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UNITROL® 6000 Excitation systems

Setting the standard in technology
and availability

• Industry benchmark in availability

• Ultimate control performance keeps synchronous
machine within safe limits
• Guaranteed grid code compliance through advanced
PSS options, validated models and simulation
services
• Hardware in the Loop simulator, to expedite tuning
and site-testing
• Simple system operation, monitoring, and
maintenance
• Pro-active life cycle management throughout the
complete life-span of the equipment
• 24/7/365 technical support always within your reach,
utilizing remote access platforms
 2 U N I T R O L® E XC I TAT I O N S Y S T E M S S e t t i n g t h e s ta n d a r d

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Setting the standard
ABB UNITROL® excitation systems are a key component in many power
generating units used by plant owners and operators to achieve
reliability of operations, stability, and fast transient response of their
assets, as per grid requirements.

The UNITROL® 6000 excitation systems series is UNITROL® 6000 for indirect and static excitation
specifically designed to serve a wide range of systems comes in the following versions:
applications:
• UNITROL® 6000 Medium
• Generators: steam, gas, nuclear and hydro power • UNITROL® 6000 X-power
plants, nuclear emergency diesel
• Motors: steel mills, pulp and paper, chemical,
natural gas production plants, refineries

UNITROL® Power
family converters

D5, UNL13300 and UNL14300

static excitation systems
UNITROL® 6000
X-power

D3 to D5 converters,
static excitation systems

UNITROL® 6000 D1 to D4 converters,

Medium indirect excitation systems

20 A 100 A 400 A 2,000 A 4,000 A 12,000 A

Excitation current [A]

 3 U N I T R O L® E XC I TAT I O N S Y S T E M S U NITR O L® 6 0 0 0 M e d i um

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UNITROL® 6000 Medium
The customizable solution
UNITROL® 6000 Medium is designed for small to medium static
excitation systems. It is as well a benchmark in flexibility, reliability
and connectivity for brushless and critical steam generating units.

With single/double channel configuration (additional Main Features UNITROL® 6000 Medium
backup channel on request) and a wide selection Customizable Yes
of thyristor bridge modules, UNITROL® 6000 DC current rage <1,800 A
Medium can be configured to meet all field data Backup channel Yes / Optional
and availability requirements. Converter redundancy Single, twin, twin + backup
Max. converters 3
Selected applications H configuration No
• Hydro power plant Converter types D1, D2, D3, D4, D5
• Pumped storage power plant PSS 2B/2C
• Combined cycle power plant APSS No
• Critical Steam power plant with brushless PEC controller generation 2
excitation, Ifn 200 A, 400 Hz supply IEC 61850 Optional
Field breaker AC or DC
Engineered solutions:
• Online supply transfer
• Electric braking

UNITROL 6000 Medium

Measurement Signals
Optical data Link
thyristor gate Control

Channel 1 Channel 2 Backup

CCM

CCM

CCM
Pin

Pin
Pin

i/O device
IO Device
IO Device
SM

field
discharge
flashing
 U NITR O L® 6 0 0 0 X - po w e r 4

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UNITROL® 6000 X-power
The solution for large power
applications
UNITROL® 6000 X-power is designed for large power generation units
and brings a new benchmark in flexibility, reliability and connectivity.

With single/double channel control configuration Main Features UNITROL® 6000 X-power
(additional backup controller on request) and Customizable Yes
a wide selection of thyristor bridge modules, DC current rage 1,800 A < X < 12,000 A
UNITROL® 6000 X-power can be configured to meet Backup channel Yes / Optional
all field data and availability requirements. Converter redundancy Single, twin, n-x
Max. converters 8
Selected applications H configuration Yes
• Nuclear power plant, field current Ifn >10,000 A Converter types D5, UNL13300, UNL14300
• Underground hydro power plant, Ifn 4,500 A, with PSS 2B/2C/4B
redundant air-to-water heat exchanger system APSS Yes
• Gas turbine power plant, MEGATROL package with PEC controller generation 3
Ifn 6,000 A and static frequency converter 15 MW IEC 61850 Yes
for turbine starting Field breaker AC (4,000) or DC
• Coal-fired power plant, Ifn 3,500 A, power part in
IP54 container, detached AVR cabinet with >150 m
distance apart
• Hydro power plant, Ifn 4,000 A, two DC field
circuit breakers, one for DC backup excitation

UNITROL 6000 X-power

Measurement Signals
Optical data Link
Optional thyristor gate Control

Backup
control & Converter #1..8
protection

Control
channel #1
Converter
Control control
channel #2

i/O device
IO Device
IO Device

SM

field
discharge
flashing
 5 U N I T R O L® E XC I TAT I O N S Y S T E M S C o n t r ol f u n c t i o n s

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Control functions
All regulation, protection, and monitoring functions required for the secure
operation of the generator are included as standard software features. To meet
specific demands of any application, the software can easily be configured
and adapted for the requirements.

Closed-loop control System time synchronization

• Voltage regulator with PID filter (AUTO mode) The system clock of all the controllers can be
• Field current regulator with PI filter (MAN mode) synchronized with a time source by Simple Network
• Reactive and/or active current droop compensation Time Protocol (SNTP) with an accuracy of up to 1 ms
• Limiter circuits to ensure that the generator to allow efficient troubleshooting and align
operates within safe limits: excitation event-logs with other loggers of the
- Maximum and minimum field current plant and minimize the time to get the unit back
- Maximum stator current, dependent on machine on the grid.
cooling media temperature
- P/Q under-excitation Power system stabilizer (PSS)
- Volt/Hertz The PSS function improves the stability of the
• Manual restrict to keep the generator within safe generator and the transmission system by using
limits, even though controlled in manual mode the excitation to damp power oscillations.
• Power factor/reactive load control
• Power system stabilizer PSS types optionally available for UNITROL® 6000:
• PSS 2A/2B/2C in accordance with IEEE standard
Protection and monitoring functions 421.5-2016
• Monitoring and protection functions can be freely • PSS 4B/4C in accordance with IEEE standard
configured on three action levels: ­4 21.5-2016
- Alarm signal only • Adaptive PSS (APSS) developed by ABB
- Changeover to redundant circuits Switzerland, which optimizes the PSS settings
- Instantaneous excitation trip to protect the based on the current network conditions, to
assets maximize availability and avoid trips due
to insufficient damping in weak networks
Major available functions
• Overcurrent protection (instantaneous/inverse
time)
• Volt/Hertz protection
• Loss of field protection
• Rotor temperature
• Thyristor conduction monitoring
• Actual value monitoring

Data and event recording

The internal event recorder function can handle
and store up to 2,000 events, each provided
with a real-time stamp. The data recorder contains
a preconfigured part that records a huge set of
measurements and internal signals. It is automa­
tically triggered in case of a fault, to enable effi­
cient troubleshooting and continuous improve­ment
with the aim to maximize the availability. Additional
free configurable high-speed recorders are
available to be utilized during compliance testing or
analysis of network events.
 C o n t r ol f u n c t i o n s 6

Synchronous machine transient simulator – real Grid codes

time (SMTS-RT 6000) UNITROL® 6000 control functionality is prepared to
SMTS-RT 6000 is a “Hardware in the loop” simulator, support any grid code. The extensive testing
which simulates a generator/motor, its turbine/ functions and powerful data recorders of the
load and the grid. The simulator is connected to the excitation control terminal (ECT) serve to test, tune,
excitation system for closed-loop tests to analyze and prove the performance of control, stabilizer and
its stationary and transient behavior. The SMTS-RT limiter functions. System frequency response can be
6000 reduces the testing time of your machine, analyzed quickly and accurately using the built-in
saves costs, and serves as ideal training tool for white noise generator. This method executes
maintenance and operation personnel. compliance testing in minimal time.
Commissioning time can be further reduced by
tuning control parameter sets in advance, using the Data records are stored in the ECT’s dedicated
simulator and a UNITROL® 6000 control device. memory and can be easily copied and integrated
into electronic documents.

In combination with SMTS-RT 6000, it is possible to

simulate the most critical plant or grid conditions,
which are typically impossible to test safely within
the real system.

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Complexity of power
grids, smart grids,
microgrids, distributed
and variable energy Buildings Public transport Industries
resources.

Off-grid
generation

Distributed Prosumers Renewable Domestic Prosumers Domestic

generation and traditional consumers equipment
generation and vehicles

Factories Public
transport

Domestic consumers
with some independent
generation
 7 U N I T R O L® E XC I TAT I O N S Y S T E M S H a r d w a r e compo n e n t s

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Hardware components
The system is based on the AC 800PEC high-performance processor family. It is
an extension of ABB’s 800xA control platform, developed to meet the fast control
requirements of power electronics.

Control Main features (D1 to D5)

The AC 800PEC control system excels in very high • Single- or three-phase AC supply voltage up to
processing speed, providing: 1,080 V
• Fast analog and digital process I/Os with a typical • Rated supply frequency from 50 to 480 Hz
cycle time of 400 µs (16⅔ Hz on request)
• Fast closed-loop control and regular process logic • Low noise level of cooling fans ≤70 dB(A)
implemented in a single controller • Compact, fully integrated converter and control
• Low-speed I/Os with a typical cycle time of 10 ms with an integrated service panel
• Very fast programmable logic for converter pulse
control and optical communication with cycle Main features (UNL14300)
time down to 25 ns • AC supply voltage up to 1,500 V
• High insulation test voltages up to 7.5 kV
Power converter • Low noise level of cooling fans ≤70 dB(A)
The power converter of each channel is selected to • Active current balance control
meet the system requirements with respect to • Optional:
maximum field current and voltage. Stringent - Redundant fans, replaceable during operation
availability requirements are fulfilled with up to - “Draw-out” design for safe online repair and
three redundant channels and provisions for online function tests
maintenance (optional). ABB has developed a range
of thyristor power converters dedicated to direct
(static) and indirect excitation systems, for
example D1 to D5, UNL13300 and UNL14300.

— — —
01 D1–D5 power 01 02
converter
—
02 UNL14300
power converter
 C ommu n i c at i o n f e at u r e s 8

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Communication features
The communication features of UNITROL® 6000 systems ensure simple and
­user-friendly human machine interaction, whether it comes to system commissioning
or integration into the plant control system.

Excitation control terminal (ECT) Remote services

The ECT is a user-friendly human machine Remote services and troubleshooting help reduce
interface that enables operation, monitoring, costs associated with repair and service time.
and maintenance of the system. It is a powerful
industrial grade touchscreen PC that runs UNITROL® 6000 is enabled for remote access with
independently of the system’s controller. Events the aid of ABB RAP platform or customer internal
and system data can be recorded over a long period tools. Thus, the local maintenance team can get the
of time. The LCD touchscreen provides the operator necessary support from ABB service specialists.
with a range of selectable screens showing
information on the actual status of the system in
graphical and numerical form. The control terminal
operates under Windows 10 and can also be
installed on any PC for commissioning purposes.

Integration into the plant control system

Ethernet and fieldbus protocols Modbus-RTU,
Modbus-TCP, and Profibus DP-V0 as well as
IEC 61850 are the main choices for communication
with the plant control system. Emergency control
signals can be hardwired directly to the control
board.

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01 Excitation Control
Terminal operator
screen selections
 9 U N I T R O L® E XC I TAT I O N S Y S T E M S S e r v i c e a n d suppo r t

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Service and support
For life cycle management or technical support, the worldwide network
of UNITROL® specialists is at your service.

Installation and commissioning actions and approach the clients proactively to

The professionalism, extensive experience, inform them of all maintenance, service, and
and multilingual skills of ABB’s engineers upgrade requirements. We have a comprehensive
ensure satisfactory installation and commissioning. Excitation Care program to cover all customer
maintenance needs.
Training
ABB University offers standard and customized Examples of life cycle services:
training courses for UNITROL® 6000 excitation • Technical support for optimized reliability
systems. Virtual and on-site training options are • Remote services
available. For detailed training programs, visit • Maintenance and repairs
­w ww.abb.com/abbuniversity. • Extension, upgrades, and retrofits

Life cycle management Complete life cycle services are guaranteed for the
ABB’s excitation systems life cycle management active and classic phases. As soon as the system
model helps the customers extend and maximize enters the limited phase, it is recommended to start
the life cycle of their assets at minimum costs. planning an upgrade, or retrofit the equipment with
Depending on the product’s life cycle phase, ABB's latest technology.
the service specialists recommend necessary

UNITROL® with the complete life cycle services

Active
is availaible for purchase.

Complete life
cycle services

UNITROL® with the complete life cycle services

Classic
is availaible for plant extensions.

Spare parts, maintenance, and repair services are

Limited
available as long as materials can be obtained.

Limited life
cycle ser vices
ABB cannot guarantee availability of the life
cycle services for technical reasons or within
Obsolete reasonable cost. However, ABB always
provides a technical solution to retrofit or
upgrade the assets.
Technical support Benefits
• Large global team of certified engineers • Simplifies service delivery
• Highly experienced experts in ABB excitation • Reduces maintenance cost
systems and combined solutions provide fast • Supports your operations with digital services
and precise technical emergency assistance 24/7, • Provides access to ABB ability Remote Insights
365 days a year and the Remote Access Platform (RAP) for faster
• Remote support available: troubleshooting
- 24-hour hotline: +41 844 845 845 • Increases the reliability of the system by
- Email: unitrol.supportline@ch.abb.com providing proactive maintenance programs
• Supports transfer of knowledge through our
Excitation Care trainings, offered as virtual or face to face.
Provides a simple and structured way to support
your assets throughout their life cycle. It offers
customizable service levels with optional packages
to cover different maintenance needs.

Cyber Security

Remote ABB Ability

Service Solutions

System Diagnostics
and Predictive Training
maintenance

ABB Care
Grid Code Compliance Agreements Technical
Services Support

Site-services and Life cycle

Performance Reviews Part Services

Evolution
and Upgrades
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ABB Ltd
Excitation Systems
and Synchronizing Equipment
CH-5300 Turgi, Switzerland
Phone: +41 (0)58 589 24 86
E-Mail: pes@ch.abb.com

www.abb.com/unitrol

9AKK107492A4684

© Copyright 2021 ABB. All rights reserved.

Specifications subject to change without notice.