Excitation controllers

Power system control essentially requires a continuous balance between electrical generation and a varying load demand, while maintaining system frequency, voltage levels and network security. However, plant disturbances can vary between minor and large imbalances in mechanical and electrical generated power, while the characteristics of a power system change significantly between heavy and light loading conditions, with varying numbers of generating units and transmission lines in operation at different times. The result is a highly complex and nonlinear dynamic system. Research studies have suggested a number of strategies to deal automatically with plant nonlinearities and plant ageing, perhaps the most significant of which is adaptive control. These methods can improve overall control of turbogenerator systems, extending their operational stability margins. The authors discuss adaptive control and neural network techniques in excitation controllers