Prime-Mover Speed Governors for Interconnected Systems

Abstract

System operating requirements, from the standpoint of frequency and tieline loading, are continually becoming more rigorous and receiving more widespread attention. Supplementary controls have been developed to assist in the solution of these problems-but the speed governors of the prime movers still constitute the backbone of system control. This paper outlines the general problems encountered; gives definitions of terms for both steam and hydro governors and discusses the performance characteristics of these two general classes of prime movers. As a result of discussions with several operating groups certain definite conclusions were reached for prime-mover governor characteristics on the larger systems, viz., dead band should be as small as practicable; uniform incremental regulation desirable; adjustable regulation not necessary; similar rates of response not necessary and accurate response to supplementary control desirable. These conclusions are supported by the analytical work presented in the companion paper.⁷ A summary of the reasoning supporting these conclusions under the subjects of stability, dead band, regulation, response, short circuits, and tie-line swings is included.