Generator Start Profile

Units:MW
Mode:Input Only
Multi-band:True
Default Value:1E+30
Validation Rule:Any Value
Key Property:No
Description:Detailed regime for running the unit up from zero to [Min Stable Level] when [Run Up Rate] is non-constant.

Generator Start Profile defines a series of megawatt steps that the generating units pass through while starting up. Note that if this running up rate is constant for any given cooling state you should use the Run Up Rate property instead.

Start Profile may also be used to define a ramping rate while a unit is 'cold' that is different to its normal Max Ramp Up—see Example 3 below. This feature is allowed because once a unit reaches Min Stable Level, then by default, the Start Profile acts only as an upper limit on Generation. However this behavior can be changed with the Start Profile Range setting.

The input scheme for Start Profile is a special case, where the Timeslice field is used to identify the stages of the start-up. Multiple bands are then used to vary the start-up regime according to the cooling state of the unit. When using multiple bands in this way you should also define the Start Cost and Start Cost Time using the same number of bands.

Example 1 not using cooling states

Property Value Units Band Timeslice
Units 1 - 1
Max Capacity 100 MW 1
Min Stable Level 40 MW 1
Start Cost 3000 $ 1
Start Profile 10 MW 1 H01
Start Profile 30 MW 1 H02
Start Profile 50 MW 1 H03

Example 2 using hot/warm/cold states

Property Value Units Band Timeslice
Units 1 - 1
Max Capacity 100 MW 1
Min Stable Level 40 MW 1
Start Cost 1000 $ 1
Start Cost 2500 $ 2
Start Cost 5000 $ 3
Start Cost Time 3 hrs 1
Start Cost Time 3 hrs 2
Start Cost Time 6 hrs 3
Start Profile 30 MW 1 H01
Start Profile 60 MW 1 H02
Start Profile 10 MW 2 H01
Start Profile 30 MW 2 H02
Start Profile 50 MW 2 H03
Start Profile 5 MW 3 H01
Start Profile 15 MW 3 H02
Start Profile 30 MW 3 H03
Start Profile 40 MW 3 H04

Example 3 modelling a slower ramp rate when unit is cold

In this case the Start Profile limits the ramping capability of the unit to 0.1667 MW/min (10MW/hr) for the first 10 hours after a start. After this time the normal ramping rate of 0.5 MW/min applies. This is illustrated in Figure 1.

Property Value Units Band Date From Date To Timeslice
Units 1 - 1
Max Capacity 100 MW 1
Min Stable Level 40 MW 1
Fuel Price 5 $/GJ 1
Heat Rate 10 GJ/MWh 1
Start Profile 10 MW 1 H01
Start Profile 20 MW 1 H02
Start Profile 30 MW 1 H03
Start Profile 40 MW 1 H04
Start Profile 50 MW 1 H05
Start Profile 60 MW 1 H06
Start Profile 70 MW 1 H07
Start Profile 80 MW 1 H08
Start Profile 90 MW 1 H09
Start Profile 100 MW 1 H10
Max Ramp Up 0.5 MW/min. 1
Max Ramp Down 0.5 MW/min. 1
Initial Generation 0 MW 1
Initial Units Generating 0 - 1
Figure 1: Start Profile as a ramping constraint

Note for users in Irish SEM: When the Uplift Compatibility attribute is set to "Irish SEM" the Start Profile value is expected to be a single interval and equal to the "block load" plus one period of maximum ramping. The input value is then raised to Min Stable Level if it is defined below that level, consistent with the Irish SEM market rules.

See also: