::: London Power Associates ::: :: Power and Transportation Consultants ::

As the energy market becomes more competitive the demands on generation plant increase, older power plant is required to run more efficiently and modern plant are often designed to be operated and maintained with minimal plant redundancy and minimal skilled staff.

Whether you are designing a new power station or modifying an existing plant LPA can help you to realise your objectives by optimising design and minimising risk. Our experience ranges from small wind turbines to 1000MW+.

Grid Connection

Large power stations generally require extensive studies of steady state, dynamic and transient conditions such as short circuits to be considered. However, smaller generators are connected at lower voltages and the complexity of the studies required also reduces.

LPA engineers have experience of performing these calculations for power stations connected at LV to 400 kV and above. Many of these issues are also relevant to island systems, from an emergency generator to 250MW CHP.

LPA provides advice on connection agreements, optimised location, connection voltage and substation arrangements taking full cognisance of both technical and environmental considerations.

Auxiliary System

Within the power station the auxiliary system is often originally designed near to its limits. This means that the modification of the auxiliary system can often cause unforeseen problems. Having designed the auxiliary systems of nuclear, coal, gas, hydro and energy from waste power stations we have experience in designing most auxiliary system arrangements. Fault level, motor starting, transfer schemes and phase displacement are typical issues of concern. We can also help with the addition of a new process or converting to black start.

Protection

Both power plant and grid protection systems are designed to disconnect plant to minimise damage following a fault. The complexity of protection systems of a generator increases with size from simple G59 to complex dual channel. Whether you are designing a new installation or modernising an existing installation we have the experience to provide cost-effective solutions.

Earthing

If the power station connection voltage is 33kV or below then station earthing is not generally a problem. If connected at a higher voltage then the station engineer must know if his plant is HOT or COLD. Cold sites are always perferred but are often not achieved. Hot sites are characterised by high touch and step voltages, especially when supplying over the fence connections or taking services such as steam off the site.