Remote cranking of steam electric stations

This paper is one of series presented on behalf of the System Operation Subcommittee with the intent of focusing industry attention on power system restoration. During the initial phase of restoration, black-start combustion turbines are often considered as remote cranking sources for the start-up of steam electric stations. In general, remote cranking operation is carefully planned, simulated and then verified by field tests. This paper describes the planning and simulation presently used in black-start of two coal-fired generating units utilizing remote combustion turbines. It discusses a number of constraints which have to be considered and simulated in preparation for testing and verification. The paper concludes that, in order to minimize possibility of damage to equipment during testing or actual restoration, it is necessary to undertake extensive simulation of the procedure. It recommends that the realistic generator reactive capability models be made a part of the network models to allow: optimum selections of tap positions for all the transformers within the remote cranking power system, thus providing adequate lead/lag reactive powers and to maintain acceptable voltage profile while proceeding through various stages of operation.