12386 version 5
Page 1 of 6
Operate electricity generating electrical control systems on site
Level
4
Credits
6
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard are able to: demonstrate knowledge of
the principles of electricity generator operation and protection; identify and
communicate generating plant status and generation parameters; operate
generating plant on site; respond to events; and document the generating
plant operation.
Subfield
Electricity Supply
Domain
Electricity Supply - Power System Management
Status
Registered
Status date
16 April 2010
Date version published
16 April 2010
Planned review date
31 December 2014
Entry information
Prerequisite: Unit 12390, Demonstrate knowledge of
electricity supply systems, or demonstrate equivalent
knowledge and skills.
Accreditation
Evaluation of documentation and visit by NZQA and
industry.
Standard setting body (SSB)
Electricity Supply Industry Training Organisation
Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP) reference
0120
This AMAP can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Special notes
1
This unit standard is intended for, but not restricted to, workplace assessment. The
range statements within the unit standard can be applied according to industry
specific equipment, procedures, and processes.
2
Safety of personnel and plant must be a priority throughout the assessment. If the
safety requirements are not met the assessment must stop.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
12386 version 5
Page 2 of 6
3
Performance and work practices in relation to the elements and performance criteria
must comply with all current legislation, especially the Electricity Act 1992, and any
regulations and codes of practice recognised under that statute; the Health and
Safety in Employment Act 1992; and the Resource Management Act 1991.
Electricity supply industry codes of practice and documented industry procedures
include the Safety Manual – Electricity Industry (SM-EI) Wellington: Electricity
Engineers’ Association. A full list of current legislation and industry codes is
available from the Electricity Supply Industry Training Organisation, PO Box 1245,
Waikato Mail Centre, Hamilton 3240.
4
The phrase in accordance with industry requirements is implicit in all elements and
performance criteria in this unit standard.
5
Reference to procedures and specifications in this unit standard may be taken as
including documented procedures and specifications relevant to the workplace in
which assessment is carried out.
6
Industry requirements include all asset owner requirements; manufacturers’
specifications; and enterprise requirements which cover the documented workplace
policies, procedures, specifications, business, and quality management requirements
relevant to the workplace in which assessment is carried out.
7
Asset owner refers to the owner of an electricity supply network that takes its point of
supply from Transpower NZ and delivers electricity to industrial, commercial, and
residential customers.
8
This unit standard covers on-site electrical operation of generators not exceeding
100Mw, powered by steam, wind, or motor.
9
This unit standard excludes hydro generation plant, and thermal generation plant
exceeding 100Mw.
10
The following terms and abbreviations relate to this unit standard:
Data refers to the information of a written or numerical form. The latter may include
summary statistics, information in tables, and numbers displayed in a variety of
graphs.
The term operate is defined as manual operation and testing of electricity generation
plant including plant adjustments, isolations and restorations.
Generator includes: stator core and windings, rotor poles and windings, slip rings,
bearings.
Auxiliary equipment includes - main exciter, commutator, pilot exciter, voltage
regulator, cooling systems, lube oil systems, seal systems, brake systems.
Switching refers to actions carried out by a network control centre to divert electrical
current, and permit contractors to perform work safely and efficiently on an electricity
supply network without discontinuing supply to customers.
SCADA is the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system, a computer system
that is used to operate equipment and monitor the performance of the electrical
power system and/or network, gather data for analytical purposes, and generally
assist the operation and delivery of electrical network functions concerning the supply
of electricity to customers.
DC - Direct current
AC - Alternating current
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
12386 version 5
Page 3 of 6
Elements and performance criteria
Element 1
Demonstrate knowledge of the principles of electricity generator operation and protection.
Range
includes but is not limited to – governors, generators, exciters, transformers,
control and protection, batteries, communications and auxiliary plant.
Performance criteria
1.1
The principles of mechanical and electrical power and energy are described.
Range
1.2
The principles of electrical power systems and electricity generators are
described.
Range
1.3
generator efficiency and capability, resource consent constraints
on operation.
The responsibilities of electricity generation plant operators are defined.
Range
1.5
AC systems, DC systems, prime movers, transmission and
distribution, frequency, voltage.
The principles of efficient resource use are defined and explained.
Range
1.4
potential and kinetic power and energy, moment of inertia,
rotational energy, electrical active power and energy, efficiency.
controlling output power to dispatch, efficient utilisation of fuel
resource, observing resource consent limits, work control
documentation.
The principles of generator electrical protection are described.
Range
generator circuit breaker control, current transformers, voltage
transformers, neutral earthing connection, thermal overload
protection, protective relays for overcurrent, earth fault, generator
stator differential, overall generator – transformer differential, over
and under voltage, over and under frequency, rotor earth fault,
field failure, pole slipping, reverse power.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
12386 version 5
Page 4 of 6
Element 2
Identify and communicate generating plant status and generation parameters.
Range
log contents, work control documents in force, voltage, active power (MW),
reactive power (MVAR), fuel storage and sources.
Performance criteria
2.1
Plant and auxiliary equipment status is determined.
Range
2.2
Planned events that impact on equipment status are identified and their impact
determined and recorded.
Range
2.3
operator log, indications, alarms.
planned outages, work requests, work control systems.
Information is transferred to relevant personnel in a manner and timeframe
which meets established operating requirements.
Element 3
Operate generating plant on site.
Range
governing, frequency, excitation, voltage, voltage phase and speed matching,
synchronising, active power setting, reactive power setting, operations, SCADA
operation, local operation, emergency operating.
Performance criteria
3.1
Plant and equipment are operated.
Range
3.2
single line diagram, mover, fuel controls, governor, generator,
excitation equipment, bearings, associated auxiliary equipment,
switchgear, connections to system, manufacturer’s operating
manuals and specifications.
Operating decisions are determined in accordance with plant status, local
knowledge, and operating requirements.
Range
includes but is not limited to – plant availability and service
condition, resource consent and capability limits, impact, options,
alternatives.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
12386 version 5
Page 5 of 6
3.3
Plant and equipment are started in sequence and within defined plant
capabilities in accordance with schedules and workplace procedures.
Range
3.4
Plant and equipment are operated.
Range
3.5
starting and running up generator set, speed governing, excitation
and matching voltage, matching speed and phase voltage,
synchronising, behaviour of speed and voltage control before and
after synchronising.
resource consents, power ramping rates where applicable, fuel
flow, cooling water discharge rates where applicable, prime mover
fuel efficiency load curves, generator capability diagrams, local
standing instructions.
Plant and equipment are monitored within established operating requirements.
Range
includes but is not limited to – indications, alarms, power status,
defects, action confirmation.
Element 4
Respond to events.
Range
emergency, unscheduled event, abnormal condition, alarms, protective relay
operation, power system faults, forced outage.
Performance criteria
4.1
System is stabilised.
Range
4.2
The event and/or cause of the event is/are identified using available resources.
Range
4.3
alarms and protective relay operation identified, events lists, event
recording charts, alarms and protective relay flaggings listed,
SCADA.
The event is acknowledged.
Range
4.4
indications, alarms and protective relay operation acknowledged
and reset, active and reactive power outputs stabilised.
acknowledgement, logging.
The impact of the event on generation is determined and responded to in
accordance with established procedures, policies, priorities and instructions.
Range
local control, contingency plans, emergency operating procedures,
restart procedures and limitations.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
12386 version 5
Page 6 of 6
4.5
The event is analysed to identify options to remedy or mitigate undesired
conditions and identify future actions using established analysis tools and
procedures.
Range
4.6
event reporting procedures, maintenance management systems,
log book, event lists, relay flag sheets, plant history records.
The event reporting is conducted in accordance with established procedures
and instructions.
Range
local instructions, event reporting standards, Health and Safety in
Employment Act 1992, Electricity Act 1992, Electricity Regulations
1997.
Element 5
Document the generating plant operation.
Range
service report, log book, test reports and results, plant history, work control
documentation, event lists, generator availability data system, maintenance
management system, electronic log, operating orders and/or switching sheets,
plant outage requests, data, check sheets, statistical log sheets.
Performance criteria
5.1
Recorded information is complete, concise, and legible.
5.2
Information is recorded in the required format and filed within scheduled
timeframe.
Please note
Providers must be accredited by NZQA, or an inter-institutional body with delegated
authority for quality assurance, before they can report credits from assessment against
unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be accredited by NZQA before they can register
credits from assessment against unit standards.
Accredited providers and Industry Training Organisations assessing against unit standards
must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.
Accreditation requirements and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this
standard are outlined in the Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP). The
AMAP also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations
wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for
tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact the Electricity Supply Industry Training Organisation info@esito.org.nz if
you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016