Author(s)

Urban Lundin¹, Johan Bladh²

¹Division of Electricity, Department of Engineering Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
²Vattenfall AB, R & D Projects, Department of Power Technology, Alvkarleby, Sweden.

Reducing the overspeed during load rejection would benefit the mechanical and hydraulic systems in a hydropower station. This paper presents some selected results of a pilot installation of a dynamic braking system. The 4 MW dump load was installed and tested on a 10 MW Francis turbine unit. The results show that the overspeed reduction is obtained and compares well with simulation results. Further, a reduction in vibration levels is positive as well as the reduced time for stopping and possible resynchronization. It is argued that a similar system with continuous cooling could be used as an attractive alternative to spillway capacity.

Dynamic Braking Resistor, Electrode Boiler, Hydropower Generator, Runaway Speed, Water Turbine

Lundin, U. and Bladh, J. (2017) Demonstration of a Dynamic Braking System for Reduced Runaway Speed of Hydraulic Turbines. Journal of Power and Energy Engineering, 5, 46-57. doi: 10.4236/jpee.2017.512007.