E3S Web of Conferences 256, 01008 (2021) https://doi.org/10.

1051/e3sconf/202125601008
PoSEI2021

Performance test and typical fault analysis of electric emergency

power supply vehicle
Chunhui Gu1*, Jian Fang1, Zichong Zhang1 and Jianping Gong2
1 Electric Power Test &Research Institute, Guangzhou Power Supply Bureau of Guangdong Power Grid Co., Ltd, Guangzhou,

Guangdong, 510000, China

2Safety Supervision Department, China Southern Power Grid Co., Ltd, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510000, China

Abstract. In the emergency repair of electric power caused by sudden natural disasters, the reliability and
stability of emergency power supply vehicles largely determine the speed and efficiency of restoring power
supply. Based on the performance test and reliability study of 18 diesel-powered vehicles in Guangzhou
Power Supply Company Limited, the typical defects of emergency power supply equipment and the causes
of the faults are analyzed. It provides technical support for the technical standards and the maintenance
guidance of emergency power supply equipment, and greatly improves the emergency capability of rapid
power recovery under extreme natural disasters. It has improved the emergency response capability of rapid
re-powering under extreme natural disasters, shortened the repair time, and significantly reduced the loss
and impact of extreme natural disasters on the power system and the entire national economy.

Grid also lacks the detection ability of emergency

equipment products; moreover, there are many
1Introduction manufacturers of emergency power generation
At present, there is no national standard and industry equipment, and the product quality is uneven and the
standard for emergency power supply vehicles used in threshold is low, so it is urgent to strengthen the quality
power grid emergency repairs. China Southern Power control[7-8]. The purpose of this paper is to study the
Grid also lacks the detection ability of emergency performance of typical emergency power generation
equipment products[1-2]. The emergency power equipment diesel electric emergency power generation
equipment manufacturers are numerous and mixed, the vehicle. The research is expected to lay the foundation
product quality is uneven and the threshold is very low. for the formulation of technical standards, technical
It is urgent to strengthen quality control of emergency specifications and operation and maintenance guidance
power supply vehicles. The aim of this paper is to study of emergency power generation equipment, improve the
the related technologies of emergency power generation management level of emergency power generation
equipment, and to improve the quality, operation and equipment, and enhance the operability and reliability of
reliability of emergency power generation equipment by equipment.
establishing technical standards, technical specifications
and operational guidance of emergency equipments[3-4]. 2Samples
The emergency capability of power cut and repair under
extreme natural disasters will be greatly improved, the This article studies the operation performance of 56
repair time will be shortened, and the losses and impacts power emergency diesel generators in service in a power
of extreme natural disasters on the power system and supply bureau. These power generators have been in use
even on the national economy will be significantly for 4 to 9 years with a rated output voltage of 230V and a
reduced. It greatly improves the quality level and rated output power of 200, 400 or 500kW. Before the test,
reliability of emergency power supply equipments[5]. no damage was found on the tested generator.
In the process of emergency rescue, the reliability and
stability of emergency power generation equipment have
a great impact on the rapid recovery of power, such as 3Reference Standards and Performance
the quality problems of emergency power generation Parameters
equipment, which will bring great hidden dangers and
adverse effects to the emergency repair work[6]. At This research work is carried out strictly in accordance
present, there are no national standards and industry with the requirements of China's national standard GB/T
standards for emergency power supply vehicles used in 20136-2006 "General Test Methods for Internal
power grid emergency repair, and China Southern Power Combustion Engine Power Stations", industry standard

*Corresponding author’s e-mail: [email protected]

© The Authors, published by EDP Sciences. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
E3S Web of Conferences 256, 01008 (2021) https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202125601008
PoSEI2021

YD/T 502-2007 "Diesel Generator Set for 25 %, 50 %, 75 %, 100 % of rated load, then reduce the
Communication" and relevant technical agreements of a load from 100 % to no-load step by step according to this
power supply bureau. The performance judgment is grade, and run for a period of time under each grade of
based on the technical agreement. When the technical load; Test the three-phase voltage, frequency and output
agreement is lower than the national standard, industry power under various load levels. According to relevant
standard or enterprise commitment, the higher technical requirements, the deviation between steady-
requirements in the national/industry standard or state voltage and rated voltage shall be ≤±0.5%, and the
enterprise commitment shall be taken as the performance deviation between steady-state frequency and rated
judgment basis. frequency shall be ≤±0.5%.
The performance and parameters studied include Figure 1 & Figure 2 show the time variation
steady-state voltage deviation and steady-state frequency characteristics (steady-state) of three-phase voltage,
deviation, transient voltage deviation and transient frequency and output power under different load rates for
frequency deviation, voltage and frequency recovery a 500kW diesel generator under inspection. In order to
time, three-phase voltage imbalance, frequency drop, visually judge whether the steady-state voltage and
phase voltage sine wave distortion rate, insulation steady-state frequency meet the requirements (the steady-
resistance and other non-electrical performance and state voltage deviation should be less than or equal to
parameters, as well as operation state parameter 0.5%, and the steady-state frequency deviation should be
monitoring function, overload protection function, less than or equal to 0.5%), the upper and lower
emergency stop function, continuous operation function, boundary lines of the steady-state voltage and steady-
generator appearance and phase sequence arrangement. state frequency are respectively made in the figure and
the upper and lower limit values are marked. It can be
seen from Figure 1 & Figure 2 that under no-load
4TEST ITEMS condition, the three-phase voltage basically changes
within the allowable deviation range of steady-state
4.1Steady-state voltage and frequency deviation voltage; the larger the load rate is, the more the three-
phase voltage decreases compared with the rated phase
The research steps of this performance parameter are as voltage, and the more it deviates from the lower limit of
follows: start and set the generator to operate stably steady-state voltage, among which the decrease of A-
under rated conditions, and reduce the load to no load phase voltage is the most obvious.
after a period of time; Gradually load from no-load to
Upper boundary 230*(1+0.5%) V
232 (a) 600

230 Lower boudary 230*(1-0.5%) V

500
228 100%
Output Power P/kW
Phase Voltage U/V

226 400
75%
224 75%
300
222
50% 50%
220 200

218 25% 25%

Phase A Output power 100
216 Phase B
No load Phase C No load
214 0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800
Time t/s
Figure 1. Time variation characteristics of output voltage and power of 500kW power generator (steady-state)

Figure 2. Time variation characteristics of output frequency and power of 500kW power generator (steady-state)

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E3S Web of Conferences 256, 01008 (2021) https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202125601008
PoSEI2021

generator under inspection suddenly reduces its load. It

4.2Transient voltage, frequency deviation and can be seen from figure 3 that when the load is suddenly
voltage and frequency recovery time reduced from the rated load to no load, the three-phase
voltages all have “V” type abrupt changes, and their
The research steps of this performance parameter are as
maximum drop values are about 8V, 6V and 4V
follows: start and set the generator to operate stably
respectively, which are still within the allowable ±15%
under rated conditions, and suddenly reduce to no load
transient voltage deviation range. As can be seen from
after a period of time; Sudden load increase to rated load,
figure 4, when the load suddenly decreases from the
after stable operation, sudden load reduction to no load;
rated load to no load, the frequency also appears “V”
Test the three-phase voltage, frequency and output power
type abrupt changes with the maximum decrease value of
during sudden load increase and sudden load decrease.
about 1.5 Hz, which is still within the allowable ±7%
According to relevant technical requirements, transient
transient frequency deviation range. Similar studies show
voltage deviation should be ≤±15%, transient frequency
that when the load suddenly increases from no-load to
deviation should be ≤±7%, voltage recovery time should
rated load, the maximum drop of three-phase voltage
be ≤1s, and frequency recovery time should be ≤3s.
exceeds the allowable range of ±15% transient voltage
Figure 3 & Figure 4 show the time variation
deviation. The maximum frequency drop is still within
characteristics (transient) of three-phase voltage,
the allowable ±7% transient frequency deviation.
frequency and output power when a 500kW diesel
232 500
(a)
Output power

228 400

Output Power P/kW

Phase Voltage U/V

224 UC 300

UB
UA
220 200

Phase A
216 Phase B 100
Phase C Voltage recovery time

212 0
0 20 40 60 80 100
Time t/s

Fig. 3 Time varying characteristics of three phase voltage and output power during sudden load reduction (transient)
51.0 500
(b)

50.5 Output power

400
Output Power P/kW

50.0
Frequency f/Hz

Frequency 300
49.5
f 200
49.0

100
48.5
Frequency recovery time
48.0 0
0 20 40 60 80 100
Time t/s

Fig. 4 Time varying characteristics of three phase frequency and output power during sudden load reduction (transient)

the generator to operate stably under rated conditions,

reduce the load to no-load after a period of time, and test
4.3Three-phase voltage imbalance
the voltage imbalance degree when no-load occurs.
The research steps of this performance parameter are as According to the relevant technical requirements, the
follows: start and set The research steps of this voltage unbalance shall be ≤1% when no load is applied.
performance parameter are as follows: start and set the Figure 5 shows the time variation characteristics of the
generator to operate stably under rated conditions, reduce three-phase voltage when a tested 500kW diesel
the load to no-load after a period of time, and test the generator vehicle is running stably at no load. the tester
voltage imbalance degree when no-load occurs. shows that its three-phase voltage imbalance is 0.26%,
According to the relevant technical requirements, the which meets the requirement that the voltage imbalance
voltage unbalance shall be ≤1% when no load is applied. should be ≤1% at no load.

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E3S Web of Conferences 256, 01008 (2021) https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202125601008
PoSEI2021

232

230

Phase Voltage U/V

228

226
Phase A
Phase B
224 Phase C

222
0 40 80 120 160 200 240
Time t/s

Fig.5 Time variation characteristics of three-phase voltage for 500 kW diesel generator under no-load stable operation.
voltage shall be≤3% when no load is applied and ≤10%
4.4Phase voltage sine wave distortion rate when full load is applied.
Figure 6 shows the time variation characteristics of
The research steps of this performance parameter are as
the three-phase voltage and its sine wave distortion rate
follows: the generator is in a cold state or a hot state, and
when a 500kW diesel generator under inspection is
the generator is started and adjusted to operate stably
unloaded. It can be seen from the figure that the sine
under the rated working condition; After a period of time,
wave distortion rate of the three-phase voltage fluctuates
reduce the load to no load and adjust the frequency to the
up and down at 1.3 when no load is applied, and the
rated value to test the three-phase voltage and its sine
distortion rate of phase B is the smallest and that of
wave distortion rate. According to relevant technical
phase C is the largest, but all meet the requirement that
requirements, the sine wave distortion rate of three-phase
the sine wave distortion rate of the voltage is ≤3% when
no load is applied.
232 5 Voltage Sine Wave Distortion Rate Uthd

4
230
Phase Voltage U/V

3
228
Voltage sine wave distortion rate of Phase C 2
Voltage sine wave distortion rate of Phase A

226
Phase A 1
Voltage sine wave distortion rate of Phase B Phase B
Phase C
224 0
0 20 40 60 80 100
Time t/s
Fig.6 Time variation characteristics of three-phase voltage and sine wave distortion rate of 500 kW diesel generator under no-load
condition
continuous operation time of most unqualified diesel
5Continuous operation generators is between 20min and 30min, except that the
continuous operation time of 2 generators is less than
The research steps of this performance parameter are as 15min. In addition, the detection found that the reason
follows: start and set the generator to run stably under the why most power generators stop is that the unit cooling
rated working condition, making it run continuously for water temperature is too high, which leads to alarm
60min under full load; During the operation, the shutdown. It can be seen that after a period of service,
generator will not stop without warning. After the the continuous operation capability of some power
operation, the generator unit will be checked for oil generators cannot meet the technical requirements, and
leakage, water leakage and other abnormal phenomena. the most likely reason is the reduction of heat dissipation
The diesel generator is considered to have normal capability.
continuous operation capability.
Of the 56 diesel generators tested, 10 failed in
continuous operation; One of them can run continuously 6Conclusions
for 60min, but after the operation, the unit was found to
have oil leakage; The other 9 power generators will stop According to China's national standard GB/T 20136-
when they are running for less than 60min.The 2006 "General Test Methods for Internal Combustion

4
E3S Web of Conferences 256, 01008 (2021) https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202125601008
PoSEI2021

Engine Power Stations", industry standard YD/T 502- 5. YD/T 502-2007. (2007) Diesel Generator Set for
2007 "Diesel Generator Set for Communication" and Communication [S].
relevant technical regulations, this article systematically 6. Analysis of common problems in customer electrical
studies various performance parameters of 56 electric equipment power quality[M]. China Electric Power
emergency diesel generators after serving for a certain Press, 2013.
period of time.
7. Wang, Y. (2015) Research on Management System
a) After a certain period of service, the steady-state
and Capability Evaluation of Power System Sudden
frequency deviation, voltage imbalance, frequency drop,
Disaster Emergency Project [D]. North China
insulation resistance, overload protection, emergency
Electric Power University.
stop function and monitoring function have not occurred
or only a small number of power generators have failed, 8. Wang, Z.K., Sun, L., Lin, Z.Z. (2018) Optimal
which indicates that the above performance and function Allocation of Emergency Power Sources
are stable. Considering Uncertainties of Loads and Dispatching
b) After a certain period of service, nearly 40% of the Time Periods[J]. Automation of Electric Power
power generators have excessive steady-state or transient Systems. 42(2): 34-41.
voltage deviation, and nearly 70% of the power
generators have excessive transient frequency deviation.
The deterioration of output voltage and frequency of
power generators is obvious, which seriously affects the
quality of emergency power supply. The maintenance of
diesel power generators should attach great importance
to these quality indicators and shorten the test cycle
appropriately.
c) After a certain period of service, 25% of the power
generators are not qualified for continuous operation, and
the operation time with rated load is less than 60min.
This seriously affects the reliability of emergency power
supply and brings hidden dangers to emergency power
supply. The maintenance of diesel power generators
should pay more attention to full load operation
capability to ensure normal continuous operation
capability.

Acknowledgments
The project was funded by the Key Laboratory of
Medium-voltage and Low-voltage Electric Equipment
Inspection and Testing of China Southern Power Grid,
China.

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