If an alternator is to be connected to an

infinite bus, then what should be the

pre-requisites? What are the advantage
of parallel operation of alternators?
1 Answer

Jason Pallack, Technician Electrical Devices & Electrical Generators, U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers (2016)
Answered Jan 7, 2019

My lane is medium voltage small grid systems, but Unlimited grids are just bigger,
better versions of that.

If you plan to connect ANY generator to ANY existing grid or bus, it must match the
bus on FIVE parameters: terminal voltage, frequency, number of phases, phase
sequence and phase angle. Number of phases and phase sequence are determined
when the generator is constructed and installed and cannot be altered while the
generator is in operation.

Frequency and voltage are your bread and butter and two of the three biggest, most
important controls on any generator control panel, right next to the Generator circuit
breaker control switch. Once you have the frequency and voltage of your generator
matched to that of the bus, you need to close the generator breaker at the moment of
synchronization, when the phase angles match. There are a couple tools that help with
this step: synchronizing lights and the sync scope. I was briefly introduced to
synchronizing lights, but trained on the sync scope, which shows how fast your
generator is moving relative to the bus.
If the generator is running faster than the bus, the needle will turn (not just point, but
turn around and around) clockwise, or “In the Fast Direction.” Conversely, if the
generator is running too slow, the needle will turn counterclockwise, or “In the slow
direction.” The faster or slower your generator is relative to the bus and all the other
generators on it, the faster or slower the sync scope needle will turn.

When synchronizing a generator in order to operate it in parallel, as stated above, the

frequency, voltage and phase angle must match. The phase angle difference is a
function of frequency, so if your frequency matches the bus frequency perfectly, the
phase angles will already be very close. When the synch scope needle points straight
up, the phase angles match and that is the moment of synchronization, the right time
to close the generator breaker and parallel your generator to the bus.

I was taught to synchronize “Slow in the Fast Direction” that is, with the needle
moving slowly clockwise, meaning that my generator is running ever so slightly faster
than the rest of the bus. The reason for this was to prevent the generator from coming
onto the bus as a motor load and not significantly affect the bus frequency, which is a
primary concern on a small-grid power system.

Now that the generator is connected and running parallel to the grid, it can carry a
portion of the load, based on how much energy, how much torque the prime mover
(engine, turbine, etc) is providing, reducing the load on other generators without
overloading others or causing interruptions in power service. On an infinite grid, the
effect of a single generator is small, but when multiple large generators are paralleled
on a large bus, tied to other busses with even more generators, the coordination
required to maintain service can get quite complicated, so it is critically important that
every generator runs at the required parameters and carries a specified portion of load.

I didn’t go into reactive power for this writing, but you can read more about
synchronizing generators and sharing load all over Quora, starting here:

Jason Pallack's answer to What Happens if a generator is added without synchronism

to grid?

Jason Pallack's answer to What happens when frequencies of two alternators are
different in parallel operation?

Jason Pallack's answer to Assuming a synchronized power system, if a generation

exceeds a load, why does reactive power (VARs) flow to and get absorbed by the
load?

Jason Pallack's answer to What should we do in a generator running with a negative

power factor? Is it harmful for the generator to continue running?

Jason Pallack's answer to What is the procedure of disconnecting an alternator from

an infinite bus?

431 views · View Upvoters

Related Spaces

1.

EECS (ECE + CS)

EECS helpful information: career/research opportunities, trends, and other

stuff

Discover More Spaces

Related Questions
  What are the advantages of a parallel operation of an alternator?
 What are the advantages of alternators?
 Two alternators are running in parallel. If the field of one of the alternator is
adjusted, what will happen?
 What is the procedure of disconnecting an alternator from an infinite bus?
 What determines the power factor of an alternator when it is connected
singularly to the switchboard?
 When two alternators are connected in parallel, what is the effect of a change
in the excitation of one alternator?
 What would happen if an alternator were connected to a bus without getting
synchronized?
 What must be met before an alternator may be placed in parallel with another
alternator?
 What will be the power factor when 2 alternators are operated in parallel?
 How does an alternator work and what's AC and DC?
 What is chording in alternators?
 What happens if we change the excitation of an alternator?
 What will happen if alternator is overloaded, will alternator get damage or the
connected load will continue to run with low output?
 What will happen when we give an AC excitation in an alternator?
 What is the use of a cutout in an alternator?

Ask New Question

Related Questions

 What are the advantages of a parallel operation of an alternator?

 What are the advantages of alternators?
 Two alternators are running in parallel. If the field of one of the alternator is
adjusted, what will happen?
 What is the procedure of disconnecting an alternator from an infinite bus?
 What determines the power factor of an alternator when it is connected
singularly to the switchboard?
 When two alternators are connected in parallel, what is the effect of a change
in the excitation of one alternator?
 What would happen if an alternator were connected to a bus without getting
synchronized?
 What must be met before an alternator may be placed in parallel with another
alternator?

Ask New Question

More Related Questions