ELECTRICAL MACHINES I

MODULE 2

Jithin Jose
Asst. Prof. in EEE,
CUCEK.
 Parallel Operation of DC Generators
2

 Power plants, whether in d.c. or a.c. stations, will be generally found to have several
smaller generators running in parallel rather than large single units capable of supplying
the maximum peak load.
 These smaller units can be run single or in various parallel combinations to suit the actual
load demand.
 Such practice is considered extremely desirable for the following reasons :
 Continuity of Service
 Efficiency
 Maintenance and Repair
 Additions to Plant

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 Parallel Operation of Shunt Generators
3
 Because of their slightly drooping voltage characteristics, shunt generators are most
suited for stable parallel operation.
 Whenever generators are in parallel, their +ve and −ve terminals are respectively
connected to the +ve and −ve sides of the bus-bars.
 If polarity of the incoming generator is not the same as the line polarity, as serious short-
circuit will occur when S1, is closed.
 In Fig. it is shown a shunt generator No. 1 connected
across the bus-bars BB and supplying some of the load.
 For putting generator No. 2 in parallel with it the
following procedure is adopted.

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  The armature of generator No. 2 is speeded by the prime-mover up to its rated value
4 and then switch S2 is closed and circuit is completed by putting a voltmeter V across
the open switch S1.
 The excitation of the incoming generator No. 2 is changed till V reads zero.
 After this, switch S1 is closed and so the incoming machine is paralleled to the system.
 Under these conditions, however, generator No. 2 is not taking any load, because its
induced e.m.f. is the same as bus-bar voltage and there can be no flow of current
between two points at the same potential.
 The generator is said to be ‘floating’ on the busbar.
 If generator No. 2 is to deliver any current, then its induced e.m.f. E should be greater
than the bus-bar voltage V.
 The induced e.m.f. of the incoming generator is increased by strengthening its field till
it takes its proper share of load.
 At the same time, it may be found necessary to weaken the field of generator No. 1 to
maintain the bus-bar voltage V constant.
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 Load Sharing
5  The figures below show the voltage characteristics of two shunt generators.

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  It is seen that for a common terminal voltage V, the generator No. 1 delivers I 1
6 amperes and generator No. 2, I2 amperes.
 It is seen that generator No. 1, having more drooping characteristic, delivers less
current.
 It is found that two shunt generators will divide the load properly at all points if their
characteristics are similar in form and each has the same voltage drop from no-load to
full-load.
 If, for example, a 100-kW generator is working in parallel with a 200-kW generator to
supply a total of 240-kW, then first generator will supply 80 kW and the other 160 kW.
 When the individual characteristics of the generators are known, their combined
characteristics can be drawn by adding the separate currents at a number of equal
voltage (because generators are running in parallel).
 From this combined characteristic, the voltage for any combined load can be read off
and from there, the current supplies by each generator can be found.

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  Their satisfactory operation is due to the fact that any tendency on the part of a generator
7 to take more or less than its proper share of load results in certain changes of voltage in
the system which immediately oppose this tendency thereby restoring the original
division of load.
 Hence, once paralleled, they are automatically held in parallel.
 Similarly, for taking a generator out of service, its field is weakened and that of the other
generator is increased till the ammeter of the generator to be cleared reads zero.
 After that, its breaker and then the switch are opened thus removing the generator out of
service.
 This method of connecting in and removing a generator from service helps in preventing
any shock or sudden disturbance to the prime-mover or to the system itself.
 It is obvious that if the field of one generator is weakened too much, then power will be
delivered to it and it will run in its original direction as a motor, thus driving its prime-
mover.

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8
 It should be kept in mind that:
1) Two parallel shunt generators having equal no-load voltages share the load in such a
ratio that the load current of each machine produces the same drop in each generator.
2) In the case of two parallel generators having unequal no-load voltages, the load currents
produce sufficient voltage drops in each so as to keep their terminal voltage the same.
3) The generator with the least drop assumes greater share of the change in bus load.
4) Paralleled generators with different power ratings but the same voltage regulation will
divide any oncoming bus load in direct proportion to their respective power ratings.

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 Parallel Operation of Compound Generators
 In Fig. it is shown two compound generators (designated as No. 1 and No. 2) running in
9 parallel.
 Because of the rising characteristics of the usual compounded generators, it is obvious
that in the absence of any corrective devices, the parallel operation of such generators is
unstable.
 Let us suppose that, to begin with, each generator is taking its proper share of load.
 Let us now assume that for some reason, generator No. 1 takes a slightly increased load.
 In that case, the current passing through its series winding increases which further
strengthens its field and so raises its generated e.m.f. thus causing it to take still more
load.
 Since the system load is assumed to be constant, generator No. 2 will drop some of its
load, thereby weakening its series field which will result in its further dropping off its
load.
 Since this effect is cumulative. Generator No. 1 will, therefore, tend to take the entire
load and finally drive generator No. 2 as a motor.
 The circuit breaker of at least one of the two generators will open, thus stopping their
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  For making the parallel operation of over-compound and level-compound generators
11 stable, they are always used with an equalizer bar connected to the armature ends of
the series coils of the generators.
 The equalizer bar is a conductor of low resistance and its operation is as follows :
 Suppose that generator No. 1 starts taking more than its proper share of load.
 Its series field current is increased.
 But now this increased current passes partly through the series field coil of generator
No. 1 and partly it flows via the equalizer bar through the series field winding of
generator
 No. 2. Hence, the generators are affected in a similar manner with the result the
generator No. 1 cannot take the entire load.

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 Parallel Operation of Series Generators
12

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  Suppose E1 and E2 are initially equal, generators supply equal currents and have equal
13 shunt resistances.
 Suppose E1 increases slightly so that E1 > E2.
 In that case, I1 becomes greater than I2.
 Consequently, field of machine 1 is strengthened thus increasing E1 further whilst the
field of machine 2 is weakened thus decreasing E2 further.
 A final stage is reached when machine 1supplies not only the whole load but also
supplies power to machine 2 which starts running as a motor.
 Obviously, the two machines will form a short-circuited loop and the current will rise
indefinitely.
 This condition can be prevented by using equalizing bar because of which two similar
machines pass approximately equal currents to the load, the slight difference between the
two currents being confined to the loop made by the armatures and the equalizer bar.

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