Performance and Stability Analysis of Hydraulically Driven Synchronous Generators in Power Engineering

Nowadays, hydraulic drive trains play an important role in different industries. They are employed in power engineering as drive trains in some types of synchronous generation units. This research investigates an experimental setup based on a variable speed hydraulic drive train that rapidly accelerates a synchronous generator for frequency support in power grids. The prototype is composed of a 100kW hydraulic motor, a synchronous generator and a current driven proportional throttle valve for flow control. To safely perform the experimental testing of the designed electro-hydraulic system, a feasible mathematical model must be developed. This requires the full characterisation of the hydraulic drive train. The research presented here shows a simple, yet efficient data acquisition system for the experimental validation of electro-hydraulic systems. Followed by the design of an accurate mathematical model of the complicated hydraulic system.