (Vout) is 3300 volt , based on
the formula 2.7 :

--

And by formula 2.5 :

= 7

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So if expected the inverter output voltage is 3300V, the converter must be

triggered of angle alpha to 36.050. For current waveforms at angle α = 30º and
90º look like Figure 6.

Figure 6 Current waveforms at angle α = 30º

 Condition at angle α = 900

Figure 7 Current waveforms at angle α = 90º and 120º

Table 4.1 Output voltage converter and inverter

α Vout Vout α Vout Vout
Converter inverter converter inverter
0˚ 4.999,29 4083,90 100˚ -868,11 1425,01
10˚ 4.923,34 4027,75 110˚ -1.709,85 1828,10
20˚ 4.697,79 3861,54 120˚ -2.499,64 2313,22
30˚ 4.329,51 3592,00 130˚ -3.213,48 2795,61
40˚ 3.829,67 3230,79 140˚ -3.829,67 3230,79
50˚ 3.213,48 2795,61 150˚ -4.329,51 3592,00
60˚ 2.499,64 2313,22 160˚ -4.697,79 3861,54
70˚ 1.709,85 1828,10 170˚ -4.923,34 4027,75
80˚ 868,11 1425,01 180˚ -4.999,29 4083,90
8
90˚ 0 1255,10
CONCLUSION

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To change the output voltage of the SFC is done by setting the the trigger angle
α on the converter. Based on the analysis and calculations, then it could be
concluded if the output voltage SFC 3300 volts, then the trigger angle α to the
converter must be set at 36.050 .
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