Generator protection element

1. A system, comprising:

a steam turbine;

a generator coupled to the steam turbine and configured to generate electrical energy from mechanical energy provided by the steam turbine, and the generator in electrical communication with an electric power generation and transmission system;

an intelligent electronic device (IED), comprising:

a generator monitoring subsystem configured to measure a real power output and an imaginary power output of a generator;

an electrical parameter threshold subsystem configured to determine whether the measured real power output and the measured imaginary power output satisfy a tripping characteristic, the tripping characteristic being defined by a function having a first slope above a real power axis and a second slope below the real power axis, the first slope and the second slope being equal and opposite, and the measured imaginary power output of the generator;

a time subsystem configured to determine a length of time during which the tripping characteristic is satisfied; and

a tripping subsystem configured to issue a trip command based upon satisfaction of the tripping characteristic for the length of time and a motoring condition;

an electrical interrupter configured to selectively interrupt an electrical connection between the generator and the electric power generation and transmission system based on the trip command.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the function accommodates a measurement error that occurs during a period of high measured imaginary power output of the generator.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the tripping characteristic correlates a decrease in the measured real power output of the generator with an increase in the measured imaginary power output of the generator.

4. A generator protection element, comprising:

a generator monitoring subsystem configured to measure a real power output and to measure an imaginary power output of a generator;

an electrical parameter threshold subsystem configured to determine whether the measured real power output and the measured imaginary power output satisfy a tripping characteristic, the tripping characteristic being defined by a function having a slope with respect to a real power axis and an imaginary power axis, wherein the function comprises a piecewise function having a first slope above a real power axis and a second slope below the real power axis, the first slope and the second slope being equal and opposite;

a tripping subsystem configured to issue a trip command based upon satisfaction of the tripping characteristic.

5. The generator protection element of claim 4 , further comprising a time subsystem configured to determine a length of time during which the tripping characteristic is satisfied; and wherein the tripping subsystem is further configured to issue the trip command based on the length of time.

6. The generator protection element of claim 4 , further comprising:

a sensor element in electrical communication with the generator and configured to measure the measured real power output and the measured imaginary power output of the generator.

7. The generator protection element of claim 4 , wherein the slope is constant and the function comprises a linear function.

8. The generator protection element of claim 4 , wherein the function comprises a piecewise linear function.

9. A generator protection element, comprising:

a generator monitoring subsystem configured to measure a real power output and to measure an imaginary power output of a generator;

an electrical parameter threshold subsystem configured to determine whether the measured real power output and the measured imaginary power output satisfy a tripping characteristic, the tripping characteristic being defined by a piecewise linear function having a slope with respect to a real power axis and an imaginary power axis;

a tripping subsystem configured to issue a trip command based upon satisfaction of the tripping characteristic;

wherein the piecewise linear function defines a first linear segment having a first slope and a second linear segment having a second slope, wherein the first slope and the second slope are equal and opposite.

10. The generator protection element of claim 4 , wherein the function defines a reverse power condition and correlates an apparent increase in the measured real power output of the generator with an increase in the measured imaginary power output of the generator.

11. The generator protection element of claim 4 , further comprising:

a motoring detection subsystem configured to detect a motoring condition based on the measured real power output and the measured imaginary power output of the generator; and

wherein the motoring detection subsystem is configured to require detection of the motoring condition prior to issuing the trip command.

12. The generator protection element of claim 4 , wherein the generator is configured to receive mechanical energy from a turbine.

13. A method of monitoring an electrical generator using a generator protection element, comprising:

measuring a real power output and an imaginary power output of a generator;

determining whether the measured real power output and the measured imaginary power output satisfy a tripping characteristic, the tripping characteristic being defined by a function having a slope with respect to a real power axis and an imaginary power axis, wherein the function comprises a piecewise function having a first slope above a real power axis and a second slope below the real power axis, the first slope and the second slope being equal and opposite;

determining a length of time during which the tripping characteristic is satisfied; and

issuing a trip command based upon satisfaction of the tripping characteristic for the length of time.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the slope is constant and the function comprises a linear function.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the function comprises a piecewise linear function.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the function defines a reverse power condition and correlates an increase in the measured real power output of the generator with an increase in the measured imaginary power output of the generator.

17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

detecting a motoring condition based on the measured real power output and the measured imaginary power output of the generator; and

requiring detection of the motoring condition prior to issuing the trip command.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising removing all sources of electro mechanical energy from the generator.

19. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

measuring the measured real power output and the measured imaginary power output of the generator using a sensor element in electrical communication with the generator.

20. The method of claim 13 , wherein the slope is oriented toward the positive P axis.