Case Study: Hydroelectric Power Plant improves generator protection and thermal monitoring with SEL

RTD Enhances Protection and Reduces Maintenance at Vital Dam and Hydroelectric Power Plant

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) worked with a hydroelectric power plant at a western U.S. dam and reservoir that needed to upgrade aging generator and transformer protection after nearly 25 years of service. The plant also wanted a more reliable way to monitor generator temperatures, since its existing analog transducers required annual calibration and one unit had heating issues that were not being captured effectively.

SEL implemented SEL-387E Current Differential and Voltage Relays for transformer protection, SEL-300G Generator Relays for generator protection, and SEL-2600A RTD Modules for thermal monitoring. The new setup eliminated calibration-heavy transducers, reduced wiring complexity, improved noise immunity through fiber-optic links, and provided alarms and tripping on all RTDs simultaneously. As a result, the system became operational and error free, with temperature data from 12 RTDs per hydrogenerator now available locally and at the main control center, while maintenance demands on technical staff were significantly reduced.