Short circuit generator systems to advance research

GE Steam Power India today announced a deal worth $32 MM for the supply of two 2500 MVA short circuit generator systems with Central Power Research Institute (CPRI) Bengaluru. This contract was awarded to GE Power Systems India Private Limited (GEPSIPL) by CPRI. CPRI is an autonomous society under Ministry of Power, Govt of India.

The scope of the project includes the supply, installation, commissioning and testing of two sets of 2500 MVA short circuit generators with super excitation, driving and auxiliary systems, ready for parallel operation in synchronisation with their existing 2500 MVA generator to yield short circuit powers of 2500 MVA, 5000 MVA and 7500MVA respectively. The generator will be manufactured at GE factory in Sanand, Gujarat. The project is envisaged to be operational by 2022.

In order to meet the growing demand of the infrastructure development in the field of research and testing activities of power sector (generation, transmission and distribution), CPRI is at the forefront of developing indigenous capabilities to enhance high power testing in India. The addition of the 2 x 2500 MVA Short Circuit Generators to the existing one in HPL, Bengaluru, will upgrade the capacity of the high-power lab to 7500 MVA making it the highest capacity short circuit capacity laboratory in India.

This project is an initiative by Ministry of Power to grow the High-Power Laboratory in India, creating an opportunity for the country to become a global hub for short circuit testing of electrical equipment under the flagship Make in India program. The expanded power supply in CPRI High-Power Laboratory will be used to test new transformers, circuit breakers and other components for grids/ super grids that transport high volumes of electricity across distances, enabling a safe and reliable power infrastructure for the country.

CPRI shall use the generators to perform high power tests, mainly short-circuit tests on power system equipment such as circuit-breakers, switches, disconnecting switches, fuses, transformers, cables, etc.  The challenge in these types of applications is to harness the short circuit power safely as well as maintain the test parameters and synchronism. GE’s local and international expertise in complex simulations will play a key role in this application.