TITLE:

PARELLELING GENERATORS, POWER SHARING

AND POWER ANGLE OF GENERATORS

OBJECTIVES:
To connect two generators in parallel
To examine methods of controlling the real and reactive power
supplied by each machine
To examine the effect on power angle during system load
transference.

APPARATUS/EQUIPMENTS:
Moder-100 power simulator
Power computer

THEORY
A generator is also known as an alternator. This generator is a synchronous
generator. It is however, defined as a machine whose mechanical speed
under steady state conditions is proportional to the frequency of the voltage
and current in its armature (i.e it operates at synchronous speed). Theses
systems must be designed in such a way that synchronism will be
maintained following disturbances on the system.
The principle reasons for interconnected systems are reliability, continuity of
service and economies in plant investment and operating costs. Also,
Alternators are paralleled to get sufficient power for supply.
Incase one of the alternators is not working, the second alternator can
be used.
To handle load growth.

For alternators to be paralleled, the following requirements must be met:

They must have the same terminal voltages.
They must have the same phase sequence.

 They must have the same line frequencies.

Their individual voltages must be in exact phase opposition.
A synchronizing device or equipment must be used to satisfy the condition
of equal phase sequence or rotation. There are two methods. These are:
Synchroscope method
All lamps dark method
In this experiment, the synchroscope method will be used.
A synchroscope has a rotating hand and a dial labeled with slow and fast
direction arrows to show the incoming machine speed relation. The pointer
rotates clockwise if incoming machine is fast and anticlockwise if it is slow.
In addition, it has a pointer that continually indicates the phase angle
between the two source voltages.
It has two independent circuits, one being connected to incoming alternator
and the other to the bus line. The magnetic fields set up by theses two
circuits cause the hand to rotate. During synchronization, as the incoming
rotational speed nears synchronism, the speed of the synchroscope hand
drops enough to become visible. The hand speed is proportional to
difference in speed. When the hand comes to a standstill, this indicates
synchronism. The synchronizing switch connecting the incoming alternator
to the bus line may be closed, after making the final check on the magnitude

of the voltages. But in this experiment, synchronization of the alternator will

be done by an AUTOMATED SYNCHROSCOPE.

PROCEDURE
TO PARALLEL TWO GENERATORS (GEN1 AND GEN2)
1. Gen 1 is started and adjusted to 440 volts, 50Hz, under AUTO voltage
control after which the inductive load is set to 10.
2. Breakers BG1, Bx and BL are then closed in order to supply typical
inductive load.
3. The reference synchronous selector is set to GEN1 and the incoming
one to GEN2. GEN2 is started (the speed of GEN1 was not adjusted
because it is the reference supply).
4. The speed of GEN2 however, is adjusted so that the synchroscope
rotates clockwise at approximately 1 revolution every 5 seconds.
5. The two voltages are now matched using the differential
potentiometer and with the auto voltage control set point the
potentiometer for GEN2 was adjusted. As the synchroscope was
approaching zero phase error (i.e. when the two supplies are in phase)
breaker BG2 was closed to parallel GEN1 and GEN2.
6. Later, BG2 was opened but this time, the attempt to parallel again
failed. This is because generators can be paralleled only when the two
supplies are in phase.

 REAL POWER SHARING

1. GEN1 and GEN2 are started and adjusted to 440V, 50Hz. GEN1 is
then connected to an electrical load. The two generators were then
paralleled.
The Real/Reactive power triangle display available on the main menu
page was selected. The real power (KW) contributed by each machine
is represented on the x-axis.
2. Thereafter the frequency of GEN2 was raised and it is noted how it
provides more KW and GEN1 provides less (Raising the frequency of
a machine means that more power is added and more is contributed to
the system).
3. The frequency of GEN2 is raised even further and the effect on the
Real/Reactive power display is noted until the power triangle for
GEN1 is reversed.
4. The voltage of GEN2 was adjusted so that the power factors of both
machines are matched. Again the frequency of GEN2 is raised.

REACTIVE POWER SHARING

1. GEN1 and GEN2 are started and adjusted to 440V, 50Hz. GEN1 is
then connected to an electric load.
2. GEN1 and GEN2 are paralleled.

3. By means of the voltage and frequency control of GEN2, the real

power of each machine is adjusted and the power factors matched
4. The voltage of GEN2 is now increased and the power factor is noted.
5. Circuit breaker Bx is opened and BL is closed.
If MANUAL voltage control is chosen then the bus voltage would
have been subjected to a greater voltage variation due to droop,
resulting in a lower bus-bar voltage and lower total power (KW).
POWER ANGLE
1. GEN1and GEN2 are started and adjusted to 440V, 50Hz. An electrical
load is connected to GEN1.
2. GEN1 and GEN2 are then paralleled.
3. The current/voltage phasor diagram graphics option is selected and
the power angle is monitored using the data display available.
The angle between the alternator e.m.f E and the terminal voltage is
known as the Power angle or delta.
To generate more real power the frequency of a generator must be
raised. This will temporarily increase that generator speed and larger
power angle delta.
Under steady state conditions however, generator speed cannot differ
from system speed and so the machine will slow down again to match
system speed (which is slightly now higher).
4. With the generators now in parallel, the speed of one machine is
increased to cause the other to motor.
In this case, the power angle delta is negative, i.e. the system will
drag the generator along.

CALCULATION OF REAL AND REACTIVE POWER

FROM DELTA
1. All electrical loads are disconnected.
2. Then inductive load is set to 10. (max L)
3. GEN1 is started and adjusted to 440V, 50Hz under manual voltage
control.
4. Circuit breakers BG1 and BC are closed.
5. The current and voltage phase diagram graphic display is selected and
the data displayed.

ANSWERS TO EXERCISES
a) GEN1, because it is already running, has about 90% of real power and
GEN2 takes the rest which is very little compared to the 90% of
GEN1.
b) GEN1 tends to have a negative power. The action is therefore that of a
motoring machine.
c) GEN1 absorbs reactive from the system instead of supplying real to
the system.
d) The reasons for paralleling alternators are:
Available machine prime movers and generators can be
matched for economic or optimal utilization in terms of
economy and flexibility of use.
Load growth can be handled by added machines without
disturbing the original installation.
Parallel alternators allow one or more units to be shut down for
scheduled or emergency maintenance without having to
interrupt power supply to the load.
Generators operate at reduced efficiency at light or part load. So
shutting down one or more generators allows the remaining
load to be supplied by fewer machines that are efficiently
loaded.

 Local or regional power demand may exceed the power of a

single available alternator.

e) The necessary conditions are

The terminal voltages must be the same at the paralleling or tie
point, even though not the same at the alternators.
The phase sequence for three-phase (or any polyphase)
alternators must be the same at paralleling point.
The line frequencies must be identical at the paralleling point.
f)

This represents the situation where E1 is equal to E2.

This represents the situation where E1 is greater than E2

This represents the situation where E1 is greater than E2.

g) A synchroscope is an indicating instrument used to match or
synchronize frequencies of large central power installations.
It indicates which machine has a higher frequency.
There is no risk of a lamp filament burn out.
The synchroscope indicates what rate the incoming machine is
running at (i.e. whether too fast or too slow).
h) The effect of strong synchronizing is that it enables effective power
sharing and effective paralleling of the alternators.
i) It produces a circulating synchronous current that produces two
simultaneous effects.

 A magnetizing effect (for the leading one) hence increasing the

flux in the alternator resulting in an increase in induced voltage.
Its demagnetizing effect (for the lagging one) decreases its flux
resulting in a reduction in induced voltage.
j) Comparing parallel operation of synchronous generators to that of
transformers.
The per unit impedances should be equal in magnitude and
have the same angle for transformers while for alternators the
phase sequences or rotations must be the same at paralleling
point.
For transformers, the voltage ratio should be the same and for
alternators too the terminal voltages must be the same at
paralleling point.
For transformers, the polarities should be the same where as for
alternators the line frequencies must be identical.

k) The power P2 delivered to load or bus end Vbus is

P2 = VbusIcos

- eqn 1

Where is the phase angle of the current I with respect to V bus. The
phasor current is
I = Eg Vbus
Z
If the phasor voltages and impedance are expressed in polar forms,
I = Eg Vbus 0 = Eg ( Z) Vbus (-Z)
Z Z
Z
Z
Where is the phase angle (called power angle) by which Eg leads Vbus.
Hence
Icos = Real part Eg ( ) Vbus (-)
Z
Z
= Eg cos( ) Z

Vbus cos(Z)
Z

Note that cos(-) = R/Z.

Substituting eqn (2) in (1), we obtain,
P2

= VbusI cos
= Vbus Eg cos ( ) - Vbus cos (-)
Z
Z

= Eg Vbus cos( Z) - VbusR

Z
Z
= Eg Vbus sin ( + ) - VbusR
V
Z
Where Z = tan-1 R = 90 - Z
X
And it is usually a small angle.
Pin = EgIcos ( + ) = VIcos + IR

- eqn 2

Input power is thus the power output power plus IR loss. Neglecting the
resistance, the active power delivered is then deduced as above as
P = real [VI] = Real V (Eg - ) V 0
XS - 90
= VEg sin
XS
The expression for the reactive power delivered is then given by;
Q

= Image [VI]
= Image V Eg - V 0
XS - 90
= VE cos - V
XS
XS
l) GEN1
No load frequency 50Hz
Full load frequency 48.5Hz
GEN2
No load frequency 50.5Hz
Full load frequency 48Hz

i.

Drooping characteristics for GEN1

W2

= 1 0.05X2
= 0.97pu

X2

= 3/5

P2L

= X2 P 2
= 3/5 x 700 x 50 48.5 x 100%
50

=3%
Drooping characteristics of GEN2
= 50.5 48 x 100%
50.5
= 5%
Let X1 and X2 be the respective loads for GEN1 and GEN2
W1

= 1.00 0.03X1

W2

= 1.00 0.05X2

However, W1 = W2 = W when synchronized.

1.00 0.03X1

= 1.00 0.05X2

X1

= 5/3X2

700X1 + 700X2

= 1200

X1 + X2

= 12/7

(5/3 + 1)X2

= 12/7

5 + 3 X2
3
8X2
X2

= 12
7
= 36/7
=9/14

Also,

Hence load taken up by GEN2 is given as

P2L

= X2P2
= 9/14 x 700
= 450KW

Also load taken up by GEN1 is given as

P1L

= 1200 450
= 750KW

The frequency of the bus bar is given as

W2

= 1- 0.05X2
= 1 0.05(9/14)
= 0.968

Hence frequency
= 50.5 x 0.968
= 48.88Hz
For GEN1
W1

= 1 0.03X1
= (1 0.03) x 5/3 x 9/14
= 0.968

Hence frequency
= 50 x 0.968
= 48.39Hz

ii.

Percentage of maximum speed of GEN1 is given as

48.5 x 100%= 95%
50.5
= 0.95pu
Percentage of maximum speed of GEN2 is also given as
48 x 100% = 95%
50.5

Hence GEN1 will cease to contribute when the speed is 0.95pu. At that
speed power supplied by GEN1 (i.e. X1 is determined from the relation)
W1

= 1 0.03X1
= 0.95pu

X1

= 5/3pu

P1L

= X1P1
= 5/3 x 700
= 1167KW

Therefore maximum load that GEN1 can deliver

= 1167KW
GEN2 will also cease to contribute when the speed is 0.97pu.
At that speed the power supplied by GEN2 (i.e. X2 is given as)
W2

= 1 0.05X2

X2

= 3/5

P2L

= X2P2
= 3/5 x 700
= 420KW

COMMENTS/OBSERVATION
A stationary alternator should not be connected to a live bus-bar,
because with stator induced e.m.f. being zero, a short circuit will
result.
Under steady state conditions, generator speed cannot differ from
system speed and so the machine will slow down to match system
speed (which is slightly higher).

With the generators in parallel, the speed of the machine is increased

to cause the other to motor. In this case, the power angle is negative.
The system will drag the generator along.

CONCLUSION
It should be noted that synchronization by lamps is not quite accurate,
because to a large extent, it depends on the sense of correct judgment of the
operator.
Hence, to eliminate the element of personal judgment in routine operation of
alternators, a device called SYNCHROSCOPE is used to synchronize the
generators more accurately.

KWAME NKRUMAH UNIVERSITY OF

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
NAME:

IFEBIGH, LAUREL UZOMA

CLASS:

COMPUTER ENGINEERING (II)

INDEX NO:

75015 04

TITLE:

LAB

REPORT

ON

PARALLELING

OF

ALTERNATORS
COURSE:

EE 292 (ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING LAB)

MARCH 2006.