Pinjar

Pinjar has six Frame 6 gas turbine power plants fitted with SSS Clutches (three new, three retrofits) so they can operate as synchronous condensers to support grid stability in Western Australia

Pinjar Power Station, owned by Synergy, is located approx. 50 miles north of Perth and provides vital backup power to the region and the South West Interconnected System (SWIS) network in Western Australia. The power station consists of six Frame 6 gas turbines and three Frame 9 gas turbines. These gas turbines are operated to supply electricity at times of peak demand, such as the hottest days in summer, in emergency situations and for periodic testing.

The Frame 6 units were first commissioned in 1989 and three of the original units were fitted with SSS Clutches so they could also operate as synchronous condensers to support the reactive power needs in the region when not delivering active power.

In 2006 the remaining three units were converted so they could also operate as synchronous condensers. This was easily accomplished by replacing the existing Flender Graffenstaden speed reduction gearboxes. The new gearboxes each incorporate a 194T SSS Clutch mounted on a quill shaft arrangement. This means the SSS Clutch could be added without the need to move the gas turbine or the generator.

What is really interesting about this site is how the needs of the plant have changed over the years and how the installation of the SSS Clutches have provided generation flexibility for both the operator and the local grid.

In the 1990s, the synchronous condenser operational mode allowed the plant to support reactive power in the region which has long transmission lines to remote places. Now Western Australia is producing large amounts of Solar Power and is retiring its older coal fired power stations. A recent AEMO report on the Western Electricity Market identified the following issues and committed to procure the required services prior to the plant closures.

The closure of coal and gas-fired (thermal) generation, coupled with increasing levels of inverter-based renewable generation, is forecast to reduce fault current, dynamic reactive power support and inertia in the SWIS. Left unmanaged, this can reduce the effectiveness of power system protection systems and pose a risk to power system stability and reliability.

The hybrid arrangement at Pinjar will be perfectly suited to operate in this new environment providing both peaking power and grid stability services enabled by the SSS Clutches.