Parallel Operation

of Synchronous Generators
Based on Sections 5.9
of the Textbook

Generators being paralleled with a running power

system

G1

G2

Gn

Load

Why are synchronous generators operated in parallel?

Many generators can supply a bigger load than one machine
by itself.
Having many generators increases the reliability of the power
system, since failure of any one of them does not cause a total
power loss to the load.
Having many generators operating in parallel allows one or
more of them to be removed for shutdown and preventive
maintenance.
If only one generator is used and it is not operating at near full
load, then it will be relatively inefficient. But with many
machines it is possible to operate only a fraction of them. The
ones that do operate near full load and therefore more
efficiently.

What are the conditions for paralleling?

The RMS line voltages of the two generators must be equal.
The two generators must have the same phase sequence.
The phase angles of the two a phases must be equal.
The frequency of the new generators, called the oncoming
generator, must be slightly higher than the frequency of the
running system.

The three-light-bulb method for checking phase

sequence.

G1

G2

Gn

Load

Frequency-Power and Voltage-Reactive Power

Characteristics

Prime movers: Steam turbine, diesel

turbine, wind turbine, water turbine,
and gas turbine.
As the power drawn from prime
movers increases, the speed at which
they turn decreases. The decrease is
usually nonlinear. Some form of
governor mechanism is usually
included to make the decrease in
speed linear with an increase in power
demand.
Whatever governor mechanism is
present on a prime mover, it will
always be adjusted to provide a slight
drooping characteristics with
increasing load. The speed droop (SD)
of a prime mover is defined by the
equation:

nnl - nf l
SD
100%
nf l
nnl is the no load prime mover speed
nfl is the full load prime mover speed.

nnl

nnl

nfl

nfl

r/min

Hz

Pfl
Power KW

Pfl
Power kW

The relation between frequency and power

P S P f nl - f sys
P power output of the generator
f nl no - load frequency of the generator
f sys operating frequency of system
S P slope of curve, in kW/Hz or MW/Hz.

Operation of generators in parallel with large

power systems

VT

fe

Power P, kW (supplied)

Power Q, kVAR (supplied)

The concept if infinite bus

An infinite bus is a power system so large that its voltage and
frequency do not vary regardless of how much real and reactive is
drawn from or supplied to it. The power frequency characteristic of
such a system is shown in the previous figures.
fe
fnl

Pinf bus

PG
Pload

Operation of generators in parallel with other

generators of the same size
The power house

Generator 1

Generator 2

fe
60 Hz

PG1

Ptot Pload PG1 PG 2

PG2

In the case of two generators are operating together

The system is constrained in that the total power supplied by the two
generators together must equal the amount consumed by the load.
To adjust the real power sharing between generators without changing fsys,
simultaneously increase the governor set points on one generator while
decreasing the governor set points on the other. The machine whose
governor set point was increased will assume more of the load.
To adjust fsys without changing the real power sharing, simultaneously
increase or decrease both generators governor set points.
To adjust the reactive power sharing between generators without changing
VT, simultaneously increase the field current on one generator while
decreasing the field current on the other. The machine whose field current
was increased will assume more of the load.
To adjust VT without changing the reactive power sharing, simultaneously
increase or decrease both generators field currents.

Important! from the textbook

See Figure 5-38
Solve Example 5-5
Solve Example 5-6

Unity power factor

Ef

Im

Underexcited

Ef

V = fixed in magnitude,
phase, and frequency

Infinite bus
Per-phase model of a synchronous generator
operating into an infinite bus.

Overexcited

Re