Synchronous Condensers Brochure R9 HR
Synchronous Condensers Brochure R9 HR
Synchronous Condensers Brochure R9 HR
Synchronous Condensers
Part of GE’s Renewable Steam Portfolio
NEEDED MORE THAN EVER FOR RENEWABLE POWERED GRID STABILIZATION
TODAY’S ENVIRONMENT GE’S SOLUTION
Over the last years, GE has seen a growing interest and need As part of GE’s portfolio of renewable steam offerings, GE can
for synchronous condenser solutions by Grid operators and provide grid operators and utilities synchronous condensers to
Utilities. As the grid evolves and the mix of electricity production address grid challenges.
sources changes, stresses are being put onto transmission and
distribution networks, making the need for grid support much GE’s air-cooled High Inertia Synchronous Condenser systems
more challenging. Globally, operators are facing many new grid can be rated to 2000+ MWs. Due to the nature of the rotating
challenges and conditions including: equipment, the enhanced inertia is system inherent providing
instantaneous power feed as a result of a grid frequency drop.
• Changes in generation mix
• Decreases in conventional generation The solution can produce or absorb reactive power, offers unique
overload capability and provides significant short circuit strength
• Increases in renewable wind, solar and distributed generation
to the grid network.
• Environmental and regulatory policy changes, driving the
retirement of traditional thermal generating stations The GE standardized approach offers integrated solutions for fast
project realization with high reliability and very limited maintenance.
These challenges have an operational impact on the electrical
infrastructure, creating an overall deficiency in:
FACTS devices such as SVCs and STATCOMs are
good at supplying reactive power quickly. They are not helpful
• Reactive compensation support at handling low system inertia, a measure of the stored energy
• System inertia within the mechanical rotating machine as well as low short-
circuit strength in the power grid. Synchronous condensers can
• Short circuit strength
help meet these reactive power needs and boost system inertia
and short-circuit strength.
Cooling TEWAC
*Inertia, Reactive Power and Short Circuit Strength represent typical values of
air-cooled High Inertia Synchronous Condensers. For project specific requirements
please contact your GE Representative
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THE GE ADVANTAGE
Robust design with effective maintenance program
GE’s Synchronous Condenser Systems come from 100 years of
GE Synchronous Condensers have superior construction and huge
manufacturing experience, including experience of full speed
historical operational data from power generation application.
rotating power plant machines. They are configured to provide
This is resulting in an effective maintenance program, monitored and
the highest optimized solution, for reliability, performance and
conditioned based, tending to flexible and minimal maintenance over
operational flexibility.
the entire life cycle of the plant.
Proven portfolio for customized project
Asset and operational cost optimization
• Low Losses flywheel technology for wide range of inertia, installed as
Based on product experience, standardized and modularized
part of green field projects or added as an upgrade in existing plants
approach, GE integrated solutions provide optimum asset and
• Full range of Air- Cooled rotating machines issued from standard operational cost in a safe manner.
portfolio with reliability rate over 99%.
Extensive experience – Equipment entire life cycle support.
• Intimate Adequacy between flywheel and
• GE leads the power industry with more than 100 years of
Synchronous Condenser
experience.
• Fast lead time delivery for standardized product
• GE organization is based worldwide to support the plant
• Adapted auxiliaries, balance of plant and equipment over its full life cycle.
remote-control equipment
• Specific Diagnostic tools, engineering experience, parts, tools and
Modular design for flexibility and decreased down time field service processes are maintained and dedicated to match
GE solution has combined modular component architecture with customer needs.
that allow for reduced overall footprint, customized layout and
maintenance flexibility for utilities to reduce operational downtime.
Main Step Up
Transformer
Rain Water Oil & Fire Fighting
Buffer Basin Water Recovery Pit
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Can GE convert
my existing
thermal plant
generator to a
synchronous
condenser?
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YES.
For the first time in Europe GE converted a large 625 MVA liquid-cooled
generator operating in a coal-fired power plant to synchronous condenser.
The engineered solution reused many existing components at the plant.
GE was able to execute the project within seven months from contract
award to grid synchronization.
Thanks to this project, our customer was able to deliver >500 MVAr of
reactive power as demand has been increasing while at the same time
thermal assets are retiring.
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BENEFITS OF GE’S SYNCHRONOUS CONDENSERS
Sustain System Inertia
GE Flywheels and Synchronous Condensers can contribute benefits even under extreme low voltage contingencies.
significantly to grid Inertia. A High Inertia 250 MVAr Mechanical inertia combined with state of the art excitation
Synchronous Condenser can provide an inertia equivalent provides smooth reliable support that is naturally compatible
or higher than that of a 400 MW Coal fired Power Plant. with generation.
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CORE COMPONENTS
ROBUST SYNCHRONOUS CONDENSERS CONFIGURATION ELEMENTS
GE’s Synchronous Condenser system consists of generator components used in electric utilities with proven robustness and reliability.
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Can GE’s
synchronous
condensers
improve grid
performance and
sustain system
inertia from
renewable and
thermal energy
sources?
YES.
GE can procure and construct complete green field Synchronous
Condensing Plants.
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Typical Applications
HVDC Wind/Solar
• Provides short circuit strength • Improves or increases short circuit ratio (SCR)
• Reduces local harmonic distortion (filter) • Provides inertia to improve frequency regulation
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GE’S INDUSTRY-LEADING PORTFOLIO OF SYNCHRONOUS
CONDENSERS CELEBRATES 100TH ANNIVERSARY
Synchronous condensers, with their ability to provide grid stabilizing inertia at low cost,
are making a comeback
GE is celebrating its 100-year anniversary of supplying synchronous condenser solutions to utility customers and transmission
system operators. As many transmission networks around the world are struggling with weak grid conditions as a result of
retiring legacy thermal generation units and the intermitency of wind and solar power, this technology—once considered nearly
obsolete—has reinvented itself and now provides critical support to a transforming grid.
Installed at strategic intervals along a transmission system, synchronous condensers are electrical rotating equipment that
produce or absorb reactive power to keep the current flowing consistently to the grid – helping to ensure reliable power is
available for those who need it, when they need it. The company’s latest synchronous condenser offerings have undergone many
developments since 1919, when GE shipped the world’s first high voltage synchronous condenser to Ontario Hydro in Canada.
The original 10 Mvar model has evolved over the past century to meet evolving grid demands. GE now offers the broadest
synchronous condenser portfolio in the industry, with units ranging from 20 Mvar all the way up to more than 300 Mvar in a single
piece of equipment. As a utility industry leader, GE has supplied more than 200 synchronous condensers to utilities around the
globe. Significant technology milestones include:
1919 2017
First GE air-cooled synchronous World’s largest GE air-cooled synchronous
condenser rated +10 MVARs condenser rated +330 MVARs
2011
First synchronous condenser conversion from a 473 MVA generator to a +360/-210
Mvar synchronous condenser, allowing for seasonal conversion between generator
and synchronous condenser
2008
First “modern era” synchronous condenser
installed for the sole purpose of “grid reliability”
1928 2014
First GE hydrogen-cooled synchronous First GE air-cooled synchronous
condenser rated +12.5 MVARs condenser rated +250 MVARs
2018
First 625 MVA liquid-cooled turbogenerator converted to synchronous condenser in Europe
2018: High inertia synchronous condensers rated 4 x +250 MVARs with world’s largest flywheels
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For more information, see your GE sales
representative or contact us at:
https://www.ge.com/power/steam/
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GEA34487 l (03/2020)