Excitation System Test Set

Electric Research discontinued manufacture of the excitation system test set in 1999.

In 1984 Electric Research developed an Excitation System Test set. It is a computer-based system that can supply the voltages and currents required by the PT and CT circuits of the excitation control system for testing when the generator is shut down. This test set is very useful for testing excitation control systems during outages for maintenance. This test set originally required a complete model of the excitation control system for the unit under test. In 1999 we discontinued manufacture of this test set. Manufacture was terminated primarily because the system is too complex to be used infrequently. It requires someone well versed in excitation system testing and modeling who performs excitation system testing frequently. We continue to use this test set to perform testing during full-load, partial-load, no-load and shutdown operation. We are available to assist the electric power industry with training and testing on the client’s excitation systems.

Since 1997 there has been a steadily increasing awareness of and commitment to excitation control systems in the electric power industry.  Stability issues have been of  real concern in the western U.S. since the 60’s when the first PSS was designed and tested on two hydro plants by our personnel. We have been involved in the application and testing of PSS ever since. We have participated (and sometimes chaired) the Institute of Electrical Engineers (IEEE) Power Engineering Society (PES) Excitation System Subcommittee (ESS) task forces to develop and revise the 421 series of standards related to excitation control system. Our focus has often been on the dynamic performance of excitation control systems and the testing to select their parameter settings.