# Power generator droop characterstics

I'm really confused in solving the following question.

An isolated 50 Hz synchronous generator is rated at 15 MW which is also the maximum continuous power limit of its prime mover. It is equipped with a speed governor with 5% droop. Initially, the generator is feeding three loads of 4 MW each at 50 Hz. One of these loads is programmed to trip permanently if the frequency falls below 48 Hz. If an additional load of 3.5 MW is connected then the frequency will settle down to ?

Here, is my understanding of the question. At 15 MW load the frequency should drop by 50*0.05 = 2.5 Hz so the load would be working at 47.5 Hz. Now the new load is 4*3 + 3.5 MW = 15.5 MW which is above the maximum capacity and also the frequency would have fallen below 47.5 Hz, so one of the load has to trip. So the new load = 4*2 + 3.5 MW = 11.5 MW.

If we consider linear droop from the generator the linear equation relating frequency to power would be

$$f = -0.05P + Constant(K)$$ To find the constant we put f = 50 Hz at P = 12 MW (given in the question). So we get K = 50.6. So at 11.5 MW the frequency would be $$f = -0.05 * 11.5 + 50.6 = 50.025 Hz$$. But the actual answer is 50.083 Hz. I know I differ slightly from the actual answer, I was wondering if my understanding of the question was right or wrong.

What we know:

1. Droop is 5% at 100% load (15 MW)
2. Frequency is set at 50 Hz with a 12 MW load (so the No-Load frequency is higher than 50 Hz)

Note: This is what would be done practically with a generator. They are never run at 100% load, so typically would be used at some under rating. For example if the generator is running at 80% load, the speed would be set to provide 50 Hz at this load point. I've assumed here that this is what is meant by 12 MW @ 50 Hz ...not that 50 Hz is the no load speed.

12/15 = 0.8 (12 MW is 80% of full load)

Therefore Droop at 12 MW is: 0.8 * 5 = 4%

If the speed at 12 MW (50 Hz) has drooped 4 %, then the speed is 100 - 4 = 96% of full speed.

No-Load frequency: (50/96) * 100 = 52.0833 Hz

Note: 50/96 = 0.520833r Hz ...this represents the frequency drop for a 1% change in load. Since it's 6 decimals I chose to use 50/96 elsewhere in the calculations.

We now need to decide if the under frequency trip will operate at 15.5 MW (The question was corrected for this to be 48 Hz)

15.5/15 = 1.03 (15.5 MW is 103% of full load)

Therefore Droop at 15.5 MW is: 1.03 * 5 = 5.17%

Max frequency drop: (50/96) * 5.17 = 2.693 Hz

Frequency at 15.5 MW: 52.0833 - 2.693 = 49.39 Hz .....(this seems to indicate the under frequency trip of 48 Hz would not trip)

**** Speculation now. Let's assume that you have the number wrong in the question and that the frequency trip does trip.

The load on the generator is now as you specified: 2 * 4 + 3.5 = 11.5 MW.

11.5/15 = 0.767 (11.5 MW is 76.7% of full load)

Therefore Droop at 11.5 MW is 0.767 * 5 = 3.833%

Frequency drop at 11.5 MW: (50/96) * 3.833 = 1.997 Hz (we can round this up to 2)

Frequency at 11.5 MW: 52.0833 - 2 = 50.0833 Hz

****This seems to give what you said was the correct answer.....however by my calculations the frequency trip would not actuate.

What is Droop?

Droop is a governor characteristic that reduces fuel/throttle as the load increases. It is fixed at only 1 point, it's defined point. It is a slope defined for the genset. For example a 1500 rpm genset may droop 5% at full load. So the speed will drop 75 rpm to 1425 at full load. Since the frequency of the generator is related to the number of poles and speed....the frequency drops by 5% at full load. At 50 percent load the frequency drop (droop) would be 2.5%.

With the values calculated we can plot the droop for the question:

• Yes you are right, the tripping frequency was wrong, I must have typed it wrong, it is 48 Hz. But why are you multiplying droop by (50/96) and why does droop keeps changing with load ? – Vedanshu Jan 23 '17 at 8:46
• Droop is a constant at a defined level (typically 100%) of load. I've added to the answer. If the frequency dropout point is 48 Hz....then the load would not drop off, and I'd suggest that the answer is 49.39 Hz. I'd be arguing the question is wrong! – Jack Creasey Jan 23 '17 at 17:23

Droop characteristic shouldn't change. 4 MW will trip due to overload not due to frequency constrain. And you can solve it by drawing graph with 5% droop characteristic.