Experimental Study on the Optimal Strategy for Power Regulation of Governing System of Hydropower Station

Active power instability during the power regulation process is a problem that affects the operation security of hydropower stations and the power grid. This paper focuses on the dynamic response to power regulation of a hydro-turbine governor in the power control mode. Firstly, the mathematical model for the hydro-turbine governing system connected to the power grid is established. Then, considering the effect of water hammer and the guide vane operating speed on power oscillation and reverse power regulation, a novel control strategy based on the S-curve acceleration and deceleration control algorithm (S-curve control algorithm) is proposed to improve power regulation. Furthermore, we carried out field tests in a real hydropower station in order to compare the regulation quality of the novel control strategy based on the S-curve control algorithm with the traditional linear control strategy. Finally, the obtained results show that the proposed optimal control strategy for the hydro-turbine governor improves the stability of power regulation by effectively suppressing reverse power regulation and overshoot. This study provides a good solution for the instability of power and reverse power regulation during the regulation process of the hydro-turbine governor in the power control mode.