Some Electrical Design and Operational Aspects of a Large Tidal Power Development

Abstract

Considerable study has been devoted of late to the development of the better tidal power generating sites in the Bay of Fundy. Aspects of power transmission to potential market areas, however, have not received the same attention. The power developments are unique in many ways: in their power capability, as a function of the lunar cycle; in their siting, some miles from land; in the multiplicity of units and in their characteristics (e.g. low speed, low inertia, submerged bulb-type with an inherent sensitivity to wave action). The associated power plant operation and transmission is equally unique. If the simplest of the many available generating patterns be adopted — namely, one-way generation during emptying of the storage basin — without pumping operating regimes, the following requirements must be satisfied at all times:

• 1. Fast, controlled, unit start-up and connection to the system twice a day.

• 2. Fast loading of machines at tidal development and equally fast and coordinated unloading of system generation.

• 3. Controlled reactive loading of the machines with associated reactive adjustment of system generation, to obtain effective voltage control.

• 4. Some 6 hours later the reverse of the above operations and the fast, controlled shutdown of all units.