CHAPTER 11 Electrical Systems
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1 CHAPTER 11 Electrical Systems Prepared by Dr. Jin Jiang1 Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering Western University Summary This chapter covers grid requirements, station power systems, and major electrical components in CANDU nuclear power plants (NPP). Grid requirements at an NPP location are discussed in terms of reliability and availability of off-site power, the need for a secure electricity supply for the electrical generation process, and the role of electricity in ensuring the safety of CANDU nuclear power plants. The chapter also describes the operating principles of the major pieces of electrical equipment found in a CANDU plant. The chapter is divided into four parts. In the first part, general and nuclear safety-based principles and practices for the design of electrical systems in CANDU 6 plants are listed. In the second part, the main electrical connection to the power grid is explained. The concepts of switchyard, protection schemes, grid connection, and synchronization are also addressed from a CANDU NPP point of view. The chapter considers situations involving electric power production during normal operation, as well as power consumption for maintaining plant safety during shutdowns. The relationship between internal station power, generated power, and grid power is clarified in light of reactor safety. The third part discusses the internal plant electrical system. The section offers a detailed classification of power sources by their reliability levels and explains the interrelationships among them. The section also provides a justification for the classification of these power sources and introduces the concepts of DC power sources, standby power supplies, and emergency power systems. The final section briefly introduces the major electrical systems and devices in a CANDU plant, including the generator, transformers, voltage/current transducers, and circuit breakers. The section first explains the operating principles of these systems and devices and then provides their specific ratings and designs in a CANDU plant. To facilitate learning, a list of exercises has been compiled at the end of the chapter. The reader 1 with contributions of Sections 1.1, 1.2, 3.3, 3.7, 3.8, and 3.9 from Mr. Alek Josefowicz, P.Eng., CANDU Energy (Retired) ©UNENE, all rights reserved. For educational use only, no assumed liability. Electrical Systems – August 2015 2 The Essential CANDU should attempt to answer these questions to gain further understanding of the materials presented. Additional information on electrical systems in nuclear power plants can also be obtained through the list of key references provided at the end of the chapter. It is important to note that electrical systems may vary slightly in different CANDU plants. For example, some diagrams may show elements of shared systems, the CANDU 6, as a single unit design where the design principles exclude sharing except for the switchyard. The main goal of this chapter is to provide a basic knowledge of electrical systems in a CANDU plant, rather than to examine details of a specific plant. Learning outcomes The goal of this chapter is to provide students with a clear understanding of the importance of the availability of electrical power for maintaining the safety of a nuclear power plant under conditions different from the normal mode of operation, but which are, however, within the conditions evaluated in the safety analysis report. Students should be able to explain why grid power is as important to the safety of an NPP as the power output from the NPP is to the grid. Students should be able to identify any deficiency in the reliability of the power grid at the power station location. Students should be able to read the station power distribution diagram by identifying different classes of power sources, i.e., Class I through Class IV. They should also be able to match the names of the safety-related systems with the corresponding power classes. Students should be able to describe the relationships among the different classes of power sources. Students should be able to explain the functionalities of both standby generators and the emergency power system. Students should be able to list the major systems involved in power generation and transmission. Students should be able to explain the principles of energy conversion from mechanical energy to electrical energy through synchronous generators. Students should be able to describe the functionality and working principles of the excitation and cooling systems of the synchronous generators. Students should be able to describe the working principles of transformers and voltage/current transducers, as well as to identify where in the plant they are used. ©UNENE, all rights reserved. For educational use only, no assumed liability. Electrical Systems – August 2015 Electrical Systems 3 Students should be able to identify and describe the different types of circuit breakers and disconnect switches. Finally, students should be able to explain how the generated electricity is delivered to millions of customers. Table of Contents 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 6 1.1 General............................................................................................................................ 6 1.2 Nuclear Safety-Based Design Principles and Practices for a CANDU EDS ...................... 6 2 Electrical Power Grids and their Connection with an NPP ..................................................... 7 2.1 A Holistic View of Electrical Systems between an NPP Station and the Grid................. 7 2.2 Unique Grid Power Requirements for NPP Safety.......................................................... 8 2.3 Switchyard between the Grid and a CANDU NPP Station .............................................. 9 2.4 Summary......................................................................................................................... 9 3 Electrical Systems Internal to a CANDU Plant....................................................................... 10 3.1 Sources of Electrical Power for CANDU NPP Station Use............................................. 10 3.2 Class Definition of Power Sources ................................................................................ 11 3.3 Channelization .............................................................................................................. 13 3.4 Electrical Power Sources under Different Classes ........................................................ 14 3.4.1 Class I......................................................................................................................... 14 3.4.2 Class II........................................................................................................................ 15 3.4.3 Class III ...................................................................................................................... 16 3.4.4 Class IV ...................................................................................................................... 16 3.5 Load Transfer among Different Buses .......................................................................... 17 3.6 Standby Generators (SGs)............................................................................................. 19 3.7 Emergency Power Systems (EPS).................................................................................. 20 3.8 Grounding and Lightning Protection ............................................................................ 20 3.9 Control of Electrical Loads ............................................................................................ 21 3.9.1 Loads powered from switchgear .............................................................................. 21 3.9.2 Loads powered from the MCC.................................................................................. 21 3.9.3 Class IV and Class III loads......................................................................................... 22 3.9.4 Class II and Class I loads............................................................................................ 22 3.9.5 EPS loads ................................................................................................................... 22 3.10 Summary....................................................................................................................... 22 4 Main Electrical Components in a CANDU Plant.................................................................... 23 4.1 Generators .................................................................................................................... 23 4.1.1 Basic principle ........................................................................................................... 23 4.1.2 Generators in a CANDU plant ................................................................................... 26 4.1.3 Excitation system ...................................................................................................... 27 4.1.4 Excitation transformer in a CANDU plant................................................................. 28 4.1.5 Cooling and protection systems ............................................................................... 29 4.2 Transformers................................................................................................................