Synchronous Machines - Objective

This document is a training manual for the real-time simulator for electrical machines test bench developed by OPAL-RT.
It is specifically designed to study operation, testing and commissioning of synchronous machines.
This manual provides numerous basic exercises to improve the understanding and mastering the synchronous machine fundamentals.

The interactive virtual test bench, with a 16 HP power rating, comprises a DC machine coupled with a three-phase synchronous, wound rotor machine.
This versatile system has adjustable DC and AC power sources, programmable passive loads, fuse-controllable protection system contactors, measurement devices and oscilloscopes.

Its structure, based on low power electrical machines operating in a typically real power system topology, allows running multiple interactive exercises on both the synchronous and DC machines.
The versatility of its features means that it can be used for training, whether at college, or professional and university levels, and that new exercises can be developed as needed.

Just like in the lab, the interaction between the user and the virtual test bench installed in the simulator depends on the limits of the protection system features.
This forces the user to adopt good testing and implementation techniques, or risk being unable to successfully complete the exercise.
Thus, it is possible for the user to self-evaluate their exercise practices or for the trainer to plan real laboratory tests that will help them assess how well attendees are learning.

Users will learn to apply these techniques on systems where the power levels related to the dynamics of driven load, and transient phenomena attenuation are closer to real industry than traditional low power training systems.
Furthermore, if the protection system is disabled, it is possible to research maximum performance or faults that would be harmful to real test benches.

The introduction to this manual describes the approach suggested for teaching the basic exercises on the understanding of a synchronous machine.
A description of the virtual test bench with each machine’s rating nameplate and the base configurations used according to the operating mode is described in Section 2.

Section 3 provides a detailed description of the main panel of the simulator, which serves as the interface between the user and the virtual test bench.
This part is a complete reference for all components on the panel of the simulator and can be referred to during exercises.

Sections 4 through 8 describe the protocols for 5 exercises on the synchronous machine.