Yildiz Technical University

Department of Marine Engineering

[Generator Synchronization and Transformer]

Authors:
130A3058 Cem A. Dansık
120A3034 Ayberk Ardıç
120A3046 Fuat T. Ergin
150A3039 Ömer F. Özdemir

Instructor:
Dr. Oktay Yılmaz
Abstract
In this experiment we are going to learn about generator synchronising which we use regularly in ships.
When we need more electricity, we synchronise and parallel other generator. Since we can’t use ship
generator in the experiment instead, we are going use a DC motor. This will change electric energy to
mechanical energy as a shaft spin, after that an alternator will change this spinning shaft’s mechanical
energy to electrical energy. We are also going to learn about one of the most essential part of an electric
grid, transformers. We are going to see what is in the transformer and how it reduces or increases the
voltage, where transformers are used and how to use them. We are going to observe the voltage change
using a multi meter.

Keywords: AC, DC, diesel generator, transformer

Cem A. Dansık
Yildiz Technical University, Turkey, lA313058@std.yildiz.edu.tr,
Ayberk Ardıç
Yildiz Technical University, Turkey, lA312034@std.yildiz.edu.tr,
Fuat T. Ergin
Yildiz Technical University, Turkey, lA312046@std.yildiz.edu.tr,
Ömer F. Özdemir
Yildiz Technical University, Turkey, lA315039@std.yildiz.edu.tr,

Team Member Roles and Responsibilities

Member Responsibilities
Cem A. Dansık To contribute in general, To prepare the content of Abstract, Introduction
Ayberk Ardıç To contribute in general, To prepare the content of Conclusion
Fuat T. Ergin To contribute in general, To prepare the content of Calculation and Result
Ömer F. Özdemir To contribute in general, To prepare the content of The Method of Experiment,
Experiment Procedure

1. Introduction
We generate electricity in ships through diesel generators. Generators meet all energy needs on board.
The mechanical energy produced in the diesel generator is converted into electrical energy with the
alternator. The crankshaft of the diesel machine is connected to the rotor shaft of the electric motor.
Connecting these two shafts alone is not enough to generate electrical energy. Direct current must be
supplied to the rotor from an external source. Direct current flows through the rotor windings and creates

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a magnetic field. When the rotor starts to move, the moving magnetic field cuts the stator conductors.
Conductors cause a voltage to be induced. In this way, AC voltage is obtained from the stator conductors.
Electricity generation is done in a manner equal to consumption. Since the load cannot always be stable,
automatic voltage regulators (AVR) are used in order for the machine to adapt to the load. The maximum
allowable fluctuation in voltage should be 10%. If it is too much, faults may occur in generators.
Since there are many systems operating on board, a single generator may not be sufficient in some cases.
In this case, another generator should be activated. This situation is called paralleling of generators.
Equalization of the voltage of generators in direct current will be sufficient for paralleling. In the case
of alternating current, three parameters should be considered in paralleling the generators.
• The first parameter is voltage. Voltage is controlled by a voltmeter. It works on the principle of
induction. The strength of the magnet in the electric motor and the amount of magnetic field are
controlled. The tension is adjusted by the amount of magnetic field.
• The second parameter is frequency. Frequency is proportional to the number of revolutions. There
are systems that follow the number of revolutions and turn fixed on ships. In the experimental setup,
we can reach the frequency we want by changing the speed of the direct current machine.
• The third parameter is the equality of the phase sequence. 3 phase system is used in generators.
There are 3 independent lines. The voltage numbers of these lines are equal but their timings are
different. It is necessary to connect the same points on both sides. Generators in ships are already
connected in accordance with the phase sequence equation.

Another issue in generator paralleling is the determination of the synchronism moment. In alternators to
be connected in parallel, the overlap of phases is called synchronism moment. There are three methods
for determining the moment of synchronism.
• Detection of the moment of synchronism with the Synchronoscope.

Synchronoscope is an asynchronous motor powered by a rotor. After the synchroscope is connected to

the circuit, the pointer rotates in a certain direction according to the frequency or speed difference of the
alternators. As these differences are eliminated, the rotation speed of the pointer slows down. When the
phase difference between the voltages of the alternators is zero, the pointer stops at the market place. At
this moment, the parallel connection switch is pressed and the connection is made.
• Detection of the moment of synchronism with lamp connections.

Rotating light connection can be applied in three-phase alternators. The opposite ends of the two lamp
groups are connected to different phases and one to the same phase. At the moment of synchronism, the
lamps connected to the same phase turn off, the others light up brightly. At this moment, parallel
connection is performed by pressing the switch. The lamps flash in a certain order according to the

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frequency difference of the alternators. For this reason, the connection is named "Rotating Light
Connection".
• Detection of the moment of synchronism with the zero voltmeter.

The zero-voltmeter connection is provided by a voltmeter connected in parallel to the lamp groups in
the fading light connection. In this connection, when the zero voltmeter shows zero, the switch is pressed
and a parallel connection is achieved. Zero voltmeter is specially made and scale division is rare at the
beginning and frequent at the end. The measurement area should be at least twice the alternator phase
voltage.
Transformers are systems that provide energy transfer between two or more circuits by electromagnetic
induction. The desired change in voltage and current values is achieved through transformers without
changing the frequency. Briefly, their intended use is to increase and decrease the current and voltage,
and the transfer and distribution of electrical energy. They are not used in DC circuits. They are used in
AC circuits.
Transformers consist of two coils and cores. When a voltage is applied to one of the coils, a magnetic
flux occurs on the core. The intensity and direction of the magnetic flux formed constantly changes and
causes a voltage to be induced on the output coil. In summary, a magnetic field occurs by applying
voltage to the first coil. And thanks to this magnetic field, energy transfer to the second coil takes place.
If the number of secondary windings in the transformer is more than the number of primary windings,
the output voltage will be higher than the input voltage.

2. The Method of Experiment

There are five conditions that must be met before synchronization can occur. The source (generator or
subnet) must have line voltage, frequency, phase sequence, phase angle, and waveform equal to that of
the system to which it is synchronized.
The waveform and phase sequence are fixed by the structure of the generator and its connections to the
system. When installing a generator, careful checks are made to ensure that the generator terminals and
all control cables are correct to match the sequence of phases (phase sequence) to the system. Connecting
a generator with the wrong phase sequence will cause a short circuit as the system voltages are opposite
to the generator terminal voltages.
Generating units for connection to a power grid have an inherent droop rate control that allows them to
share loads in proportion to their rating. Some generator units operate with simultaneous frequency
control, maintaining a fixed system frequency independent of load, especially in isolated systems.
The sequence of events is similar for manual or automatic synchronization. The generator is raised to
approximately synchronous speed by supplying more energy to its shaft (for example, by opening valves
on a steam turbine, opening doors on a hydraulic turbine, or increasing the fuel rack setting on a diesel
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engine). The generator field receives energy and the voltage at the generator terminals is observed and
compared with the system. The voltage magnitude must match the system voltage.
Synchronization Lamps
In the past, three bulbs were connected between generator terminals and system terminals (or more
generally, terminals of instrument transformers connected to the generator and the system). As the
generator speed changes, the lights will flicker at the pulse frequency in proportion to the difference
between the generator frequency and the system frequency. When the voltage in the generator is opposite
to the system voltage (forward or reverse in phase) the lamps will be bright. The lights will be dark when
the voltage at the generator matches the system voltage. At that time, the circuit breaker generator can
be connected to the system and the generator will then remain in sync with the system.
An alternative technique used a scheme similar to the above except that the connections of two of the
lamps were displaced at the generator terminals or system terminals. In this scheme, when the generator
is synchronized with the system, one lamp will be dark, but two with altered connections will be equally
bright. In "dark" lamps synchronization was preferred over "bright" lamps because it was easier to
distinguish the minimum brightness. However, a lamp burn may give false positive for successful
synchronization.
Synchroscope
Another manual synchronization method is based on observing an instrument called the "Synchroscope"
that shows the relative frequencies of the system and the generator. The display will show the "fast" or
"slow" speed of the generator, depending on the system. To minimize the transient current when the
generator circuit breaker is closed, the usual practice is to initiate the shutdown as the needle slowly
approaches the in-phase point. A fault of several electrical degrees between the system and the generator
will cause a sudden start of the generator and a sudden change in speed.
Transformer Working Principle
The working principle of transformers consists of the transmission of electrical energy from one
conductor to another through magnetic flux.
Generally, transformers are used to step up or step-up voltage or current in an electrical circuit. In
electronics, it is mainly used to combine amplifiers in different circuits, to convert direct current waves
to a higher value alternating current, and to transmit only certain frequencies.
Basically, transformers transfer energy from one circuit to another by electromagnetic induction.
Increasing the voltage becomes especially necessary in transmitting electrical energy far from where it
is obtained.

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2.1. Experiment Procedure
Concurrent Processing
Whenever a generator is to be connected to the network, voltage, frequency and phase angle should be
checked. While the generator is synchronized, the frequency of the system will change depending on
the load and average characteristics of all generation units connected to the network. Large changes in
system frequency may cause the generator to become out of sync with the system. Protective devices on
the generator will automatically operate to disconnect.

1. With the DC current motor, electrical energy is converted into mechanical energy.
2. Mechanical energy is supplied to the alternator.
3. From the energy source, the rotational speed is set at 3000 rpm.
4. By adjusting the excitation current of the alternator, the number of voltages we generate, the voltage
number of the transformer, that is, 380 V is drawn.
5. Frequency values are examined. The frequency value we receive is about 50Hz. The rotation of the
lamps clockwise or counterclockwise is examined as 50Hz below or above the frequency.
6. When the voltages are equal, the lamp goes out. Then the switch of the lamp whose voltage phase
is checked is turned off. The 3 lamps should not rotate but flash in a certain rhythm.
7. When we connect the energy in the analyzer, the negative value indicates that the alternator is
working as a motor. Since we want to transfer energy to the transformer, we want to see a positive
value in the analyzer. Therefore, we need to transfer the energy that we will transfer the direct
current motor to the alternator. This process is done by increasing gas in diesel engines.

2.2. Calculation and Result

The experimental setup we are using and its components as electrical motor and transformer are shown
in Figure 1-3.

Fig. 1. Experimental setup

How to increase outlet voltage of the generator?
We can increase the outlet voltage of the generator in multiple ways. We can increase the rotation speed
of the shaft of the generator or we can give more currency to alternator side. Both ways increase the

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induction which means more voltage at the outlet. In the experiment we increased the currency therefore
more voltage at the outlet.

Fig. 2. Photo of the electrical motor

What affects outlet frequency?
Frequency is affected by revolution number.

How to equalize phase difference?

There are several options to equalize phase difference in power sources. These techniques are:
• Three Dark Lamps Method
• Two Bright, One Dark Method
• Synchroscope Method

In the experiment we used two bright one dark method. In the first time, phases were connected in the
wrong way. We understood that when we look at the lamps all of them were bright. After we plugged
the phases in the right inlets, we saw that lamps were flickering and flickering of the lambs moved in
clockwise way. We increased the frequency with that clockwise movement slowed and when top lamp
stopped glowing, we closed the switch. Which means they were synchronised.

Please briefly explain the synchronization of generator to generator on the ships (What is the
synchronization conditions? What are the important points for the synchronization? Why are the
synchronization of generators done?)
We use generators in parallel to increase the total system size and increase redundancy, it may also be
more cost effective to combine several smaller units in preference to one larger unit. In the ship we have
two main ways to synchronise the generators first one being synchroscope method and other three lamp
method. First one is the normal method. Second one is used in emergency situations like when
synchroscope fails. To synchronise power supplies in ships five conditions, have to be met. These
conditions are; equal line voltage-frequency-phase sequence, phase angle and waveform.

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 Fig. 3. Photo of the transformer

Np 1000 Vp VP
n= = = 8, =n → = 8 → VP = 400
Ns 125 Vs 50
IS Is
= n → = 8 → Is = 8
IP 1

3. Conclusions
In this experiment we learned about how to synchronise electric sources. Synchronizing power sources
is important because in some occasions we need more energy and to get more energy we have to use
power sources together and more importantly we have to use them in the correct way So we have to
connect them the correct way because if we use generators in the wrong way it may cause problems.
In the experiment we had a generator and system’s electric sources. These two electric sources had
different frequency which meant they can’t work together. To synchronise both electric sources their
frequency has to be same and to understand that we have a device, synchronizers. These devices show
us that in their interface if the power sources are synchronised. The device we used in the experiment
had 3 lightbulbs and according to these we could see if the sources are okay to use them together.
We also had transformers. Transformers are one of the most essential part of electric grids. Without
them moving electric one place to another would be very difficult and inefficient. These devices are
used for changing the currency and voltage. Transformers have primary and secondary parts, these have
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wires winded around some kind of metal. Depending on windings currency changes. If the winding is
doubled on the seconder side than we have doubled voltage in the seconder part compared to primer
side and for the currency this is the reverse. For the same case currency is halved on the seconder side.

References
Croft, Terrell, Summers, Wilford (1987). American Electricans’ Handbook, Eleventh Edition

Fink, Donald, Beaty, H. Wayne (1978). Standart Handbook for Electrical Engineers, Eleventh Edition

Mazloomzadeh, Ali, Salehi, Vahid, Mohammed, Osama A. (2012). Soft synchronization of dispersed
generators to micro grids for smart grid applications

Electronicshub.org (2015). Synchronization of Generators

Hiteshk, author at MarineInsight (2020). How to Synchronize Generators on a Ship?