Open Distribution

Generator Specifications for Planning, Operations

Planning, and Real-time Models
Steady-state ratings
Dynamic parameters
Capability curves
Generator Step-up Transformer
Excitation system data
Governor system data
Version 0.3.2

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Open Distribution
Copyright © 2013 North American Transmission Forum. Not for sale or commercial use. All rights reserved.
Generator Specifications Open Distribution

Table of Contents
Introduction........................................................................................................................................................... 3
Audience… ........................................................................................................................ ……3
Section 1. Nameplate Information .................................................................................................................... 4
Inertia ..................................................................................................................................... 5
Section 2. Continuous Gross Output Ratings ................................................................................................... 12
Section 3. Generator Reactance and Time Constants ........................................................................................ 6
The Generator Model .......................................................................................................... 6
Generator Reactances ......................................................................................................... 6
Flux patterns and saturation .............................................................................................. 6
Synchronous Reactance ...................................................................................................... 7
Transient and Subtransient Reactance ............................................................................... 7
Generator Time Constants .................................................................................................. 9
Section 4. Rotor Characteristics ....................................................................................................................... 10
Section 5. Armature Characteristics ................................................................................................................ 11
General Information ............................................................................................................. 11
Armature Short-Circuit Time Constants ................................................................................ 11
Armature Winding Resistance .............................................................................................. 11
Appendix 1 – Symmetrical Components .............................................................................................................. 12
Appendix 2 – Transient Reactance Details ........................................................................................................... 15

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Generator Specifications Open Distribution

Introduction
This document explains the generator specifications that the generator owner provides
to the transmission planner for use in power flow, transient stability, and short-circuit
studies. It accompanies the Generator Specifications workbook.

Audience
The audiences for this document include:
1. Generator owners who provide the information to the transmission owners.
2. Transmission owners and planners who use this information in their planning
studies.
3. Operating engineers who also use this information in their operations planning
and real-time operating studies, including state estimators and contingency
analysis.
4. Anyone looking for a simple explanation of steady-state and transient generator
specifications.

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Generator Specifications Open Distribution

Section 1. Nameplate Information

This section comprises information about the generator’s electro-mechanical
specifications that’s found on its nameplate, including its pole arrangement, nameplate
ratings, and per-unit base values.
Prime mover. Generally, the generator’s prime mover and rotor type (cylindrical versus
salient-pole) are of little consequence in steady-state (power flow) analysis, but both
play a major role in the generator’s transient response.
Prime movers comprise high-speed steam and combustion turbines, hydro turbines,
diesel engines, and wind turbines. Photovoltaic generators aren’t considered as
having a prime mover in the classical sense, and this document does not cover those
resources.
The following table summarizes the prime movers’ and rotor characteristics that are
covered in this document.

Prime Mover Typical Rotor Type Rotor Speed Inertia Constant Comments
Steam Turbine Cylindrical High: 1800 or 3600 RPM High Stand-alone or back
end of combined cycle
generator
Combustion Cylindrical High: 1800 or 3600 RPM Fairly high
Turbine
Hydro Turbine Salient-pole Low: 120 RPM ± Highest
Diesel Engine ??? Low ???
Wind Turbine ??? Turbine: Low Lowest
Generator: High (geared)

Rotor type. Generally, steam and combustion

turbine generators are high-speed devices that use a
cylindrical rotor (Figure 1) with either two poles
(most common) or four poles (typical of nuclear
generators). Hydro turbine generators are usually
slow-speed devices that employ a salient pole rotor
(Figure 2) with multiple poles.
Rotor speed, RPM. The rotor speed in revolutions
per minute, RPM. The rotor speed is:
𝑝
𝑅𝑃𝑀 = (3600)
2
Where p = the number of poles.
Generator MVA rating. The rating in megavolt-
amperes, MVA, stamped on the generator nameplate.
Generator voltage, kV. The nameplate voltage Figure 1 - Cylindrical, two-pole generator.
produced at the armature leads.
Power factor, %. The power factor for maximum continuous output at which the
generator nameplate rating is calculated.
Cooling method. Generators typically employ air, hydrogen, or water cooling systems.
Hydrogen-cooled generator are sealed to prevent hydrogen leaks, and can operate at
various hydrogen pressures to increase the cooling capacity and, thus, allow the
generator to increase its MVA rating.

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Generator Specifications Open Distribution

Turbine nameplate rating, MWe. The

megawatt rating stamped on the turbine
nameplate that represents the maximum
output of the turbine (expressed as electrical
equivalent MW). The turbine is usually rated
higher than the generator.
Short-circuit ratio. The ratio of the field
current required for the rated voltage at open
circuit to the field current required for the
rated armature current at short circuit.
V-base and S-base. The per-unit voltage and
power base values provided by the
manufacturer.

Inertia
The inertia of the generator is the mechanical Figure 2 – Salient, multiple-pole generator.
energy stored in its rotating parts—the
turbine, generator, exciter1, and shaft. The generator’s inertia affects how it responds
mechanically (and, hence, electrically) to a disturbance on the transmission system. The
total inertia of all on-line generators, and where the generators are located, determines
the transient response of the entire transmission system.
Moment of inertia, J (Lb-ft2). The mechanical resistance of the generator to change its
state of rotation. The moment of inertia is related to the total mass of the rotating
components and their rotational speed, not the electrical rating of the generator.
Inertia constant, H (MW-seconds/MVA). The ratio of the total rotational energy stored
in the rotating components divided by the generator’s nameplate MVA rating:
1⁄ 𝐽𝜔2
2
𝐻= .
MVA

The inertia constant is more a function of the

prime mover than the generator, with wind
generators having the lowest inertia relative to
their electrical output, followed by combustion
and steam turbines, with hydro turbines the
highest.2 (See Figure 3), The inertia constant
normalizes the moment of inertia to the MVA Figure 3 - Relative inertia constants for each prime mover type. (Values
base, which means the inertia constant should be are only approximate.)
similar among generators using the same type of
prime mover regardless of size.

1Assuming the exciter is driven by the same prime mover as the generator. Exciters driven by a separate turbine do not
contribute to the inertia of the turbine-generator connected to the transmission system.
2 This should be fairly obvious given the size of the different kinds of prime movers.

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Generator Specifications Open Distribution

Section 2. Generator Reactance and Time Constants

The Generator Model
Like transformers, generators consist of two electromagnetic fields
that interact with each other; but unlike transformers, the fields are
rotating with respect to each other and the circular shape of the rotor
and armature allow the magnetic fields to spread out in multiple
directions. This is especially true for round-rotor generators (See
Figure 6), and less so for salient pole generators (See Figure 7) due to
the shape of the poles, which tends to channel the flux. Salient pole
rotors often have damper windings a well to minimize the shift in the
air-gap flux path when a short circuit is applied to the generator leads.

Figure 4 - Flux path on a round-rotor generator.

Figure 5 - Flux path on a salient-pole generator.

Generator Reactances
Flux patterns and saturation
The concepts of flux, flux saturation, and how the flux can be
represented along the direct and quadrature axes of the
armature and rotor are important key to understanding the
generator reactances.
Flux saturation
Flux saturation refers to the degree to which the rotor field or
armature “teeth” can accommodate additional magnetic flux,
which, in turn affects the value of the machine’s transient and
sub-transient reactances. When the generator’s flux paths are
unsaturated, a sudden change in armature current (either due to
a sudden load change or short circuit) is met with increased
reactance due to the additional flux produced in the rotor or
armature fields. Conversely, if the flux path is highly saturated, Figure 6 - Generator reactance can be depicted as having
changes in the armature current cannot contribute to the flux two components along the direct and quadrature axes of
build-up, which means the generator’s reactance is reduced. the windings. The coils shown in this diagram serve only
to represent the model of the generator and do not have
Direct and Quadrature Axes reactance values per se.
To accommodate the flux path patterns, we can represent the
electro-mechanical equivalents of the generator reactances by assuming they lie in two
directions: one along the direct axis of the rotor and armature windings and a second
one along the quadrature axis, which is at right angles to the direct axis. (See Figure 8).

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 Generator Specifications Open Distribution

Synchronous Reactance
Xdv Xqv
Xdi Xqi Synchronous reactance is the generator’s steady-
state reactance caused by a combination of the
armature winding leakage reactance plus the
reactance used to represent the armature reaction
to a short circuit. As shown in Figure 9, in the
linear part of the open circuit voltage curve, the
unsaturated synchronous reactance is constant. As
the machine saturates, synchronous reactance falls.
Synchronous reactance at a given field current (or
excitation voltage) can be estimated from the
gradient of the open circuit voltage and short circuit
current curves.3
The armature winding leakage reactance is
Xlm caused by the flux in the armature winding caused Figure 7 – The generator’s synchronous reactance is a function of the
by the armature (load) current, and its magnetic armature’s open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current.
path is normally not saturated.

Transient and Subtransient Reactance

The generator will exhibit subtransient and
X”dv X”qv
X”di X”qi
transient reactances when subjected to a short
circuit (See Figure 10) that can be seen as
X’dv X’qv
increases in the armature current. Furthermore,
X’di X’qi the damper effects of the round-rotor or damper
windings on the salient-pole rotor will cause an
even higher armature current to flow for the first
few cycles after the short circuit is applied (See
Figure 11). These initial instantaneous current
values are important for determining the
interrupting ratings of associated devices,
Figure 8 - Armature current immediately following a balanced, 3-phase
especially circuit breakers.
short circuit.
Balanced short circuits
If the short circuit is balanced (3-phase), then the
armature current will remain symmetrical around
the zero axis, and the phasor diagram of the rotor
current will comprise only positive sequence
components.
Unbalanced short circuits
When subjected to an unbalanced short circuit,
which includes one or two phases to ground or
phase-to-phase contact, the armature currents
become unbalanced, which is measured as a dc
armature current offset during the transient period
of the response. The magnitude of the dc offset
depends on where in the ac cycle the short circuit
occurs, and if the short occurs when the ac voltage is
zero, the dc component can be almost twice the Figure 9 - Details of the effects of the transient and
symmetrical current level. (See Figure 12.) subtransient reactances on armature current following a
balanced 3-phase short circuit.

3Excerpt from course taught by Professor Andy Knight, Energy Systems Group, University of Alberta. Used with
permission.

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 Generator Specifications Open Distribution

Negative sequence reactance results when there’s an unbalanced

X2v
X2i
short circuit applied to the generator terminals, the effect of which is
to cause an armature field that rotates counter, or negative, to the
field rotation direction. By using vector analysis, the resulting
reactance can be decomposed into positive and negative sequence
components.
The damper windings of a salient-pole rotor introduce considerable
losses, which can be represented by negative sequence reactance,
and tends to keep the generator more nearly loaded to its pre-fault
values so that after the fault is removed, the machine will remain
synchronized to the rest of the system.
Zero sequence reactance also results from an unbalanced short
X0v
circuit, but only for line-to-ground faults and only when the
X0i
generator has a grounded neutral. Thus, for generators without a
grounded neutral, the zero sequence reactance may be neglected. Figure 10 - Armature current immediately
following an unbalanced, 3-phase short circuit.
Typical Values – Round-rotor Generator The unbalanced armature current produces a dc
The following table shows typical values for a 230 MVA, air-cooled, component during the subtransient period.
round-rotor generator.

Reactances Direct Axis Quadrature Axis The synchronous

Parameter Symbol Value Units Value Units reactance, X, for the
direct axis is slightly more
Synchronous – saturated Xdv 2.0802 Xqv 2.0125 than for the quadrature
Synchronous – unsaturated Xdi 2.2767 Xqi 2.2026 axis for both the
saturated and
unsaturated conditions.
Armature Leakage - saturated Xlmv 0.1339
Armature Leakage - unsaturated Xlmi 0.1410

The subtransient
Subtransient – saturated X”dv 0.1448 X”qv 0.1432 reactance, X”, for the
direct and quadrature
Subtransient – unsaturated X”di 0.1680 X”qi 0.1661 axis are almost equal for
Transient – saturated X’dv 0.1968 X’qv 0.3726 both saturated and
unsaturated conditions.
Transient – unsaturated X’di 0.2236 X’qi 0.4234
Per-unit
Reactance
Negative Sequence – saturated X2v 0.1440
Negative Sequence – unsaturated X2i 0.1670
Zero Sequence – saturated X0v 0.0794
Zero Sequence – unsaturated X0i 0.0835

Typical Values – Salient-pole Generator

In general, the quadrature axis reactances of a salient-pole generator are much smaller
than the direct axis reactances due to the physical structure of the rotor (See Figure 7).
Furthermore:
 𝑋𝑞′ = 𝑋𝑞 and 𝑋𝑑" = 𝑋𝑞" (approximately) with damper windings
 𝑋𝑞" = 𝑋𝑞′ = 𝑋𝑞 (approximately) without damper windings

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Generator Specifications Open Distribution

Generator Time Constants

The generator’s time constants refer to the subtransient and transient time periods,
specified in seconds, immediately following either a short circuit or open circuit applied
to the armature terminals. (See Figure 13) The subtransient time periods, which are due
to the decay of current due to the damper effect in round rotors or the damper windings
in salient-pole rotors, are very short—lasting only cycles—compared to the transient
time periods of several seconds. The times are usually calculated for four events—the

Figure 11 - Generator time

constants for the subtransient
and transient periods. This plot
shows the short-circuit armature
current or the open-circuit
armature voltage.

opening of the generator’s terminals (open circuit), after which we follow the armature
voltage decay to its steady-state condition, and three types of short circuits from which
we follow the armature current decay. The three short circuits comprise a balanced, 3-
phase fault, and two unbalanced line-to-line and line-to-neutral (ground) faults.
Typical Values
The following table shows typical values for a 230 MVA, air-cooled round rotor
generator. Note that the subtransient time periods (T”) are on the order of cycles along
both the direct and quadrature axes, while the transient time periods (T’) are in seconds
along the direct axis, and tenths of a second along the quadrature axis.

Time Constants Direct Axis Quadrature Axis

Parameter Symbol Value Symbol Value Units
Subtransient - Open Circuit T”do 0.048 T”qo 0.910
Transient - Open Circuit T’do 9.029 T’qo 1.003

Subtransient - Line-to-Neutral Short Circuit T''d1 0.042 T”q1 0.056

Transient - Line-to-Neutral Short Circuit T’d1 1.517 T’q1 0.246 Seconds
Subtransient - Line-to-Line Short Circuit T”d2 0.040 T”q2 0.051
Transient - Line-to-Line Short Circuit T’d2 1.271 T’q2 0.221
Subtransient - Three-phase Short Circuit T”d3 0.035 T”q3 0.035
Transient - Three-phase Short Circuit T’d3 0.780 T’q3 0.170

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Generator Specifications Open Distribution

Section 3. Rotor Characteristics

The rotor characteristics are fairly straightforward, and apply to both round and salient-
pole rotors.
Field voltage. The dc voltage rating of the field winding, which is in the order of a few
hundred volts.
Rotor short time thermal capacity, K. A number that represents the ability of the
generator to withstand an unbalanced fault assuming negligible heat dissipation (hence,
the “short time” rating. It’s calculated as the integrated product of the square of the
negative sequence current, I2, at the generator’s rated output (MVA) and the duration of
the fault in seconds. Even though the RSTTC appears to have the value of amp2-seconds,
the value, which ranges from 5 to 30, isn’t given a unit. Generators subjected to faults of
more than twice the specified value can suffer serious damage.
Field current. The rotor current measured at two
points. One is at summer PMAX, which means the
summertime maximum continuous rating at the
rated power factor and generator voltage. The
other point is at also at the summertime
maximum continuous rating, but at zero power
factor. (See Figure 14)
Field winding resistance at the specified
temperature. The dc resistance at the
temperature the generator owner specifies. The
value is in the neighborhood of 0.1 to 0.2 ohms.

Figure 12 - The field current is measured at two operating points: 1. at the

rated P.F. and 2. At 0 P.F.

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 Generator Specifications Open Distribution

Section 4. Armature Characteristics

General Information
Armature connection. How the armature phases are connected, which can be
either a delta or wye configuration. The wye configuration allows the flow of
negative sequence current into the armature during phase-to-ground short circuits
if the center-point of the three phase windings is also grounded. (See Figure 15). The
delta configuration does not have a neutral connection, which means a delta
generator will not allow zero-sequence current to flow into the armature, and its
zero-sequence reactance can be ignored. (See Figure 16)
Armature current. The armature current at PMAX and rated power factor.
Three-phase armature winding capacitance. The capacitive reactance of the
generator.
Figure 13 - Wye-connected
armature allows negative
Armature Short-Circuit Time Constants sequence currents due to
Ta3 The armature short circuit time constants refers to the time for the dc current unbalanced short-circuits.
Ta2 component in the armature to decay following the application of a short circuit. The
Ta1 values are in tenths of a second, and are provided for a three-phase, phase-to-phase,
and phase-to-neutral fault.

Armature Winding Resistance

R1
R2 These values are the effective armature resistance as seen by positive, negative, and
R0 zero sequence currents, respectively.

Figure 14 - Delta-connected
armature.

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Generator Specifications Open Distribution

Section 5. Continuous Gross Output Ratings

The continuous output ratings comprise the gross real and
reactive power that is continuously available during the
summer, winter, and spring-fall seasons measured at the
generator terminal bus. (See Figure 5) The main differences
in these ratings are due to the ambient (air) and water
temperatures. The winter ratings for combustion turbine
generators are considerably higher (10% to 20%) due to the
lower air inlet temperatures, while ratings for steam
generators are slightly higher (around 5%) due to increased
efficiencies from the lower condenser water temperatures.
Provide the design ratings for planned generators, and
validated ratings for generators that are in service.
Power flow representations of generator reactive capability
generally start with what is commonly known as the ‘D-curve’ Figure 15 - The continuous output ratings are depicted
(see Figure 4). The models used, and the data requested in the on the "D-curve" of the generator.
worksheet, assume that the reactive power output is a
function of the real power output. Reactive capability is, in reality, affected by other
factors such as high-side transmission system voltages, hydrogen pressure, auxiliary bus
voltages, protection schemes, and so on. All these factors affect the ability of a particular
generator to supply or absorb reactive power. Today’s commonly used power flow
models presume a simplified generator model that ignores some, but not all, of these
factors, forming a piece-wise linear representation. Although some models can
accommodate many points to more accurately approximate the non-linear Q-P
relationship, modelers typically rely upon four key points to define the reactive
capability.
1. QMAX at rated PMAX should be specified at the nameplate power factor,
2. QMIN at PMAX is most often limited by protection schemes such as underexcitation
limiters but can be limited by the field windings or end-core heating (or both),
stability limits, etc.,
3. QMAX at PMIN is usually limited by armature windings or over-excitation or other
protection schemes, etc.,
4. QMIN at PMIN is usually limited by field windings or underexcitation limiters,
stability limits, etc.

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Generator Specifications Open Distribution

Figure 16 - The generator's continuous ratings are measured at the generator terminal bus.

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Generator Specifications Open Distribution

Appendix 1 – Symmetrical Components

During normal steady-state operation, the current in all three phases of the generator
armature are, for all practical purposes, balanced. However, when an unbalanced short-
circuit (phase-to-phase or phase-to-ground) is applied to the generator (or synchronous
condenser), the armature current loses its symmetry among the three phases.

Figure 17 - An unbalanced line-to-

ground short circuit causes positive,
negative, and zero sequence currents
to flow in the armature.

The following table lists four types of short circuits and the current (or voltage or
impedance) component(s) that result.

Type of Short Circuit Positive Sequence Negative Sequence Zero Sequence

Three-Phase Yes No No

Line-to-Line Yes Yes No

Line-to-Neutral Yes Yes Yes

Double Line-to-Neutral Yes Yes Yes

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Generator Specifications Open Distribution

Appendix 2 – Transient Reactance Details

By Larry Anderson, AEP
For generator modeling, there are only synchronous, transient, and subtransient d and
q-axis reactances. It is only the time constants that are designated as open-circuit or
short-circuit with the short circuit time constants normally derived from the open
circuit time constants and machine parameters. The significance of the time constants
can best be explained with the following linearized Laplace transfer functions for the
synchronous generator:

From transfer functions (1) and (3), we see that the effective d and q-axis inductances of
the generator looking into the stator terminals will vary with time as functions of the
open-circuit and short-circuit time constants. For these time constants, the sub-
transient quantities, denoted by ", are normally much smaller than the transient
quantities, denoted by '. During steady state conditions, with s = 0, we see from transfer
functions (1) and (3) that Ld(0) = Ld and Lq(0) = Lq which are the d and q-axis
synchronous inductances of the generator. During a rapid transient, as s tends to
infinity in transfer functions (1) and (3), the limiting values of L d(s) and Lq(s) are given
by the following:

These are just the d and q-axis subtransient inductances of the generator and represent
the machine's effective inductances immediately following a sudden change. For the
transient time period, as the machine is transitioning to a steady state from a sudden
change, if we ignore the sub-transient time constants in (1) and (3) and let s tend to
infinity, then the limiting values of Ld(s) and Lq(s) are given by:

These are just the d and q-axis transient inductances of the generator and represent the
machine's effective inductances during the time period when it is transitioning to steady
state following a sudden change.
Typically, the open-circuit time constants determine the rates of change of currents and
voltages when the machine is open circuited at its stator terminals. The short-circuit
time constants likewise determine the rates of change when the machine is short-

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Generator Specifications Open Distribution

circuited at its terminals. The short-circuit time constants are always smaller than their
associated open-circuit values.
Another interesting observation from transfer functions (4) and (5) during open-circuit
conditions follows:
For open circuit conditions, ∆id and ∆iq = 0. Therefore from transfer functions (4) and
(5), we see that only the d-axis stator flux, Yd, is nonzero for open circuit conditions.
This means that the terminal voltage of the generator will only have a d-axis component
and from transfer function (4), this component will respond to changes in field voltage,
efd, with time constants Td0' and Td0". (Remember that voltage is just the time derivative
of flux which is the same as multiplying transfer function (4) by the Laplace operator, s.)

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