Determination of dynamic parameters of large hydro-generators by finite-element simulation of three-phase sudden short-circuit tests

A salient-pole synchronous machine model based on a time-stepping finite-element (FE) formulation implementing rotor motion and external circuit elements is presented. It is applied to the numerical simulation of three-phase sudden short-circuit tests of large hydro-generators to determine the dependence of dynamic reactances and time constants on prefault voltage levels and saturation.