Obsolete per Engineering

GE TECHNICAL INFORMATION LETTERS

916-3A: GENERATOR PROTECTION
CUSTOMER VERSION
December 9, 1980
INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this Technical Information Letter is to transmit GEK-75512A, Generator Protection. This
publication, while addressed to liquid cooled generators, applies equally to conventionally cooled machines
(except for references to liquid cooling).

DISCUSSION

There are currently no industry standards governing protection of generators, although an IEEE guide to
protection is being drafted. IEEE Std. 67-1972. Guide For Operation And Maintenance Of Turbine
Generators, provides general background information on some aspects of generator protection. Generator
protection is a broad and complex subject. GEK-75512A was written to provide information on protection,
based on our experience as generator designers and manufacturers, that may not always be readily available
in other forms. The generator should be operated in accordance with common industry practice and the
manufacturer's operating instructions; when this becomes impossible, corrective action should be taken
including, if necessary, removing the generator from operation. Any additional relays, or other protective
equipment required to implement the recommendations made in this publication, should be furnished by the
owner.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Each utility is urged to consider all of the recommendations contained in GEK-75512A and implement a
plan to upgrade their existing protection plan for each generator.

Several recommendations contained in GEK-75512A are not commonly followed by utilities, and,
therefore, deserve special mention here:

ACCIDENTAL ENERGIZATION - Protection against this type fault is frequently not provided, perhaps
on the belief that it can't happen. Experience has shown, however, that it can and does, with almost startling
frequency and sometimes catastrophic results. Eight units have experienced this type of fault in the past
fifty-two months.

FIELD-GROUND - Automatic tripping on field ground is not widely applied. It should be noted that while
the probability of a field ground occurring is low, the probability of a second ground once the first one has
occurred is not low and damage may then be severe. In one documented case, a generator was forced from
service for approximately 5 months when two field grounds occurred within 24 hours.

BREAKER FAILURE PROTECTION - Several faults can be caused by line breaker failure, and unless
breaker failure protection is provided the unit may be left with no real protection at all. Thus, this type of
protection should be given careful consideration.

LOSS OF SYNCHRONISM - Protection against loss of synchronism (pole slipping) appears not to be
universally accepted. In some cases, other protection such as loss of excitation, or line relaying, may be
sufficient. This should not be assumed without careful study.

Where there are questions concerning these recommendations, or others covered in GEK-75512A, your
General Electric representative is available for assistance and consultation.

General Electric proprietary information. For use by GE personnel only.

Not to be shown or reproduced in whole or in part for use outside General Electric Company.
For use by General Electric personnel only.
Not to be shown or reproduced in whole or part for use outside General Electric Company.