This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to develop engineering solutions for synchronous machine and control problems.

It includes applying safe working practices; determining problems; obtaining synchronous machine operation, construction and application; gathering and analysing solutions; applying problem-solving techniques; and developing and documenting solutions.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

ELEMENTS

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1

Prepare to develop engineering solution for synchronous machine problems

1.1

Work health and safety (WHS)/occupational health and safety (OHS) processes and workplace procedures for a given work area are identified, obtained and applied

1.2

WHS/OHS risk control measures and workplace procedures in preparation for the work are followed

1.3

Scope of synchronous machine problem is determined from performance specifications and/or documentation and in consultation with relevant person/s

1.4

Activities are planned to meet scheduled timelines in consultation with others involved in the work

1.5

Effective strategies are formed to ensure solution development and implementation is carried out efficiently

2

Develop engineering solution

2.1

WHS/OHS risk control measures and workplace procedures for carrying out the work are followed

2.2

Synchronous machine construction, operation, characteristics and applications are applied to developing solutions to synchronous machine problems

2.3

Parameters, specifications and performance requirements for each machine problem are obtained in accordance with workplace procedures

2.4

Approaches to resolving synchronous machine problems are analysed to provide most effective solutions in accordance with relevant industry standards and workplace procedures

2.5

Unplanned events are dealt with safely and effectively in accordance with relevant industry standards and workplace procedures

2.6

Quality of work is monitored in accordance with relevant industry standards and workplace procedures

3

Implement engineering solution and complete documentation

3.1

Solutions to machine problems are tested to determine their effectiveness and modified as required

3.2

Adopted solutions are documented, including instruction for their implementation with risk control measures

3.3

Relevant person/s required to implement solutions to synchronous machine problems is coordinated in accordance with relevant industry standards and workplace procedures

3.4

Justification for solutions used to solve synchronous machine problems is documented in work/project records in accordance with relevant industry standards

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements, performance criteria and range of conditions on at least one occasion and include:

understanding the extent of the machine problem

forming effective strategies for solution development and implementation

obtaining machine parameters, specifications and performance requirements appropriate to each problem

testing and applying solutions to machine problems

documenting instruction for implementation of solutions that incorporate risk control measure to be followed

documenting justification of solutions implemented in accordance with professional standards

dealing with unplanned events

analysing approaches to solutions

applying relevant work health and safety (WHS)/occupational health and safety (OHS) requirements, including using risk control measures

applying synchronous machine construction operation characteristics and applications to developing solutions

determining the scope of synchronous machine problem

monitoring quality of work

planning activities to meet timelines.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements, performance criteria and range of conditions and include knowledge of:

synchronous machine diagnostics and engineering solutions for synchronous machine problems, including:

alternating current (a.c.) generators – construction, types and cooling encompassing:

construction of stator and rotor windings

rotor construction (cylindrical and salient pole)

advantages of rotating field construction

excitation methods

cooling methods

prime movers

a.c. generators – operating principles and characteristics encompassing:

a.c. generator equivalent circuits (synchronous reactance and resistance components)

tests – open circuit, short circuit and stator impedance

voltage regulation, island generator’s terminal voltage load power factor

determination of excitation voltage and load angle

synchronising a.c. generators encompassing:

conditions for synchronising (infinite bus)

methods for synchronising (lamp methods and synchroscope)

alternator load sharing, parallel operation

a.c. generators power, torque and efficiency encompassing:

power input, input torque and speed

power losses

output power, load power factor, rotor angle and pu power

efficiency

performance chart interpretation

automatic voltage regulation (AVR) encompassing:

need for AVRs

features of AVRs

effects of rotor inductance

connections of AVRs

operation of AVRs

a.c. generator operational stability encompassing:

power output, variance (VAR) effects, rotor angle and excitation

control of VAR (on-load tap-changers (OLTC) transformers)

voltage dependant nature of stability

critical clearance angle of a.c. generator

stability limits

a.c. generator protection encompassing:

restricted, unrestricted primary, back up and duplicated protection

overcurrent, short circuit, differential, reverse power, load unbalance, rotor overload, loss-of-field, rotor earth fault, station earth-fault and under-frequency protection

external fault protection

induction generator encompassing:

types operating principles and characteristics

excitation methods

losses and efficiency

synchronising and paralleling

three phase synchronous motors encompassing:

construction – rotor, stator and windings

excitation methods

operating principles (equivalent circuits and synchronous impedance)

hunting and stability limits

power factor correction

paralleling and synchronisation techniques

starting methods

braking methods

problem-solving techniques

relevant machine parameters, specifications and performance requirements

relevant manufacturer specifications and operating instructions/manuals

relevant job safety assessments or risk mitigation processes

relevant WHS/OHS legislated requirements

relevant workplace documentation

relevant workplace quality, instructions, policies and procedures.

Assessors must hold credentials specified within the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

Assessment must satisfy the Principles of Assessment and Rules of Evidence and all regulatory requirements included within the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

Assessment must occur in suitable workplace operational situations where it is appropriate to do so; where this is not appropriate, assessment must occur in simulated suitable workplace operational situations that replicate workplace conditions.

Assessment processes and techniques must be appropriate to the language, literacy and numeracy requirements of the work being performed and the needs of the candidate.

Resources for assessment must include access to:

a range of relevant exercises, case studies and/or simulations

relevant and appropriate materials, tools, facilities and equipment currently used in industry

resources that reflect current industry practices in relation to developing engineering solution for synchronous machine problems

applicable documentation, including workplace procedures, equipment specifications, regulations, codes of practice and operation manuals.

Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.

Range is restricted to essential operating conditions and any other variables essential to the work environment.

Non-essential conditions may be found in the UEE Electrotechnology Training Package Companion Volume Implementation Guide.

Developing engineering solutions must include the following:

at least four synchronous machine problems

Electrotechnology

Electrical