Parallel operation of generators

D.C. generators
For compound wound D.C. generators it is usually sufficient to ensure that the voltages of the incoming
generator is the same as the bus bar voltage. The equalising connection joining the junctions between the
armatures and their series fields is incorporated in the circuit breaker in such a way that the equalising
connection is automatically closed before and opens after, the main contacts. y adjustment of the shunt
field regulator the load sharing may be controlled
A.C. alternators
To parallel alternators the following conditions are required;
1. Same voltage-checked with the voltmeter
2. Same frequency-checked with the frequency meter and synchroscope
3. Same phase angle-checked with synchroscope
4. Same phase rotation-checked with rotation meter. Only important when connecting shore
supply or after maintenance on switchgear or alternator.
Load Sharing Of Alternators In Parallel
!lternators in parallel must always run at the same speed. !fter a machine has been paralleled and is
required to take up its share of the load, this will not be achieved by adjusting the field e"citation current.
!lthough the increase in e.m.f. will cause a current to flow in the busbars, and this will show on the
machines ammeters, this is a reactive current that lags the e.m.f. by #$o and produces a reactive %k&!r'
but not k(. )ts only effect is to alter the operating power factor of the alternator.
*ore power may be obtained at the bus bars from the incoming alternator only by supplying
more power to its prime mover. This increase of steam or fuel supply is achieved by altering the governor
setting either electrically or manually.
!fter adjusting the governor the incoming machine takes up its desired amount of the k(
loading and this is recorded on the machines watt meter. +owever, if the k( loading is shared equally
between two machines it may be found that the ,oad Current of the incoming machine is more or less
than the other machine. This is fue to the incoming machine having a different power factor. This may be
corrected by adjusting the e"citation of the incoming alternator.
Thus after paralleling an alternator;
i. !d"ust prime mover governor until k# loading is correct
ii. !d"ust field e$citation current until current sharing is correct.
)f the alternators have similar load characteristics, once adjusted, the load will continue to be shared. )f
the load characteristics of alternators vary, the k( loading and load current sharing may require
readjusting under different load conditions.
Load sharing of alternators
No1 on load
No1 on load, No2 synchronised and taking 1k!
No1 and No2 sharing load after ad"#sting go$ernor settings, e%citation ad"#sted to
pre$ent e%cessi$e $olt drop in No2
No1 and No2 sharing load &ith 'alanced po&er factors 'y ad"#sting e%citation
(he effects of altering (or)#e and *%citation on single phase
alternator plant+and 'y e%trapolation a ,+phase circ#it
efore paralleling, by varying -b, adjust the e"citation current in the rotor field of .. until
&a/&b. (hen in phase and at the same frequency synchronising may take place.
)f there was no e"ternal load on the bus bars the torque on the prime movers of ! and is
only that required by its own alternator and -a and -b are adjusted so that 0a and 0b are equal.
-elative to the bus bars 0a and 0b are acting in the same direction with each other making
the top bar positive with respect to the bottom bar.
-arying the dri$ing tor)#e
)f the driving torque of .. is reduced %less fuel supplied' the rotor falls back by an angle say
p.f.%b' giving a resultant e.m.f. of 01 in the closed circuit.
The e.m.f. 01 circulates a current ) which lags behind 01 by angle p.f.%a'.
This circulating current )is more or less in phase with 0a and in opposition to 0b.
This means that ! is generating power to motor and this will compensate for any loss of power in the
prime mover of .
2nce the power increase in ! equals the power loss of balance is restored and ! and continue to run
in synchronism.
Therefore the power is shared by adjusting the torque ( fuel input.)
Slight loss of po&er in .3is taken up by an increase in power from !. The terminal voltage
will not vary and the speed and frequency will stay the same or drop only very slightly.
Large loss of po&er in .3with a large circulating current from ! to the alternator ! will try
to drive as a synchronous motor. The amount of full load power required to drive an alternator as a
motor is only 4 to 56 for a turbine and 7$ to 746 for diesel engine.
!s the circulating current flows from ! to the reverse power trip on will operate after about 5 to 8
seconds.
!ll the load now falls on ! which will probably cause the overload trip to operate and .black out. .
-arying e%citation
Consider ! and are e"erting the torque required by its alternator and the generated e.m.f.
0a and 0b are equal. There is no circulating current.
y reducing -b the e"citation current in the field of can be increased and 0b will increase. 01 is the
resultant difference %0b 3 0a' which will give a circulating current ) through the synchronous impedances
of the two alternators. !s the machines are similar the impedance drop in each will be 79401 so the
terminal voltage
&7 / 0b 3 : 01 / 0a ; : 01
Therefore increasing the excitation current will increase the terminal voltage
!s p.f.%a' is almost #$
o
the <ower circulating from to ! is very small
01 ) Cos = p.f.%a'> appro" equals ?ero %Cos #$
o
/ ?ero'
*ffect of red#cing *%citation
y increasing -b the reduction of the field e"citation current of will reduce the terminal voltage
0a@0b terminal &oltage & / 0a 3 : 01 / 0b ; : 01
The circulating current ) from ! to will have a large .(attless. component. *achine ! now
has more of the lagging reactive current and its power factor is reduced. Too large a reduction in
e"citation current in with subsequent increase in load current in ! could cause the current overload trip
of ! to operate. This could be followed by the low voltage or the overload trip of operating causing a
black out.
-oltage reg#lation
The graph demonstrates that e"citation must be increased %generally' with increasing load to
maintain terminal voltage
The worse the power factor the worse the terminal voltage change during load change.
&oltage regulation / D& when load removed9 Full load terminal voltage
!t 7.$ p.f. / !C9 2!
!t $.A p.f / !D9 2!
Therefore lower p.f. / greater voltage regualtion