Method for protecting an electrical power system

An electrical power system connected to a power grid, comprising:

• at least one cluster of electrical power subsystems, each of the electrical power subsystems comprising a power converter electrically coupled to a generator having a generator rotor and a generator stator, each of the electrical power subsystems defining a stator power path and a converter power path for providing power to the power grid, each of the electrical power subsystems further comprising a partial power transformer within the converter power path;
• a subsystem switch configured with each of the electrical power subsystems;
• a cluster transformer connecting each cluster of electrical power subsystems to the power grid;
• a cluster switch communicatively coupled to the cluster transformer;
• and,
• a controller communicatively coupled to each of the plurality of electrical power subsystems, the controller configured to perform one or more operations, the operations comprising:
• monitoring the electrical power system for faults;
• and,
• if a fault is detected in the cluster transformer, sending, via the cluster switch, a trip signal to at least one of the subsystem switches or one of the power converters of the electrical power subsystems to disconnect at least one of the electrical power subsystems from the power grid, the trip signal comprising a signal that instructs at least one of the subsystem switches or one of the power converters to disconnect at least one of the electrical power subsystems from the power grid.

A method for protecting an electrical power system, the electrical power system having a plurality of clusters of electrical power subsystems with a cluster transformer connecting each cluster of electrical power subsystems to a power grid, each of the electrical power subsystems having a power converter electrically coupled to a generator with a generator rotor and a generator stator, each of the electrical power subsystems defining a stator power path and a converter power path for providing power to the power grid, each of the electrical power subsystems further comprising a partial power transformer within the converter power path, the method comprising:

• monitoring the electrical power system for faults;
• wherein monitoring the electrical power system for faults further comprises monitoring the stator power path of each of the electrical power systems for faults and monitoring the cluster transformer for faults;
• upon detection of a fault in one of the clusters of electrical power subsystems, determining a location of the fault;
• if the fault is located within the stator power path of one of the electrical power subsystems of one of the clusters, sending, via a subsystem switch electrically coupled with the electrical power subsystem experiencing the fault or a power converter of the electrical power subsystem experiencing the fault, a block signal to a cluster switch electrically coupled to the cluster transformer associated with the cluster experiencing the fault, the block signal comprising a signal that instructs the cluster switch to not trip in response to the fault being detected;
• and,
• if the fault is located outside of the electrical power subsystems but within one of the clusters, in the cluster transformer, sending, via the cluster switch, a trip signal to each subsystem switch or each power converter within the cluster experiencing the fault, the trip signal comprising a signal that instructs each subsystem switch or each power converter within the cluster experiencing the fault to disconnect from the power grid.