Hochschule Wismar

Fakulty of Ingenieurswissenschaften Bereich

Seefahrt
PM31 EMAL
Schiffsbetriebstechnik

Protocol

Exercise SEIv06

Synchronization Virtual Training

SEI BME 2023 / Group 4 – A
Date: 27.04.2023

Lecturer : Prof. Rafoth

Supervisor : Herr Großer

Reporter : Jericho Hyansalem Wicaksono

Participants : Jericho Hyansalem Wicaksono

Nr. 380296

Dean Athaya Bhamakerti

Nr. 379957
 I. Introduction
A synchronous generator is a synchronous machine that converts mechanical power
into alternating current (AC) power via the electromagnetic induction process. Alternators
and alternating current generators are other names that are also used to identify
synchronous generators. The term "alternator" is used because it generates alternating
current (AC). The name synchronous generator comes from the fact that it must be driven
at synchronous speed in order to create AC electricity at a certain frequency. A
synchronous generator can be single-phase or poly-phase (usually three phases).
A big ship, generally speaking, needs a lot of electrical power for the ship to be
operated. For that reason, it is quite natural to have enough power supply, which usually
ships use generators to generate the electrical power necessary. However, currently often
one generator does not supply enough electrical power that is required by the ship (because
commonly a big ship has many electrical loads). That means, more than one generator is
required to be installed and used on the ship. Hence, the synchronization of two or more
generators comes to be a pivotal role to play and necessary to be done.
When two or more generators (usually ships use alternators or 3-phase synchronous
generators) work together to supply power to a load, synchronization is required. Because
electrical loads vary with time (depending on the load), it is necessary to interconnect the
alternators operating in parallel to supply larger loads. It guarantees that the various
parameters of one alternator (or generator) are in sync with the parameters of another
alternator within the bus bar. Synchronization is often referred to as Alternator or Generator
Paralleling.
This protocol is made by the group’s participants to fulfill the responsibility of the
laboratory exercise. The laboratory exercise is in the form of virtual test and virtual study
of the content and has been done with the aim for the participants to understand the
operation of the synchronous generator, what is synchronization of a synchronous
generator, and how to do the synchronization. After this particular virtual training, the
students shall be able to manually connect one more generator to the existing grid without
making mistakes.

II. Preparation and Colloquium

Before the virtual training begins, the participants should know and understand the
structure and function of synchronous generator. Generally speaking, a synchronous
generator, especially a three-phase generator, has two main components for it to be able to
operate. These two components or structures are stator and rotor.

Figure 2.1 Construction and Structure of an Alternator

(Source: www.electricaltechnology.org)
a.) Stator
The stator comprises windings that induce a 3- phase voltage and it consists of
three stationary coils known as a stator, armature, or phase coils. The
alternator’s stator is made up of various components, including the frame, stator
core, stator or armature windings, and cooling arrangement.

Figure 2,2 Stator of a 3-phase AC Synchronous Generator

(Source: Private Document)
b.) Rotor
The rotor is the rotating part of the alternator. The rotor generates the main field
flux. The field winding is carried by the alternator's rotor and is fed with direct
current via two slip rings by a separate DC source (also known as exciter). The
exciter is generally a small DC shunt generator installed on the alternator's
shaft. There are two types of rotors that are commonly used for application,
which are salient pole rotor and cylindrical rotor. A salient pole rotor is made
up of poles that protrude from the surface of the rotor core. As illustrated in
figure 2.1, this entire setup is attached to the shaft of the alternator. When the
field winding is turned on by the DC exciter, the adjacent poles have opposing
polarities.

Figure 2.3 Salient Pole Rotor

(Source: link.springer.com)
 Figure 2.4 Salient Pole Rotor in 3-phase AC Synchronous Generator
(Source: Private Document)
The other type, cylindrical rotor, is built in such a way that no actual poles can
be seen, which can be seen in figure 2.2, unlike the salient pole rotor. Slots are
cut at regular intervals and parallel to the rotor shaft in about two-thirds of the
outer periphery of the cylindrical rotor. The field windings are installed in these
slots and are powered by a DC supply. The field winding is of the scattered
variety. The pole faces are formed by the unslotted part of the rotor. The figure
of the cylindrical rotor shows that the poles created are non-salient, that is, they
do not extend out from the rotor surface.

Figure 2.5 Cylindrical Rotor

(Source: link.springer.com)

After knowing the structure of the generator, it is necessary to understand how to

calculate the synchronous speed of the generator before doing the synchronization. The
formula below can be used for determining the magnitude of the synchronous speed of the
generator.
120 × 𝑓
𝑁𝑠 =
𝑃
Where,
Ns = Synchronous speed (RPM)
f = Frequency (Hz)
P = Number of poles
120 = Constant for the time (seconds or minutes) and pole pairs
Consequently, the participants need to answer these following questions to gain better
understanding and to be able to do the virtual training preferably.
1. Under what connection conditions can a generator be connected to the grid?
Answer: The generator must be synchronized before connected to the grid. Otherwise,
the generator will be overloaded. To synchronize generator to a grid or two generators
for related matter, it necessary to have:
a.) Same Phase Sequence
The three phases of the generator connected to the power system bus should have
the same phase sequence as the three phases of the bus bar or the grid.
b.) Same Voltage Magnitude
The RMS voltage of the incoming generator should be the same as the RMS voltage
of the bus bar or electric grid. If the generator voltage is greater than the bus bar
voltage, a large amount of reactive power will flow from the generator into the grid.
If the input generator voltage is less than the bus bar voltage, the generator absorbs
the high reactive power from the bus bar.
c.) Same Frequency
The frequency of the incoming generator must match the bus bar’s frequency. Not
enough or different frequency matching causes the prime mover to accelerate and
decelerate rapidly, increasing the transient torque.
d.) Phase Angle
There should be no phase angle between the incoming generator voltage and the
voltage of the bus bar.
e.) The generator must have a voltage control unit
f.) Safety fuses or overload protection

2. Which parameters of the supply voltage characterize a network?

Answer: The most commonly used classification names for voltage range are low,
medium, and high. From an international standpoint, these classifications vary and alter
over time depending on the country (NEC, NEMA, ANSI, and so on). According to
ANSI standards C84.1-1989, the classification is separated into five categories, which
are:
a.) Low Voltage (LV) ranging between 240 to 600 VAC
b.) Medium Voltage (MV) ranging between 2,400 to 69,000 VAC
c.) High Voltages (HV) ranging between 115,000 to 230,000 VAC
d.) Extra- High Voltages (EHV) ranging between 345,000 to 765,000 VAC
e.) Ultra-High Voltages (UHV) ranging between 765,000 to 1,100,000 VAC

3. What types of generators can be found onboard ships generating electricity?

Answer: Generators that are used onboard ships are different than the generators used
on land. They are built to withstand even the harshest conditions of the sea and barrage
of water that could be encountered. Every marine generator is powered by either gas or
diesel. Usually, the generators used on ships are synchronous generators. There are
many types of generators that can be found onboard ships, with different constructions,
using different types of fuels, and even the generated electricity (AC and even DC).
Some of the types that are often seen installed onboard ships based on the fuel used are:
 a.) Gas Powered Generators
b.) Diesel Powered Generators
c.) Heavy-Duty Diesel Powered Generators
Based on the usage of the generator, the type of generators can be categorized as:
a.) Emergency Generators
b.) Shaft Generators
Based on the type of electricity they supply:
a.) AC Generator (However, AC Synchronous Generator is the most used type for
generating shipboard power, usually connected to a prime mover.)
b.) DC Generator
Based on the type of waveform of the generated voltage:
a.) Synchronous Generator
b.) Asynchronous Generator (lately, there are examples for using this type of generator
onboard ships, such as the shaft generator. There is also a ship that uses an
asynchronous generator that is coupled with a gas turbine. However, commonly
used on offshore platforms or for wind turbines.)

III. Homework
3.1 Synchronization Prerequisites for Synchronizing 2 Separate Generators
The generator must be synchronized before connected to the grid. Otherwise, the
generator will be overloaded. To synchronize generator to a grid or two generators for
related matter, it necessary to have:
a.) Same Phase Sequence
The three phases of the generator connected to the power system bus should have
the same phase sequence as the three phases of the bus bar or the grid.
b.) Same Voltage Magnitude
The RMS voltage of the incoming generator should be the same as the RMS voltage
of the bus bar or electric grid. If the generator voltage is greater than the bus bar
voltage, a large amount of reactive power will flow from the generator into the grid.
If the input generator voltage is less than the bus bar voltage, the generator absorbs
the high reactive power from the bus bar.
c.) Same Frequency
The frequency of the incoming generator must match the bus bar’s frequency. Not
enough or different frequency matching causes the prime mover to accelerate and
decelerate rapidly, increasing the transient torque.
d.) Phase Angle
There should be no phase angle between the incoming generator voltage and the
voltage of the bus bar.
e.) The generator must have a voltage control unit
f.) Safety fuses or overload protection

3.2 Synchronization Process Steps

 Fine-tuning the generator to its rated speed with the governor set point is crucial for
optimal performance and seamless operation.
 Sync the generator voltage with the bus bar by adjusting excitation (adjust it by
pressing the excitation adjustment).
  Sync the incoming generator voltage with the bus using a synchroscope by gently
adjusting the speed (RPM) to match the main generator's speed. This ensures the
incoming voltage is in phase with the bus voltage and also ensures that the
frequency of the incoming generator is also matched the frequency of the bus bar.
 Close the circuit breaker at the moment the generator and bus are in phase.
 The synchronization is finished

3.3 Power after Synchronization with Newly Connected Generator

After completing the synchronization process, the load will be divided based on the
percent load that takes into account both the total percent load and generator power
output. In case the generators have varying power output, they will share the load based
on percent load and leave 20% load as a safety margin. Once synchronization is done,
the parallel generators will operate in droop mode.