Design and testing of a back-to-back starting system for pumped storage hydrogenerators at Mt. Elbert Powerplant

Journal Article · Mon Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1992 · IEEE Transactions on Energy Conversion (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/60.136222· OSTI ID:7239629

Osburn, G D; Atwater, P L ^[1]

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1. U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Denver Office, Denver, CO (US)

This paper describes the design and testing of a back-to-back starting system for pumped storage hydrogenerators at Mt. Elbert Powerplant in central Colorado. Marginal reliability of the existing static starting system adversely affected availability of the two 170,000-hp pumps. An alternate method of starting a unit in the pump mode was needed to increase plant availability and to provide interim starting capability for a planned static starter replacement. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation research, design, maintenance, and operations forces worked together to design and test a back-to-back starting system that allows one unit, operating in generate mode, to synchronously start the other unit as a motor.

• OSTI ID: 7239629
• Journal Information: IEEE Transactions on Energy Conversion (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (United States), Journal Name: IEEE Transactions on Energy Conversion (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (United States) Vol. 7:2; ISSN 0885-8969; ISSN ITCNE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

13 HYDRO ENERGY
130700* -- Hydro Energy-- Power-Conversion Systems
COLORADO
DESIGN
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ELECTRIC GENERATORS
FEDERAL REGION VIII
HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NORTH AMERICA
PEAKING POWER PLANTS
POWER PLANTS
PUMPED STORAGE POWER PLANTS
RELIABILITY
START-UP
TESTING
US BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
US DOI
US ORGANIZATIONS
USA