2016 International Conference on Smart Grid and Clean Energy Technologies
Power Flow Monitoring and Analysis for 24.6 MW at 6.9 kV Bus Diesel Power Plant
(DPP) Using ETAP
Supachai Klungtong
Electrical Engineering Department, Faculty of
Engineering, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology
Ladkrabang, Bangkok, THAILAND, 10520
e-mail: supachaik@gmail.com
Abstract—It is obvious that power flow study and analysis are
important to any kind of electrical power system engineering.
The main purpose of this research paper is to study and
analyze the power flow and system stability of the 24.6 MW
Diesel Power Plant (DPP) which is the cement manufacture
located in Cambodia at 6.9 kV bus using the commercial
electrical transient analysis program called ETAP. S uch a
power plant comprises of four diesel generators with the
generation capacity of 6,150 kW each. There are three
outgoing feeders to different load type in various processes in
this manufacture. Power flow study and analysis in this paper
includes steady-state conditions to assure the voltage drop,
voltage regulation, active and reactive power flow limits,
transformer capabilities, cable sizing, and power factor at all
connection points. Four cases of operations are in
consideration in this research. All diesel engine generators
assume to be operating in isochronous load sharing control.
Nominal system voltage is at 6.6 kV plus/minus 5%. Maximum
continuous operating voltage of the interest island system is
105% of 6.6 kV and minimum continuous operating voltage is
95% of 6.6 k V nominal system voltages. All motors loads are
IEC standard design, typical motor load data from ETAP
software database is used for this study. The simulation results
will be shown here in this paper. The simulation results
analysis, discussion and conclusion are also illustrated.
Keywords-power flow; system stability; ETAP; diesel power
plant (DPP)
I. INT RODUCT ION
This paper presents an analysis power flow study for the
overall electrical power system of the 24.6MW Diesel Power
Plant (DPP) project. The DPP project comprises of diesel
engine power plant at 6.9kV who supplies power to cement
manufacture located in Cambodia. The studies are find cause
of problem in DPP operation for supplying electric power
fro m DPP to Main Po wer Plant (MPP) and recommend the
practical solutions.
Recent advances in engineering and sciences have
brought a revolution in the field of electrical engineering
after the development of powerful computer based software.
Many papers has been report in the literature [1]-[3] focusing
on the power system studies using software tools. The
analysis and calculation using software is accurate and gives
highly reliable results. This paper makes effective using
ETAP program (Electrical Transient Analyzer Program) to
978-1-4673-8904-4/16/$31.00 ©2016 IEEE
Chow Chompoo-inwai
Electrical Engineering Department, Faculty of
Engineering, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology
Ladkrabang, Bangkok, THAILAND, 10520
e-mail: chompooc@gmail.com
carry out electrical power flow analysis of diesel engine
power plant. The software is a suit of fully integrated
software solutions including loadflow, short circuit, motor
starting, cable ampacity, relay coordination, grounding
system study, etc., and transient stability studies. Power flow
study for this paper is the electrical power system analysis at
the steady-state condition to check and confirm voltage drops,
voltage regulations, active power and reactive power flow
limits, transformers capacities, cables sizing, power factor at
the interconnection point, etc., for various operating
scenarios.[4]
II. SINGLE LINE DIAGRAM OF CASE UNDER ST UDY
Fig. 1 shows the single line diagram of the co mplete
power system which is under study. DPP has four diesel
engine generators operating as power island supplying
electric power to their customer, the Main Power Plant
(MPP), through 6.9 kV feeders. MPP also has steam turbine
generator operating in parallel with DPP. DPP exports power
through three outgoing feeders BAO901, BAO902, and
BAO903 to MPP. At MPP, there is 6.6 kV 7,500 kVA steam
turbine connected to 6.9 kV substations which is also
supplied from DPP power plant through feeder BAO901.
DPP
Diesel Diesel Diesel Diesel
Generator 1 Generator 2 Generator 3 Generator 4
6.9kV Main Bus
MPP
6.9kV
Substation 1
6.9kV
Substation 2
6.9kV
Substation 3
6.9kV Main Bus
Figure 1. Single line diagram of case under study.
DPP has the intention to investigate the problem and
cause of high diesel fuel cost spent on diesel engine
generators of DPP supplying power to client, MPP, who a lso
has steam turbine generator operating in parallel with DPP
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diesel power plant. From DPP operation in some period, it
was recognized by DPP that there were low operating loads
at MPP which such condition caused almost no or reversed
active power exported from DPP to MPP through feeder no.
BAO901. Ho wever, the reactive power was still kept being
exported fro m DPP to MPP. The operating load profiles for
these scenarios are as shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 [5].
Fro m Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 referring to past 7 months , we
have investigated the load flow in and out on feeder BAO901
and found that:
-In certain period of t ime there is reactive load (Var) flow
out (export to MPP) but there is no active load (Watt) flow
out from DPP.
-In certain period of time there is active load (Watt) flow
in (import to MPP) but there is a reactive load (Var) flow out
from DPP.
(DPP to MPP)
Figure 2. T he energy flow DPP to MPP.
Figure 3. T he energy flow DPP to MPP.
Fig. 3. Red arrows indicate where there are an oppos ite
load flow between an active power and reactive power (DPP
import an active power while export a reactive power).
A. Single Line Diagram of Case under Study
The followings are the assumptions used in this study.
 All diesel engine generators operate in isochronous
load sharing control.
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 Steam turbine operates in droop mode.
 Generator impedances and time constants data are
the actual impedance data furnished from generator
manufacturers.
 System frequency is 50 Hz.
 Nominal system voltage is 6.6kV since the island
power plant nominal system voltage is dictated by
generator rated voltage which is 6.6kV+/-5%. 6.9kV
is not the generator rated voltage and is already at
+4.5% of generator rated voltage.
 Maximu m continuous operating voltage of island
system is 105% of 6.6kV no minal system voltage
and minimu m continuous operating voltage is 95%
of 6.6kV nominal system voltage.
 All motors are IEC standard design, typical motor
data from ETAP software database is used for
studying.
 LV loads are considered as lu mp loads with 80%
accounted for motor loads and 20% as static loads.
B. Main Electrical Equipment Technical Data
The here below are the main technical data of major
electrical equipment used in the study.
 Diesel Engine Generator is Wartsila type 16V32LN
coupled with ABB salient pole generator type AMG
0900LP08 DSE having, 6.6 kV, 7,237 kVA, 8-pole,
750 RPM rated speed, 0.80 rated lagging power
factor and 1.0 rated leading power factor.
 Steam Turbine Generator is designed and
manufactured from Shandong Jinan Power
Equip ment Factory, China, type QFW-6-2, high
speed, condensing turbine coupled with cylindrical
rotor generator having 2-pole, 3,000 RPM rated
speed, 7,500 kVA, 6,000 kW rated power, 0.80 rated
lagging power factor and 0.95 rated leading power
factor.
III. A CCEPT ANCE CRIT ERIA
Acceptance criteria for each type of study are stipulated
herein for every study cases applicable for each type of study.
A. Loadflow Study
A loadflow analysis allows identification of real and
reactive power flows, voltage profiles, power factor, on-load
tap changer operating range and any overloads, over-
excitations or under-excitations in the power plant network.
The acceptance criteria for loadflow study are as follows;
 Vo ltages at all buses during normal plant operation
are to be regulated within +/-5% of no minal bus
voltage at maximum loading condition.
 Maximu m voltage drop at main bus is not higher than
2% of nominal bus voltage.
 Maximu m voltage drop at terminal of load is not
higher than 5% of nominal bus voltage.
  No overloading condition exists for all electrical
equipment e.g. generator, transformers, switchgears,
cables, etc.
 No reversed power condition exists for all generators.
 No under/over-excitation condition presented on all
generators.
IV. CASE ST UDIES
Study cases are established for various possible practical
scenarios in plant operations.
A. Case Study 1
This is the operating case when MPP is operating during
normal operation at maximu m loading condition. MPP steam
turbine generator operates in base load control, droop mode
with excitation system operating in power factor control. The
amount of exported power is dependent upon the operating
set point given by operator. Three diesel engine generators of
DPP operate in isochronous load sharing control with
excitation system operating in automatic voltage control, the
other is in standby.
B. Case Study 2
This is the case when MPP operating at a certain loading
condition which MPP loads seems to be min imu m causing
almost no active power exported from DPP to MPP power
plant through line BAO901 with lagging power factor. MPP
steam turbine generator operates in base load control, droop
mode with excitation system operating in power factor
control. The amount of exported power is dependent upon
the operating set point given by operator. Two diesel engine
generators operate in isochronous load sharing control with
excitation system operating in automatic voltage control, the
other two generators are in standby.
C. Case Study 3
This is the case when MPP operating at a certain loading
condition which MPP loads s eems to be min imu m causing
reversed power fro m M PP plant to DPP power p lant through
line BAO901 with lagging power factor. MPP steam turbine
generator operates in base load control, droop mode with
excitation system operating in power factor control. The
Figure 4. Case Study 1.
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amount of exported power is dependent upon the operating
set point given by operator two diesel engine generators
operate in isochronous load sharing control with excitation
system operating in automatic voltage control, the other two
generators are in standby.
D. Case Study 4
This is the case when MPP operating at a certain loading
condition which MPP loads seems to be min imu m causing
reversed power fro m M PP plant to DPP power p lant through
BAO901 line with lagging power factor. MPP steam turbine
generator operates in base load control, droop mode with
excitation system operating in power factor control. The
amount of exported power is dependent upon the operating
set point given by operator. Three diesel engine generators
operate in isochronous load sharing control with excitation
system operating in automat ic voltage control, the other
generator is in standby.
V. SIMULAT ION RESULT
A. Loadflow Study Summary
Fro m the results of loadflow studies, Case 1 to Case 3
shown in Fig. 4 to Fig. 6 respectively, DPP operates at high
loading condition and since the fuel consumption depends
upon the active power output but not reactive power output,
these three cases should not be the concerned case of the
problem for high fuel consumption. The worst case scenario
is likely to be Case 4 shown in Fig.7 which it is assumed that
maximu m nu mbers of diesel generators are in operation
while MPP plant steam turbine generator delivers power at
its maximu m continuous rated power. It is realized that
steam turbine at MPP operates in base load control and the
excitation system operates in power factor control which the
set point are to be set by MPP operator. The excitation
system power factor set point is set at nearly 1.0 or 1.0 PF.
DPP operates as swing source operating in isochronous
frequency control mode and excitation system operates in
automatic voltage control mode to supplement the shortfall
of MPP cement plant loads. Both DPP and MPP generators
operate in parallel to supply most of MPP cement plant loads.
Figure 5. Case Study 2.

Figure 6. Case Study 3.

Figure 7. Case Study 4.

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 In normal operation, three diesel engine generators at maximu m nu mbers of generators operating at high
DPP operate in parallel with load sharing control function loading condition.
and the other is in standby (shutdown). During steady state
operation when MPP load does not abruptly decrease, The followings are the recommendations for the possible
solutions.
one diesel engine generator will be s hutdown depending on
the scheduled load profile given fro m MPP. However, A. Performance test for diesel engine generator efficiency.
recently there were the abrupt loads variations at MPP plant
Since there is no guarantee efficiency from Wartsila who
resulting in difficulty in power flow control at DPP power
is diesel engine manufacturer for low load operation
plant.
especially at load below 75% of the engine rated power, in
The result of MPP operation as base load and MPP
order to understand the expense occurred during pats period
power plant operates as swing source causes MPP power
of high fuel consumption, it is recommended that d iesel
plant operates to supplement the shortfall or absorb the
engine generator set be carried out the performance test and
excess of power required by MPP plant. Th is result in the
record the efficiency and fuel consumption fro m no load to
situation that MPP supplies power back to DPP power plant
full load. The result can be used in operation planning to
through feeder BAO901. In fact this excess power supplied
keep most or all generators operating at sufficiently high
fro m MPP flows to another feeder, BAO903. Therefore there
efficiency to minimize fuel expense. The result of test can
is no real reversed power to diesel engine generator at DPP
also give the information whether there are any other factors
power plant.
contributing to high fuel expense other than sole diesel
In case MPP operates their own steam turbine generator
engine fuel consumption.
at its higher output or at its maximu m continuous rated
power, during MPP plant low load operation, there will be B. Disable One Diesel Generator Load Sharing Control.
the excess power supplied back to DPP power plant through
Since the problem lies on the issue that there is the
feeder BAO901. Ho wever, the reactive power, kVar, still
mo mentary unbalance in power supply from DPP and the
flow fro m DPP power plant to MPP plant since MPP steam
MPP loads demand for situation that the number and
turbine generator seems to operate in power factor control
capacity of the operating diesel engine generators are more
mode and as such supply almost no reactive power.
than those necessary to supply MPP loads, however the DPP
It is apparent that diesel engine generators at DPP power
diesel engine generators cannot be shut down since there
plant during normal operation normally operates with three
might be unexpected MPP loads increment following such
generators in operation and one set in standby. However
mo mentary loads decrement and as such diesel generators
during some period with abrupt decreasing in MPP loads, all
still have to keep running at low loads condition, it is
these generators are still in operation resulting in engine
advisable that one diesel generator may needs to be
operation at its low loading condition and thus at its low
disconnected from group load sharing control and have those
operating efficiency. As it are the characteristics of diesel
majority of generators still in load sharing control operate at
engine that the efficiency at low load operation dramatically
approximately 75% to 80% of its rated capacity, to have
decreases compared with operation at 75% or h igher and this
them operate at high efficiency as much as possible, and
results in higher fuel consumption of diesel engine generator.
sacrifice one generator operating at high loading condition in
Since it is difficult to estimate the dynamic change in
droop control mode. However those generators operating in
MPP load, it is difficult for DPP operator to make decision
load sharing control should not operate at its full rated
on whether to shut down one diesel engine generator in order
capacity but should have some s mall margins for spinning
to balance power supply and mo mentary load demand and
reserve. The spinning reserve capacity on each generator
have all diesel engine generators operate at load higher than
depends on the expectation of the maximu m sudden load
75% to keep operation of diesel engine generators at high
increment shared between all of those generators operating in
efficiency. In summary, the variation in operating power
load sharing control. If after changing control mode of
output of DPP is highly dependent on the following factors;
generators, MPP loads tend to be settled at this condition or
MPP operating loads and MPP steam turbine generator
would not increase higher than the estimated maximu m
active power output.
sudden step load or load rejection for long period, DPP
VI. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDAT ION SCHEMES operator may co mmunicate with MPP operator to request for
shutting down the generator running in droop control to
The problem of high fuel consumption, if it is not minimize fuel consumption at low operating loading
attributed fro m factors other than operating fuel consumption condition, however DPP still have sufficient spinning reserve
of diesel engine, is due to the fact that diesel engines operate for any sudden load changes not higher than that DPP
at low loading condition. The solution to solve such problem provided as spinning reserve. For examp le one diesel
are principally as follows; generator may need to be isolated from load sharing control
 Try to operate diesel engine at high loading of the group of three generators and change to droop control
condition which will increase engine operating instead while those two generators still remain in
efficiency. isochronous load sharing control. One generator which is to
 Minimize numbers of d iesel engines generators be operated in droop control, its active power output set
operating at low loading condition or to keep point shall be set at high loading condition while remaining

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two generators operating in load sharing control should be
kept to operate at approximately 75%-80% of its rated
capacity.
C. Battery Energy Storage System.
The system needs investment on energy storage system
using battery system. Battery capacity depends on the
required maximu m expected step load and back up time.
However this solution is not practically feasible since this
needs huge investment in the above new equip ment and
building and facilit ies. The system still has disadvantage
in that when battery is fully discharged or is being
charged before reaching fully charged stage, if the step
load comes, the system cannot effectively supply power
to load. Nevertheless this solution still cannot solve the
problem of load rejection.
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