Project Background
Our Hydropower Plant Upgrade Solution targets Vietnam, one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing hydropower markets. Boasting over 1,500 small and medium hydropower stations, the country urgently needs high-quality, reliable protective relay solutions to secure safe operation of generators, transformers and transmission lines.
Our company has successfully delivered generator differential protection relays, transformer protection relays, feeder protection relays, and complete substation automation systems to multiple hydropower stations in Vietnam. Each project fully demonstrates our technical depth, product reliability, and commitment to customer success.
Case Study:
The original generator protection relays of a 2×10 MW hydropower station in Central Vietnam experienced frequent nuisance tripping. Due to their age, the legacy relays were no longer functional. The operating unit urgently required a replacement with protection relays featuring superior performance, better harmonic suppression, and faster fault-clearing times.
Our Solution
After a detailed on-site evaluation, our engineering team recommended and provided a comprehensive integrated solution as follows:
Generator Protection Panel
- The assembly includes generator differential protection devices,generator backup protection devices, generator rotor ground-fault protection devices, and generator measurement and control units.
- The system is installed and utilized as a complete panel.
- The LCD interfaces of the protection devices are displayed in English.
Generator Synchronization Panel
- This project consists of two generator units; therefore, a synchronization panel was configured for four-point synchronization, with two points serving as redundant backups.
- The panel supports both manual and automatic synchronization modes to ensure stable and reliable on-site operation.
Central Signal Panel & Monitoring
- The original central signal panel was removed and replaced with an Electric Power Background Monitoring System.
- Through the computer-based SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system, the generators are monitored, achieving intelligent operation and maintenance management.
Excitation System
- The legacy excitation system was outdated and non-functional. In accordance with technical requirements, a new thyristor (SCR) excitation system was selected.
- This system meets all technical performance indicators and regulations for static rectifier excitation systems for large and medium-sized hydro-generators.
- Operating modes include:
- Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR)
- Field Current Regulation (FCR)
- Constant Reactive Power Regulation
- Mode switching is performed via pre-set or manual selection.
Digital Intelligent Protection
- Relays on the high-voltage switchgear were replaced with modern digital intelligent protection products.
- This includes motor protection devices, line protection devices, and distribution transformer protection devices.
- Data communication with the background system was established, achieving true information automation.
Our team provided: - A full set of relay setting calculations.
- On-site installation guidance.
- Station-wide joint commissioning and testing for relay protection systems.
Technical Standards Followed
All protective relays supplied for our Vietnam hydropower projects comply with the following standards:
- IEC 60255 Series (Measuring relays and protection equipment).
- IEC 61850 (Communication networks and systems for power utility automation).
- GB/T 14285 (Chinese standard, widely accepted in Vietnam).
- Vietnam EVN Local Technical Requirements (as specified).
Contact Information
Are you currently developing or upgrading a hydropower project in Vietnam or surrounding regions? Welcome to contact us for:
- Product technical manuals and application case studies.
- Protection setting calculation services.
- Customized protection solutions for your generator sets.
- On-site or remote commissioning support.
To sum up our solutions for hydropower plants, there are several key points:
Catering to the upgrading and renovation needs of small and medium-sized hydropower stations, focusing on core links of relay protection and automatic control.
Ensuring the safe and stable operation of equipment, covering full-scenario protection for generators, transformers and transmission lines.
Adapting to the development status of overseas markets such as Vietnam, providing customized and highly reliable integrated solutions.
Supporting later operation, maintenance and intelligent upgrading to meet the long-term grid connection and safe operation requirements of the hydropower industry.
We have a professional team of engineers. Feel free to contact us for any potential projects.
