Loss of Field (Excitation) of Generator-Its

Impact, protection practices and tripping

modes-A comprehensive Overview

Hafiz Shahzad Ahmad Mukhtar

Power Plant Electrical Maintenance Specialist, Amazon FBA PL Business, e-commerce

43 articles Follow
November 16, 2019

Loss of Field/Loss of Excitation is one of those hazards to which a generator may be

subjected that may not necessarily involve a fault in the synchronous generator.

This article covers situations which may lead to loss of excitation condition, effect of loss
of field on generator and system, the typical means for detecting this abnormal
operating condition and protection practices and tripping mode against this condition.

Article has been documented with following contents:

1.    Brief discussion about Post Loss of Field (Excitation) Scenario

2.    Situations to Generate Loss of field condition

2.1.    Loss of field during operation

2.2.    Inadvertent energization

3.    Effect of Loss of field on Generator and System healthiness

3.1.    Effect due to Loss of field during operation

3.2.    Effect due to Inadvertent energization

4.    Protection Practices for REDUCED OR LOST EXCITATION PROTECTION (40)

4.1.    LOSS OF EXCITATION PROTECTION WITH DISTANCE (21) R ELAYS

4.2.    LOSS OF EXCITATION PROTECTION WITH A VAR-TYPE RELAY

5.    Tripping modes

1.    Brief discussion about Post Loss of Field (Excitation) Scenario

Synchronous generators are not designed to be operated without dc excitation. Unlike

induction machines, the rotating fields are not capable of continuously handling the
circulating currents that can flow in the rotor forging, wedges, amortisseur windings,
and retaining rings during under excited or loss of field operation.

When a generator loses its excitation during normal operation, its speed increases by
some amount of up to 3 to 5% of normal. The amount of speed increase depends on
the generator’s load prior to losing its excitation. A lightly loaded unit will experience a
much smaller increase in speed than one fully loaded. Additionally, the stator current
will normally increase because the generator without its field will operate as an
induction machine, receiving its excitation VARs from the network. Accordingly, the
stator current may increase by up to 100% of its nominal value.

The increase in line current will be aggravated by the overheating of rotor components,
by the currents induced in the forging and damping winding if present, and by the
overheating of the stator core-end regions. A fully loaded unit that loses its field may
experience serious damage very quickly under these conditions. Therefore, the
protection against loss-of-field occurrences is set to alarm and trip the unit relatively
quickly.

During periods of high system voltages, the action of voltage regulators may reduce
field voltage to an extent that may cause the generator loss-of-field relay to operate or
the generator to lose synchronism with the system. A minimum excitation limiter is
applied to prevent such occurrences. Limiter action prevents any further reduction of the
exciter output voltage by action of the voltage regulator. The minimum excitation limiter
should be set such that limiting action occurs before operation of the associated loss-
of-field relaying. Correspondingly, loss-of-field relaying is set to operate before the loss
of steady-state stability. The minimum excitation limiter, however, should allow for
maximum leading power factor generator operation to provide support for the power
system during operating conditions when high system voltages need to be constrained.

Loss-of-excitation relays are normally included in the generator protection package to

protect the rotor from damage during underexcited operation. Impedance type relays
are usually applied to automatically trip the unit with a short time delays whenever the
VAR flow into the machine is excessive. Limits in the automatic voltage regulator should
be set to prevent loss-of-excitation relaying whenever the voltage regulator is in the
automatic mode of operation.

The machine should not be re-synchronized to the system following a loss-of excitation
trip until an investigation has been completed to determine the cause of the relay
operation. Given the complexity of modern excitation systems, unexplained events are
not that uncommon. Engineers or technicians should inspect the physical excitation
system, verify calibration of the loss of excitation relays, check the dc resistance of the
field-windings, and review any available data acquisition monitoring that would verify
the operating condition. The unit can then be started for test and proper operation of
the excitation system can be ascertained by operations before synchronizing the unit to
the system.

2.    Situations to Generate Loss of field condition

The source of excitation for a generator can be completely or partially removed through
below listed most common two situations:

2.1.  Loss of field during operation

There are a number of events that may result in an accidental removal of the source of
excitation to the generator. This can happen for both brushless and externally excited
units. For instance:
·      Accidental tripping of a field breaker,

·      Field open circuit,

·      Field short circuit (flashover of the slip rings),

·      Voltage regulation system failure, or

·      The loss of supply to the excitation system.

·      Human error for putting the AVR in manual mode and not controlling efficiently
while generator operation under power factor leading (Underexcited mode) 

2.2.  Inadvertent energization

This condition may arise when if a generator is at rest and the main generator three-
phase circuit breaker is accidentally closed connecting it to the power system, the
magnetic flux rotating in the airgap (gas gap) of the machine at synchronous speed will
induce large currents in the rotor. The rotor then will tend to start rotating as an
induction motor.

3.    Effect of Loss of field on Generator and System healthiness

3.1.  Effect due to Loss of field during operation

If for some reason the field current goes to zero while the generator is connected to the
system, the machine starts acting as an induction generator. The rotor operates at a
speed slightly higher than synchronous speed and slip-frequency currents are
developed. These penetrate deep into the rotor body because they are of low frequency.
Severe arcing between rotor components and heavy heating may result. The ends of the
stator core also experience heating due to stray fluxes in the end region, more severely
than for operation at underexcited power factor. Protection is commonly provided to
prevent or minimize the duration of this mode of operation, by the so-called loss-of-
field relay. Whatever the cause, a loss of excitation can present serious operating
conditions for both the generator and the system.

·      Gas/Steam Turbine Generators

When a synchronous generator loses excitation, it will overspeed and operate as an

induction generator. It will continue to supply some power to the system and it will
receive its excitation from the system in the form of VARs. The machine slip and power
output will be a function of initial machine loading, machine and system impedances,
and governor characteristic. High system impedances tend to produce a high slip and a
low power output.

If a generator is operating initially at full load when it loses excitation, it will reach a
speed of 2–5% above normal. The level of kVARS drawn from the system can be equal
to or greater than the generator kVA rating.

If a generator is initially operating at reduced loading (for instance, 30% loading), the
machine speed may only be 0.1–0.2% above normal and it will receive a reduced level of
vars from the system.

In general, the severest condition for both the generator and the system is when a
generator loses excitation while operating at full load. For this condition, the stator
currents can be in excess of 2.0 pu and, since the generator has lost synchronism, there
can be high levels of current induced in the rotor. These high current levels can cause
dangerous overheating of the stator windings and the rotor within a very short time. In
addition, since the loss-of-field condition corresponds to operation at very low
excitation, overheating of the end portions of the stator core may result. No general
statements can be made with regard to the permissible time a generator can operate
without field; however, at speeds other than synchronous, it is very short.

With regard to effects on the system, the VAR drain from the system can depress system
voltages and thereby affect the performance of generators in the same station, or
elsewhere on the system. In addition, the increased reactive flow across the system can
cause voltage reduction and/or tripping of transmission lines and thereby adversely
affect system stability.\

When a lightly loaded machine loses field, the effects will be less damaging to the
machine, but the var drain may still be detrimental to the system.

·      Hydro Generators

Due to saliency, the normal hydro generator may carry 20–25% of normal load without
field and not lose synchronism. The actual load carrying capability is a function of
machine and system characteristics. Also, operation with nearly zero field and at
reduced load is often necessary to accept line charging current. However, if a loss of
field occurs when a hydro generator is carrying full load, it will behave and produce the
same effects as a steam turbine generator. High stator and induced field currents may
damage the stator winding, the field windings and/or the amortisseur windings and the
unit will impose a VAR drain on the system.
3.2.  Effect due to Inadvertent energization

If a generator is at rest and the main generator three-phase circuit breaker is

accidentally closed connecting it to the power system, the magnetic flux rotating in the
airgap (gasgap) of the machine at synchronous speed will induce large currents in the
rotor. The rotor then will tend to start rotating as an induction motor. The very high
currents induced in the rotor will tend to flow in its surface, in the forging, wedges and
retaining rings. As the rotor accelerates the currents will penetrate deeper and deeper.
The maximum of damage occurs while the speed is low and the large currents
concentrate in a thin cross section around the surface of the rotor (due to the skin
effect). The temperatures generated by the large currents, flowing in a relatively small
cross section of the rotor, create very large temperature differentials and large
mechanical stresses within the rotor. Areas most prone to damage are at the ends of the
circumferential flex slots. Other areas are the wedges and, in the body-mounted
retaining rings, the area where the rings touch the forging and the end wedges.

The initial stator current supplied from the power system will also be very high, but the
most vulnerable part of the generator is the rotor. As the rotor speed rises, stresses
increase at the same time that the temperatures of the stressed regions also increase
due to circulating rotor body currents. Generators have been destroyed from this event,
as extreme temperatures reduce the component material strengths. The internal rotor
components are so weakened that they cannot handle the applied loads any longer. The
result can be that the rotor wedges or retaining rings fail. Therefore, protection is
needed for the generator, even when it is out of service, to prevent or at least limit
motoring from rest.

Overheated ends of the circumferential flex slots can over time develop cracks in the
forging, compromising its integrity. Heating of the ends of the stator core is strongly
affected by stray magnetic flux in the end region. This field is complex and is affected by
the magnitudes and angular positions of the current in the stator and rotor windings.

4.    Protection Practices for REDUCED OR LOST EXCITATION PROTECTION (40)

The most widely utilized method of protecting against loss-of-field conditions is that
relying on impedance elements. They are based on the fact that the impedance seen
from the terminals of the machine follows a distinctive pattern when the field is lost
(refer below figure- Impedance trajectories followed by a loss-of-field event, depending
on the load state of the unit prior to the occurrence, as seen at the terminal of the
generator).

Sometimes two relays are used, each looking at the impedance within a different region
of operation, so that a loss-of-field condition is captured regardless of the level of pre-
fault loading. Sensing the field current directly or sensing the VAR power flowing into
the generator is sometimes used for alarm and trip, but mainly for alarm and rarely as
primary protection.

There are different requirements on how to design and set a protection system against
loss of field, depending on the type of machine arrangement (tandem, cross-compound,
double winding, etc.).
4.1.  LOSS OF EXCITATION PROTECTION WITH DISTANCE (21) R ELAYS

Protection to avoid unstable operation, potential loss of synchronism, and possible

damage is important and is applied for all synchronous machines. Such protection is
included in the excitation system supplied with the machine, but additional protection is
recommended to operate independently, as both supplemental and backup protection.
Distance relays are applied for this purpose.

Normally, the generator field is adjusted so that slightly lagging power is shipped into
the system. Below figure provides an overview of synchronous machine operation:

Lagging power shown in the first quadrant is the normal operating area. When the
excitation (field) is reduced or lost, the current moves into the fourth quadrant. In this
quadrant, the system must supply the missing reactive power. Synchronous generators
have low or reduced stability in this area. If the system can suppl y sufficient inductive
reactive power without a large voltage drop, the unit may run as an induction operator.
Otherwise, synchronism is lost. This change is not instantaneous, but occurs over a
period, depending on the unit and connected system. If the field was accidentally
tripped, early al rm may permit the operator to restore it and to avoid a valuable and
time-consuming shutdown and restart. If the field is not promptly restorable, the unit
should be shutdown. Generators have characteristics known as capability curves. Typical
curves are shown in below Figure a.

Temperature limits are primarily zones, so these curves are the designer’s thermal limit.
As overheating varies with operation, three arcs of circles define the limits. In one area
of operation, the limit is the overheating in the rotor windings; in another, in the stator
windings; and in the third, in the stator iron. Generators should be operated cautiously
in the leading or negative reactive zone. The added limit here is the steady- state
stability limit (SSSL).

This is defined as a circle arc where the offset (center) and radius are
Where V is the generator line-to- neutral terminal voltage, X the total equivalent
impedance of the connected system, and Xd is the synchronous unsaturated reactance.
These are power limits usually expressed in per unit, with Xs and Xd on the generator
base. This steady- state stability curve is typically as shown in above Figure a. It will vary
with the generator and the system connected, as well as with the voltage. Although the
system and voltage will vary during operation, these are usually relatively small for a
given system.

The generator excitation system has a minimum excitation limiter (known as the under
excited reactive ampere limit) to prevent the exciter regulator from reducing the field
below its set point. This is characteristically set just above the steady-state stability (see
Figure b).
For application of a distance relay, these power curves must be converted to
impedances for plotting on the R–X axes.

Rc and Rv are the current and voltage transformer ratios used for the distance relay,
respectively. If the plot is made in primary ohms, the Rc/Rv factor woul d not b e used.
From a value of MVA at the angle indicated from the capability curve , a converts this to
ohms . This converted value is plotted on the R–X diagram at that angle. This conver
sion is shown in Figure b for both the under excited capability curves and the stability
curve .

For the stability curve, the conversion can be made easier if the value of Xs and Xd are
known. Then, the stability circle center (offset) from the origin is 1/2(Xd-Xs ) and the
radius is 1/2(Xd + Xs ). If the plot is in secondary ohms , Xd and Xs must be in secondary
ohms as per above equation.

In the R–X diagram of Figure b, the origin is at the generator terminals, with Xd plotted
below the origin and X s plotted above; also, that particular increasing o r higher power
is indicated by a longer distance from the origin in Figure a, but by the shorter
impedance vector in Figure b. Thus, in the power diagram (Figure a), safe-operating
power is within the capability and stability curves, but outside the curves in Figure b. The
minimum excitation limiter operates on a power level lesser than the stability limit. The
normal operating area is as shown in Figure b. With reduced excitation or loss of
excitation, the impedance phasor moves slowly as the flux decreases into the fourth
quadrant. A distance relay (40) enclosing this area provides a good means of detecting
this condition. Several setting modes are available.

4.1.1. For complete loss of field,

 the distance relay is set as illustrated by the smaller circle in Figure b. The diameter is
the order of Xd, with the upper part of the circle 50%–7 5% of Xd’ below the origin. Xd’
is the transient reactance of the generator. The relay operates when the impedance
vector moves into this circle.

Operating times of about 0.2–0.3 sec are used with a comple te shutdown of the
generator.

4.1.2. To detect low excitation, partial loss, or complete loss,

the diameter is set preferably inside the minimum excitation limiter setting, but outside
the generator capability and stability limit curves. This is shown by the larger-diameter
dotted circle. It is not always easy to make this setting as suggested; good judgment
and compromise may be necessary. A directional unit is required to avoid operation of
nearby faults and stable transient swings. Relay (40) operation is below the dashed
directional line and within the larger dashed operating circle. Wherever applicable, an
undervoltage unit set to drop out between 87% and 80% of normal voltage is used to
supervise the relay operation. If the power system can supply reactive power to the
generator without a significant drop in voltage, an alarm is set off for possible corrective
action, followed by a shutdown trip after a particular time delay. Typical delays used vary
with machine and system, but are 10 sec to 1 min.

If the voltage drops below the voltage unit setting, tripping is initiated with operating
times about 0.2–0.3 sec.

4.1.3.  For large, important generator units, a combination of (4.1.1) and (4.1.2) is used
by applying two (40) loss-of-field relays.

4.2.  LOSS OF EXCITATION PROTECTION WITH A VAR-TYPE RELAY

A directional power relay connected to operate on inductive vars from the connected
system can be applied to detect loss of excitation. An application is shown in below
figure

where the relay has an 8 degree characteristic. Normal synchronous generator operation
is kilowatt (kW;MW) power with inductive vars flowing into the connected system. When
the generator field is reduced or lost, the system will attempt to supply inductive vars to
continue operation as an induction generator. Thus, the generator current will move into
the leading area (vars from system) to operate the var relay as shown. A 0.2 sec time
delay is recommended to prevent operation on transient conditions.

Unnecessary operation of the distance relay schemes for this condition can be
prevented by supervising the schemes with either an undervoltage relay or an
overfrequency relay.

The dropout level of this undervoltage relay would be set at 90–95% of rated voltage
and the relay would be connected to block tripping when it is picked up and to permit
tripping when it drops out.

The overfrequency relay would be set to pick up at 110% of rated frequency and would
be connected to block tripping when it is picked up and to permit tripping when it
resets.

When two or more machines are tied together at machine voltage level, including cross-
compound units, any undervoltage unit supervising loss-of-field must be set higher or
have its contacts shorted, because the voltage regulator and excitation system of the
good machine(s) will maintain the voltage.

On small generators, loss of field may be detected by sensing the magnitude of field
current, or by a power relay connected to sense var flow into the generator or by
sensing power factor angle in excess of some angle, such as 30N underexcited. These
devices tend to be less secure than the distance relay approach and therefore are often
used just to sound an alarm.

5.    Tripping modes

The loss-of-field protection is normally connected to trip the main generator breaker(s)
and the field breaker and transfer unit auxiliaries. The field breaker is tripped to
minimize damage to the rotor field in case the loss of field is due to a rotor field short
circuit or a slip ring flashover. With this approach, if the loss of field were due to some
condition that could be easily remedied, a tandem compound generator could be
quickly resynchronized to the system.

This approach may not be applicable with once-through boilers, with cross-compound
units, or those units that cannot transfer sufficient auxiliary loads to maintain the boiler
and fuel systems. In these cases, the turbine stop valves would also be tripped. Cross-
compound units with directly interconnected stator circuits can be resynchronized with
the system only if the units are in synchronism with each other. If the units are out of
synchronism, normal starting procedures must be used to return the units to the line.
However, recent developments in the industry have established that it may be possible
to resynchronize some cross-compound generators after an accidental trip without
returning the two generators to turning gear speed.

This procedure should be established only after very careful consideration with the
manufacturer. See IEEE Std 502-1985 for further details on tripping.