Influence of Hydro Plant Design on Regulating and Reserve Response Capacity

This paper describes the load response characteristics of two hydro-electric plants having relatively complex hydraulic layouts. The results of plant response simulations are used to illustrate the way in which plant design features influence the role that hydro-electric plants can play in the response of the power system to generation deficiencies. In particular, it is emphasized that the setting of plant operating and reserve policies must involve careful consideration of plant hydraulic characteristics if the inherently good response characteristics of the hydraulic turbine are to be used to the full.