AN INTRODUCTION TO COMPLETING A

NERC PRC-019 STUDY FOR TRADITIONAL

AND DISTRIBUTED GENERATION SOURCES

Publication Details Abstract

Tony Limon NERC PRC standards have been implemented as a comprehensive plan to increase
Senior Project Engineer utility reliability in response to the 2003 Northeast United States blackout. The intent
POWER Engineers, Inc. of PRC-019 is to verify that regulating controls, limiters, equipment capabilities, and
PH (509) 780-0046
protection controls installed at generation facilities are appropriately coordinated
email: tony.limon@
to avoid exacerbating adverse power grid conditions during a system disturbance.
powereng.com
PRC-019 provides fairly explicit guidance for what is expected to show compliance
Matthew Manley for synchronous generator facilities. PRC-019 does not contain explicit guidance on
POWER Engineers, Inc. how to show compliance for asynchronous or distributed generation resources.

This paper describes the approach, challenges, and lessons learned from performing
NERC PRC-019 studies of both typical synchronous and asynchronous generators.
Both the commonalities and variances of synchronous and asynchronous generation
facilities are highlighted to provide the connecting link between what is explicitly stated
in PRC-019 requirements and what is commonly expected by compliance authorities.
While the interpretation for what is necessary to demonstrate compliance can vary
between reliability coordinators, this paper provides examples of proven compliance
documentation for a recent PRC-019 wind farm study.

Introduction
In response to the 2003 Northeast United States blackout and subsequent governmental
regulation, NERC Protection and Control (PRC) Standards were created. The intent of
these standards is to improve the performance and reliability of the North American Bulk
Electric Power System (BES). Most PRC standards have clearly defined requirements
with very specific examples for what analysis and documentation is required to
demonstrate compliance. The recent NERC redefinition of what transmission systems
are included within the BES has led to many revisions to the standards to include
distributed generation (DG) resources as applicable facilities. Inclusion of DG facilities
without explicit PRC standard criteria has created room for interpretation in what
analyses and documentation needs to be provided to show compliance.

This paper intends to provide an outline of how a PRC-019 study is completed for
traditional synchronous generator facilities and an interpretation for how to complete
a PRC-019 study for asynchronous DG resources. This paper also provides perspective
on how those two studies compare and contrast, as well as lessons learned while
completing them.

NERC PRC-019-2
According to the NERC PRC-019 standard, its purpose is to “verify coordination of
generating unit facility or synchronous condenser voltage regulating controls, limit
functions, equipment capabilities and protection system settings.”1 The goal of PRC-019
is to improve BES reliability during short-time system transients by keeping available
generation in service to support the BES, reducing the risk of a cascading blackout event.
The standard establishes criteria for which facilities PRC-019 applies to and what
coordination items at those facilities are required to be verified. Facilities that fall under
PRC-019 requirements are:
• Generators over 20 MVA
• Synchronous condensers over 20 MVA
• Multiple-generator facilities with an aggregate nameplate rating over 75 MVA
• Black start generators identified in Transmission Operator’s restoration plan(s)
Both Generation Owners (GOs) and Transmission Owners (TOs) of synchronous
condensers are required to demonstrate compliance for BES generating facilities
under their control. An addition made to the second revision of the PRC-019 standard
is section 4.2.3.1. This description explicitly states that dispersed power-producing
resources, even if they are performing voltage regulation at the individual unit level,
are included in PRC-019-2 requirements. Before this revision, dispersed generating
resources such as a type I wind farm would have been excluded from the requirements.

The standard outlines two requirements:

Requirement R1 states: “At a maximum of every five calendar years, each Generator
Owner and Transmission Owner with applicable Facilities shall coordinate the voltage
regulating system controls (including in-service limiters and protection functions) with
the applicable equipment capabilities and settings of the applicable Protection System
devices and functions.”

Requirement R1 section 1.1 defines two coordination items that are to be verified, with
the assumption of normal automatic voltage regulating control loop and steady-state
operating conditions:

1.1.1 “ The in-service limiters are set to operate before the Protection System of the
applicable Facility in order to avoid disconnecting the generator unnecessarily.”

1.1.2 “ The applicable in-service Protection System devices are set to operate to isolate
or de-energize equipment in order to limit the extent of damage when operating
conditions exceed equipment capabilities or stability limits.”

Requirement R2 requires GOs and TOs to resubmit PRC-019-2 compliance

documentation within 90 calendar days following applicable system equipment or
voltage regulating and protection system setting changes.

Synchronous Machine Study

Study Goals
To show compliance with PRC-019, GOs and TOs must provide evidence of equipment
capability, protection and voltage regulating coordination in the form of P-Q, R-X, Inverse
Time diagrams, or a combination of the above. In some cases, available machine
manufacturer’s data is not provided in a format that can be displayed on one of these
diagrams, and in that case PRC-019-2 does make allowance for “equivalent tables or
other evidence.”1

Study Process
The study process begins with acquiring information about the subject generator’s
capabilities, in-service limiters and protection system. Generator properties such as
impedances, MVA capability, rotor and stator current withstand, and V/Hz withstand
are provided by generator manufacturers. The data is typically provided in P-Q or
Time Current Coordination (TCC) plot format. Excitation system limit settings are
typically provided in the form of exciter programming documentation or settings

POWERENG.COM An Introduction to Completing a NERC PRC-019 Study for Traditional and Distributed Generation Sources 2
report. Generator protection settings are typically provided as plots in the case of
electromechanical relays, settings report or a settings file in the case of microprocessor
based relaying.

An ideal data set would include information about:

• Generator Capability & Impedances
• Unit Transformer (GSU) Rating and Impedance
• Loss of Excitation Protection Settings
• Over Excitation Limiter Settings
• Over Excitation Protection Settings
• Generator Rated Power Factor
• Under Excitation Limiter Settings
• GSU & Generator Volts/Hertz Capabilities
• Volts/Hertz Limiter Settings
• Voltage Regulation System Manuals
• One-Line Diagrams
• Three-Line Diagrams
After receiving data from an initial request for information (RFI), the data must be
reviewed to determine whether it is adequate to perform a PRC-019 study. The type
of data used in a PRC-019 study is not typically used in day-to-day plant operation of
a synchronous generator, and it is often misplaced or forgotten about or was never
delivered. As a result, it is typical to issue one or more follow-up RFIs before receiving
a complete data set for a PRC-019 study, and to assist the GO in issuing RFIs to
equipment manufacturers.

Once a complete data set is

compiled, the data is plotted on
diagrams appropriate to the data
received, typically P-Q, R-X and
inverse time-current or inverse
time-voltage plots. The PRC-019
standard document provides
examples of these plots. Figure 1
is a typical P-Q plot example
shown in PRC-019-2. Microsoft
Excel has proven to be a useful
tool for creating plots since
capability data can be input
directly and characteristics such
as steady-state stability limit
(SSSL), loss of field protection
and limiter characteristics can be
calculated in the same workbook
that is used to produce the plot.
Figure 1: Example Non-Compliant P-Q Plot

POWERENG.COM An Introduction to Completing a NERC PRC-019 Study for Traditional and Distributed Generation Sources 3
Once plotting is complete,
evaluating PRC-019 compliance
is straightforward. Non-
compliant limiters and protection
characteristics are apparent by
visual inspection of the plots.
Figure 2 shows an example of a
non-compliant P-Q plot. Observe
in this example that the under-
excitation limiter is set below
the SSSL curve, which does not
meet PRC-019 Requirement R1
because the machine may go out
of synchronism before the limiter
takes action.

Figure 3 shows the typical

Initiate PRC-019-2 Study synchronous generator PRC-019 Figure 2: PRC-019-2 Example P-Q Plot
study process in flow chart form.

Issue RFI to Obtain Common Stumbling Blocks

Pertinent Facility Data A manufacturer’s machine data quantity and quality varies widely among manufacturers.
It also tends to vary with the age of the generator. Newer generators tend to have more
data available as less time has passed for it to be misplaced or destroyed, and with
Analyze and Process modern numerical controls and protective relays, the O&M manuals usually include
Facility Data NO
extensive listings of settings. Older generators tend to have less data available for
the reason noted above. In addition, data for older generators tends to be of poorer
resolution, either in the original document or in scans and copies over time, which
Is Data Set can be difficult to interpret. Older generators may also make use of analog excitation
Sufficient to Complete controls that are obsolete and not currently supported by the OEM, requiring extensive
Study?
research to determine how limiters are implemented, or even if the function exists.

YES Report
A PRC-019 compliance report must convey to a compliance auditor that the subject
generator or synchronous condenser meets the requirements stated in the PRC-019
Plot Data
standard. A secondary audience is typically engineering staff responsible for the
generation or transmission facility the subject unit belongs to. A tertiary audience of
managers may also need to be able to glean information from the report, such as the
Is Facility need for replacement of relays or voltage regulating equipment.
Compliant?
The report should progress from a high-level overview to a detailed discussion of the
analysis and results. The report must include a detailed description of any assumptions
NO
that were made about the subject generating unit or data interpretations that were
YES required. The report structure should allow management personnel to read the initial
Update Non- overview and summary and see at a glance where problems were identified in a specific
Compliant Settings subsystem. The body of the report will include figures as described in PRC-019, as well
as tables and text as necessary to demonstrate to a compliance auditor that limiters,
protection and unit capability are coordinated per the requirements of PRC-019. The
Write Report Detailing Equipment and
body of the report should also contain all of the detail a protection engineer would need
Settings Which Are Compliant or
Non-Compliant and Exempt to understand the analysis that was performed and to reproduce any portion of the
study if needed to confirm the results.
Provide Evidence of Compliance
with P-Q, R-X and Inverse Time
Over Current Plots or Other To assist GOs in generating RSAW (Reliability Standard Audit Worksheet) documents
Evidence as Required in a uniform manner, NERC has developed a standard RSAW template for PRC-019 and
many other compliance standards. The PRC-019 report writer is strongly advised to
Figure 3: PRC-019 Study Process use the RSAW template as reference to ensure the report includes all the necessary

POWERENG.COM An Introduction to Completing a NERC PRC-019 Study for Traditional and Distributed Generation Sources 4
information. The report itself is then used to provide backup evidence of study
completion when the RSAW package is assembled and submitted for periodic reliability
audit by the GO’s compliance officer.

Asynchronous Machine Study

Study Goals
Unlike completing a PRC-019 study for a traditional synchronous generator, there are
no specified limiter functions, protective devices, or example diagrams in the PRC-019
standard related to asynchronous generators. Asynchronous generators are typically
found in a network of multiple similar generators connected into a collector substation,
such as at a wind farm or solar PV facility. Although wind and solar PV generators
are commonly combined at a central facility, wind and solar generation facilities are
generally considered distributed generation (DG) or distributed energy resources (DER)
because the facilities are an assembly of multiple individual generators that themselves
are far smaller than the 20 MVA minimum described above.

Completing a PRC-019 study of an asynchronous generator facility requires a different

analysis method than the typical synchronous generator facility. PRC-019 compliance
can be completed for wind or solar generators by understanding the goal of PRC-19 and
likening functions found in asynchronous facilities to those at synchronous facilities.
The following description will focus on Type I and Type III wind turbine facilities, but the
same study process can be applied to any asynchronous DER facility.

Study Description
An asynchronous generator PRC-19 study begins with acquiring information about the
individual generator, the collector system, and plant-level controls. Each of the three
sections represents a different analysis phase and will require information specific to
that area. Many of the same issues with data collection that occur in a synchronous
generator study are encountered while gathering data for an asynchronous generator
study. Turbine manufacturer, facility designer, and current operating entity can affect
what documentation is available and what information is present in each particular
document. Asynchronous generator and facility data tend to be much less standardized
than data for traditional synchronous generators. As responses to the initial RFI are
returned, a more specific request for the outstanding information can be sent.

Figure 4 shows a diagram for each of the four types of wind turbine generators (WTGs)
commonly used to date, which include:
• Type I: Induction generator
• Type II: Induction generator with variable rotor resistance
• Type III: Doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG)
• Type IV: Asynchronous or synchronous generator with full converter interface.
This WTG can make use of DC or AC
generators and avoid the use of a gearbox.

Most existing wind farms are constructed of either the older Type I induction
generators with static capacitor compensation or newer Type III DFIG WTGs. Following
advancements to the newest Type IV full converter synchronous WTG, it is possible
that many of the same limiter and protection functions found in a typical synchronous
generator could be present. If functions matched those specifically listed in the PRC-019
standard, it is reasonable that a more standard analysis technique could be performed,
including the creation of a typical P-Q plot. Considering the depth of information
required in regard to generator characteristics, it would seem likely that for a study of
Figure 4: Turbine Type Diagrams2
that type, the generator manufacturer would need to provide most of the information.

POWERENG.COM An Introduction to Completing a NERC PRC-019 Study for Traditional and Distributed Generation Sources 5
Phase 1 - Individual Generator Analysis
Depending on the manufacturer, the following functions can be found in Type I machines:
• Normal condition shutdown limiter(s)
• Emergency condition shutdown limiter(s)
• Overcurrent or overpower relays
• Machine thermal overload curve
• Turbine main overcurrent relay (MCCB1)
• Step-up transformer specifications
• Step-up transformer protection (fuse or relay)
If the information above is
available, individual analysis is a
fairly simple task of plotting all
functions on a TCC plot. Figure 5
shows an example TCC for a 1 MW
Type I WTG.

Considering a simplified wording

of the two coordination items
1.1.1 and 1.1.2 listed in R1 of
the PRC-019-2 standard, limiters
should operate before protective
devices, and protective devices
should operate to limit equipment
damage. It is reasonable to
consider that Figure 5 TCC verifies
both required coordination items.
If adequate wind conditions are
present, all WTGs can operate at
full power output before a hard-
stop limiter function operates by
adjusting prop pitch to reduce
power output. The normal and
emergency limiters are properly
coordinated to operate before
either protective device would
Figure 5: Example Type I WTG PRC-019 Coordination
trip the generator offline, thus
demonstrating compliance for
Requirement R1 1.1.1. All protective devices are properly coordinated to operate before
damage would occur to either the WTG or the step-up transformer, demonstrating
compliance for Requirement R1 1.1.2. The decision to consider the step-up transformer
protection and damage curve as part of the individual analysis is up to interpretation.
While damage to the transformer would only occur for a near bus fault, it seems
consistent to include those protection elements and damage curves in the individual
analyses considering a damaged transformer will result in the WTG also being offline
until equipment can be repaired or replaced.

Individual analysis of a Type III WTG is very similar to the process described above for a
Type I WTG, but with one main difference: power output comes from both the stator and
rotor converter of a Type III WTG.

Along with a majority of the same information required for a Type I turbine analysis, the
output capabilities of both the stator and converter are needed for Type III turbine analysis.

POWERENG.COM An Introduction to Completing a NERC PRC-019 Study for Traditional and Distributed Generation Sources 6
Figure 6 shows an example
TCC for a 2.08 MVA Type III
WTG. Of a maximum 2080 KVA
combined power output, the
stator produces 1887 KVA and
the converter produces 193 KVA
of the total output. These output
limits are typically not present in
documentation available at the
generation site but can normally
be found in the manufacture’s
turbine-specific O&M manual.
Because of output from both the
converter and stator, an individual
breaker is usually installed on
each. Much like the individual
machine analysis for a Type I
WTG, analysis of a Type III WTG
simply requires plotting all limit
and protection functions on a
Time-Current Coordination plot.
Due to the nature of a Type III
WTG, by design there is very little
coordination margin between
the output limit function and the
Figure 6: Example Type III WTG PRC-019 Coordination
associated protective device. As
shown in Figure 6, Both the stator
and converter output limits are properly coordinated to operate before either protective
device that would trip the generator offline, thus demonstrating compliance for
Requirement R1 1.1.1. All protective devices (relays) are properly coordinated to operate
before extensive damage would occur to either the WTG or the step-up transformer,
demonstrating Requirement R1 1.1.2. There is an argument to be made that this level
of analysis is satisfactory to verify NERC PRC-019-2 compliance, but some protective
elements as part of the collective system can behave in the manor of a limiter, which
requires additional analysis.

Combined System Analysis

Combined system analysis begins with the same process used for individual generator
analyses. The grouping of generators can typically be seen in two levels. The first level
is a feeder string consisting of between 5 and 15 WTGs, and the second is a collector or
feeder bus made up of multiple strings with a total of 30 to 150 WTGs. Depending on the
overall facility configuration, the collector bus connects to one or more generator step-
up (GSU) transformers and voltage regulating equipment. Voltage regulating equipment
can include switchable shunt capacitor banks, reactor banks, or control systems with
capacitive capabilities such as a DVAR system. Protective relaying is typically present
at each area listed above: feeder, collector bus, GSU transformer, and voltage- regulating
equipment. Feeder limits are the individual WTG power output limits multiplied by the
number of interconnected WTGs. The collector bus limit is the individual WTG power
output limits multiplied by the total number of interconnected WTGs plus the full VAR
output of the voltage-regulating equipment. Any protective device must be set above
these output limits to be compliant with PRC-019 Requirement R1.

Figure 7 shows a combined TCC considering the heaviest loaded feeder, collector,
and control system limits and protection functions.

POWERENG.COM An Introduction to Completing a NERC PRC-019 Study for Traditional and Distributed Generation Sources 7
Figure 7: Example Combined PRC-019 Coordination

1.25 p.u. WTG Inst Time

Feeder & GSU Short Time Overvoltage Trip
Overvoltage Trip
1.2 p.u. WTG Inst Time
Cap Bank, Feeder, & GSU Overvoltage Trip
Long Time Overvoltage Trip
1.15 p.u. WTG Inst Time
Overvoltage Trip

Fast Voltage Control Region 1.1 p.u. WTG Inst Time

Overvoltage Trip

1.045 p.u.

Slow Voltage Control Region

1.01 p.u.
Deadband
0.99 p.u.

Slow Voltage Control Region

0.955 p.u.

Fast Voltage Control Region 0.9 p.u.

0.8 p.u.

Feeder Undervoltage Trip

0.5 p.u.

Capacitor Undervoltage Trip

Figure 8: Example PRC-019 Voltage Coordination Plot

POWERENG.COM An Introduction to Completing a NERC PRC-019 Study for Traditional and Distributed Generation Sources 8
Plant-Level Control Analysis
Plant-level control can vary in complexity from a single relay switching in capacitor
banks based on power flow to a DVAR system with communication to each individual
turbine. Plant controllers typically operate in either voltage or power factor control
modes. Voltage control mode usually maintains the voltage within a contracted range at
the utility point of interconnection (POI). Power factor control mode usually measures
current and voltage at the regulated POI, compares these values to a contracted power
factor range, and then calculates what VAR compensation is needed to maintain the
target power factor. Relay switching plant-level control analysis is minimal; simply
review capacitor bank relays for overcurrent settings that would trip the facility offline
before the individual or combined WTG output limits are met. Advanced power factor
or voltage-regulating schemes require a more thorough analysis to determine whether
control limits will curtail WTG output and whether voltage-regulating limits and
protection are properly coordinated. Figure 8 shows a voltage coordination plot for a
DVAR-STATCOM system regulating voltage at the 138kV collector bus.

Figure 8 was created to address wording in Requirement R1 that “Facilities shall

coordinate the voltage regulating system controls, with applicable equipment capability
and setting of the projection system devices and functions.”1 Both voltage limits and
protection set points for the WTG, feeder, collector, and plant controller are shown to be
coordinated and therefore demonstrate compliance.

Challenges and Lessons Learned

Data Availability
As mentioned previously, the data used in PRC-019 studies is not typically used day to
day and is often misplaced, of poor quality or the owner simply isn’t familiar with what is
being requested. For older installations with paper documentation, a site visit to review
all available documentation is often required. For newer installations with O&Ms in PDF
format or other electronic documentation, it is typical to request all documentation the
owner has via email or FTP site, and a site visit is not required.

It is not uncommon to receive the exact data requested, only to find it unusable. Paper
drawings that have been scanned may lack the resolution to pick up small text, which
tends to be the most pertinent text, particularly if the drawings have been scanned
multiple times. Nameplate photographs tend to be useless when the nameplate has
been painted over during maintenance. Corroded nameplates for older units have also
been an issue.

If data is unavailable, it
may be re-created from
equipment standards and
reference texts in some
cases. The P-Q Diagram
in Figure 9 was calculated
using equations from
“Electric Machinery
Fundamentals.”3

Figure 9: Calculated Theoretical P-Q Diagram

POWERENG.COM An Introduction to Completing a NERC PRC-019 Study for Traditional and Distributed Generation Sources 9
Shortly after the P-Q Diagram
in Figure 9 was developed, the
manufacturer’s P-Q Diagram for the
generator was received. Figure 10
is a plot of the manufacturer’s P-Q
diagram for the generator.

It is apparent by observation that

the theoretical plot in Figure 9 and
the manufacturer’s plot in Figure 10
are very similar in general shape.
Although they are significantly
different along the lower half of the
MVARS axis, the general shape of
the curves would both drive field
current limiter and loss-of-excitation
settings to very similar values. When
machine capacity plots are not
available, such as for a hydro-turbine
generator that may be over 90 years Figure 10: Manufacturer’s P-Q Diagram

old, it is acceptable to recreate this

information using standard methods
described in engineering texts.

Atypical Data
Data sometimes comes in formats
that don’t fit typical reporting
diagrams. Figure 11 shows a sample
of a Volts-per-Hertz capability plot
from a generator manufacturer that
was given simply in terms of voltage
and frequency per unit values, rather
than a time based withstand curve.

In this case, protective settings were

interpreted to fit the withstand curve
in the format it was provided in. Figure 11: Atypical Data Format
Figure 12 shows the resulting plot.

It is clear by observation that the

applicable limiter is coordinated
with the applicable protection
elements. Although the plot is not
in a typical format, it does show
that the limiters and protection on
that generator are compliant with
PRC-019.

Figure 12: Atypical Voltage/Frequency Plot

POWERENG.COM An Introduction to Completing a NERC PRC-019 Study for Traditional and Distributed Generation Sources 10
Manufacturer Data
Contacting manufacturers directly has been a successful step in receiving any
outstanding information for generators of all types. Typically, supplying a model and
serial number for the generator is required to receive useful data. In some instances,
the manufacturer has required that the data request come from the generator owner
directly, but in others the manufacturer has provided it to a third party. In a few
instances, data requests have been denied based on the claim that the requested
information is proprietary, an unfortunate situation with many DER OEMs. With
manufacturers that have reservations about sharing certain information, many times
holding a teleconference with the manufacture, generation owner, and the third party
performing the study can help assure that only the minimum amount of information
required to successfully complete the study is being asked for.

Regulatory Interpretation
PRC-019-2 was clearly written with classic synchronous generators and condensers
in mind. To apply PRC-019 to asynchronous generators requires meeting the intent of
the standard rather than creating a plot explicitly given in the standard. It is important
to keep in mind that the most important audience of a PRC-019 study is the reliability
coordinator for the North American region where the generation facility is located.
It is critically important to provide adequate information and thoroughly justify your
interpretations of the standard to help step a compliance auditor through the study
process and come to the same conclusion. The complete study must assure a
compliance auditor that the generator or condenser facility will operate as intended
by the requirements of PRC-019.

Conclusions
As the bulk electric system evolves it is becoming increasingly intricate, which creates
new reliability challenges. Unforeseen BES events are going to occur, and NERC will
respond with revised reliability standards in an attempt to prevent those events from
happening. As standards are revised, gaps in supporting documentation for what
demonstrates compliance may require an interpretation of the standard for certain
facilities until more prescriptive requirements are developed.

The task of NERC PRC-019 compliance may seem cumbersome considering the
amount of non-typical information required and the lack of guidance in the standard
for what is expected to show compliance for DER facilities. Through those difficulties,
a PRC-019 study can provide an opportunity to document facility information for a
generating facility which would otherwise not be available for future use.

References
1. “NERC PRC-019-2 Coordination of Generating Unit or Plant Capabilities, Voltage
Regulating Controls, and Protection.” National Electric Reliability Council,
Version 2, May 29, 2015.

2. “Articles about Wind Power & More.” Isaac Brana, https://isaacbrana.wordpress.

com/2010/07/09/generators-in-wind-turbines, Accessed September 1, 2017.

3. “Electric Machinery Fundamentals.” Stephen Chapman, 2011.

4. “NERC Considerations for Power Plant and Transmission System Protection

Coordination.” National Electrical Reliability Council, July 2015.

5. “IEEE C37.102-2006 IEEE Guide for AC Generator Protection.”

POWERENG.COM An Introduction to Completing a NERC PRC-019 Study for Traditional and Distributed Generation Sources 11