Installation and testing of a prototype digital governor at Mt. Elbert powerplant

Several new algorithms for speed governing and load control of large hydroelectric generators have been developed and applied at Mt. Elbert pumped-storage power plant. The major benefits include enhanced control of power system frequency and unit power output while simultaneously reducing governor activity and wear. Traditional governors (including mechanical-hydraulic, analog-electronic, and digital-electronic) incorporate PI (proportional-integral) or PID (proportional-integral-derivative) feedback controllers. While these controllers are adequate for regulating the speed of a hydroelectric generator, they do not take into account the vast differences between offline, online interconnected and isolated (or islanded) governing. Algorithms have been developed that are tailored to each of these situations and that automatically detect the proper mode to use. Algorithms for bus frequency and phase matching during synchronizing, rapid and smooth load ramping for interconnected operation, and isolated or islanded operation detection have been developed and tested