What Does Generation Monitoring Need to Capture?
A generation monitoring system needs to capture both normal plant operation and the plant's response to disturbances on the electricity grid.
For grid analysis, monitoring should provide accurate, time-synchronised information about parameters such as:
- Real power output
- Reactive power output
- Generator frequency or shaft speed
- Terminal voltage
- Power quality parameters
- Plant response during grid disturbances
- Data required for regulatory and FCAS reporting
High-speed recording allows these variables to be analysed against the same system event, providing a more complete picture of how the generating plant responded.
Power Quality
Generators install power quality (PQ) monitors to assess their compliance with applicable generation, transmission and distribution requirements.
The importance of accurate and comparable PQ monitoring continues to increase as the installed capacity of renewable generation grows. Distribution networks are increasingly required to accommodate large distributed generation (DG) sources on networks that were not originally designed for high levels of generation penetration.
Another challenge is the connection of large DG units to networks where short-circuit capacity may already be close to designed limits. Different generator technologies can also introduce different power quality considerations.
Meeting the requirements for interconnection of large-scale DG can require significant infrastructure investment, while network operators must continue to meet their regulatory obligations to maintain the quality and reliability of supply for other network users.
There are three primary aspects to consider when connecting and operating distributed generation:
- Voltage quality of the distribution network, which can affect generator performance
- Current quality produced by the generator, which can affect the supply system and other connected customers
- System reliability and stability, particularly where multiple generation sites could trip offline during the same system event
Generator manufacturers address many voltage-quality considerations through equipment design. However, the impact of generator current quality on the network remains an important consideration for network operators as they work to maintain overall power quality within planning levels.
Regulation and Grid Events
As distributed generation increases and power systems become more complex, regulatory bodies and organisations responsible for analysing grid behaviour have a growing interest in the response of power plant controls to sudden system disturbances.
This interest reflects the responsibility of regulatory bodies and market participants to maintain grid stability and demonstrate compliance with applicable performance requirements.
Major grid events have also demonstrated the importance of accurate grid simulation and post-event analysis. Without reliable post-event information, it becomes more difficult and costly to assess system performance, investigate events and resolve disputes between suppliers, customers, network operators and regulators.
To address these challenges, permanent dynamic monitoring systems are increasingly being installed at generation plants. These systems provide the high-speed data needed to assess plant behaviour during grid disturbances and support compliance with dynamic performance requirements.
Frequency Control Ancillary Services
Hundreds of power stations and plants across the National Electricity Market (NEM) participate in Frequency Control Ancillary Services (FCAS).
FCAS helps maintain power system frequency following events such as the loss of a major generator or interconnector. AEMO procures these services to help maintain system frequency close to the required operating standards.
For a generator participating in FCAS, the relevant power flow and local frequency need to be measured at or close to the applicable connection point.
The monitoring system therefore needs to capture the generator's response with sufficient speed and accuracy to support the applicable FCAS reporting requirements.
How Does FCAS Monitoring Work?
FCAS monitoring involves measuring and recording the power and frequency response associated with a generator's provision of frequency control services.
For the monitoring solution described in this article, IDM+ provides high-speed recording with flexible sampling rates of up to 512 samples per second. DFR and DDR records can provide time-synchronised data for analysing generator behaviour during frequency events.
Autopoll software installed on a central server can automatically download, store and process continuously recorded bulk data from IDM+ devices to support compliance reporting.
iQ+ engineering software can also provide additional post-event data processing, allowing engineers to isolate relevant information following a frequency event and export data to CSV files or spreadsheets.
Meeting the Monitoring Task
With these requirements in mind, the Qualitrol IDM+ multifunctional power system monitor is suited to permanent monitoring applications in power generation.
IDM+ records issues associated with system disturbances through fault detection, recording and analysis. Importantly, it allows a generating station to represent both mechanical and electrical parameters on the same time scale relative to system events.
To meet a wide range of power system monitoring requirements, IDM+ is built on a flexible, modular platform supporting multiple monitoring functions.
These include Digital Fault Recording (DFR) and Dynamic Disturbance Recording (DDR), with options for Class A Power Quality Monitoring (PQ) integrated into the same hardware platform.
In addition to traditional PQ monitoring, a system such as IDM+ can help assess turbine performance, establish predictive maintenance criteria and analyse turbine responses to power system events such as voltage dips.
IDM+ also utilises the IEC 61850 protocol and is designed to support current and future substation automation architectures. Its modular design allows functionality to be expanded as monitoring requirements change.
How Can an Integrated Monitoring System Support Generation Plants?
An integrated monitoring platform can combine several monitoring functions within the same hardware and software environment.
For example, IDM+ can support:
- Digital Fault Recording (DFR)
- Dynamic Disturbance Recording (DDR)
- Class A Power Quality Monitoring
- High-speed event recording
- Electrical and mechanical parameter monitoring
- FCAS data collection
- Post-event analysis
- Regulatory reporting support
Using one monitoring platform can simplify data collection and analysis while allowing engineers to assess different aspects of the same grid event using a common time reference.
Automation Is the Key
Automated, real-time data and information processing of grid activity can provide significant benefits when supported by reliable, continuous dynamic monitoring.
Accurate event data can help different members of the electricity value chain, including grid operators, plant owners, customers and regulatory bodies, investigate system events and resolve disputes more efficiently.
Reliable monitoring can also help identify indicators of potential problems and support system forecasting and maintenance planning, making it an important part of the smart grid concept.
How Does Automated Data Processing Improve Grid Event Analysis?
Automated data processing can reduce the time required to identify, analyse and report grid events.
Autopoll can automatically download and store continuously recorded data from IDM+ devices. iQ+ software can then provide analysis, customised reporting, alerts and tools for investigating recorded events.
This allows operators and engineers to move beyond simply collecting large quantities of monitoring data and focus on information that can support:
- Grid event investigation
- Plant performance assessment
- Regulatory reporting
- Maintenance planning
- Dispute resolution
- Identification of potential equipment or control issues
iQ+ can provide automated analysis of recorded data through customisable reporting and automated alerts delivered via email and text message. It provides a system overview and health check, alerts operators to potential problem areas and allows them to drill down into the recorded information.
FCAS Reporting
Utilising DFR and DDR records with high-resolution time stamping, IDM+ can provide the data required to support FCAS reporting.
Flexible sampling rates of up to 512 samples per second support high-speed monitoring applications, while Autopoll software can automatically download, store and process continuously recorded bulk data from IDM+ devices for compliance reporting.
Additionally, iQ+ engineering software can provide further post-event data processing to help isolate the relevant information following a frequency event on the network.
Data can be exported to CSV files, while waveforms can similarly be transferred to spreadsheets for further analysis and reporting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is generation monitoring?
Generation monitoring is the continuous measurement and recording of electrical and mechanical parameters at a power generation facility. It can be used to assess plant performance, power quality, grid disturbances, equipment behaviour and regulatory compliance.
Why is dynamic monitoring important for power generation?
Dynamic monitoring captures fast changes in generator and grid behaviour that conventional DCS and PI systems may not record accurately. It provides high-speed, time-synchronised data for analysing disturbances and the plant's response to grid events.
What is the difference between DCS/PI monitoring and dynamic monitoring?
DCS and PI systems are generally focused on plant operation and slower-changing process variables. Dynamic monitoring is designed to capture fast electrical and mechanical changes associated with grid disturbances, faults and generator control responses.
What is FCAS monitoring?
FCAS monitoring involves measuring and recording the power and frequency response associated with Frequency Control Ancillary Services. The recorded information can be used to assess generator performance and support applicable reporting requirements.
What sampling rate is required for FCAS reporting?
Sampling requirements depend on the applicable FCAS service and reporting requirements. The IDM+ monitoring solution described in this article supports sampling rates of up to 512 samples per second, providing high-speed data for FCAS applications.
Can one system monitor power quality and grid disturbances?
Yes. An integrated monitoring platform such as IDM+ can combine functions including Digital Fault Recording, Dynamic Disturbance Recording and Power Quality Monitoring on the same hardware platform.
How can generation monitoring help with regulatory reporting?
High-speed, time-synchronised event records provide data that can be used to investigate generator responses to system events and support regulatory reporting. Automated software can further simplify data collection, processing and report preparation.
What are the benefits of automated generation monitoring?
Automated monitoring and analysis can improve event detection, reduce manual data processing, support faster investigation, simplify reporting and provide operators with better visibility of plant and grid performance.
Conclusion
Advanced power system monitoring for generation, whether in a conventional power plant or renewable generation site, can provide benefits for both plant operators and the wider energy network.
By capturing fast electrical and mechanical responses, generation monitoring can support improved system stability, power quality assessment, predictive maintenance, event investigation and regulatory reporting.
A single hardware and software platform can also reduce the complexity of managing separate monitoring systems for different applications.
Monitor Generation Performance with an Integrated Solution
From grid disturbances and power quality to FCAS reporting, generation plants need reliable data that can capture what happens during fast-changing system events.
Insulect supplies Qualitrol IDM+ and supporting software solutions for integrated generation monitoring, including DFR, DDR, power quality monitoring and FCAS applications. Talk to our team to discuss your monitoring requirements and find the right configuration for your generation facility.
Contact Insulect to discuss your generation monitoring requirements.
