Load Sharing between engines in parallel

The capacity of a genset to accept load depends only on the fuel

level, as the fuel is the primary energy source we use to produce
the power.

There are two basic systems to share the kW proportionally:

• Speed Droop: The only way if at least one of the engines we are
going to parallel is mechanic. We lose speed as the load increases and
therefore the output frequency also decrease.

• Isochronous: Only possible when all generators have electronic

governors. With this system the speed and frequency remain constant.

-1-
Load division

SPEED

EE D
SP

X Y
X=Y

X X≠Y Y

-2-
Speed droop

3% Speed droop 1545

1522

1500

S
p
e
e
d

100% Horsepower or Load

0%

-3-
 Same horsepower , same droop
3% Speed droop
1545

1522

1500

S
p
e
e
d

100% 50%
0% 50%
100%

Horsepower or Load
-4-
 Different horsepower , same droop
3% Speed droop
1545

1522

1500

S
p
e
e
d

100% 50%
0% 50% 100%

Horsepower or Load
-5-
 Same Horsepower , different droop
4% droop 3% droop
1560
1545

1500

S
p
e
e
d

100% 0% 100%

Horsepower or Load
-6-
 Same HP different droop

4% droop 3% droop
1545

1500
1485

S
p
e
e
d

100% 0% 100%

Horsepower or Load
-7-
 One droop other isochronous
3% droop 0% droop
1545

1500

S
p
e
e
d

100% 0% 100%

Horsepower or Load
-8-
 Preparing VOLTAGE for parallel
operation
- Run engine with no load at high idle (rated speed + droop%).
- Adjust the system voltage with LEVEL pot.
- Apply full load , verify the speed , adjust the voltage
until it is equal to the no load voltage with the GAIN
pot.

When speed and voltage setting are correct put units in

parallel and apply the load.

Check the output current of every generator.

The sum of individual generator amp should not be more
then 10% over the load amp.

-9-
 Sharing the load in equal %
with speed droop
Engines: Task:
Eng #1 : 3508B 800 KW Adjust for equal % load
Eng #2 : 3412 400 KW sharing operation

50%

Eng #1 Eng
#2

800KW 400KW
400KW 200KW

-10-
 Let’s do the load curve Engines:
Eng #1 : 3508B 800 KW
3412 kW Eng #2 : 3412 400 KW
400 1200 kw

300 x 900 kw

200 x 600 kw

100 x 300 kw

0 3500 kW
200 400 -11- 600 800
 Sharing the load in different %
with speed droop Task:
We want
Engines: Eng#1: to support the first 100KW
Eng #1 : 3508B 800 KW
Eng#2: to share the load equally
Eng #2 : 3412 400 KW from this point

1500

Eng #1 Eng #2
800KW 700 500 300
800 600 400 200
-12- 100 0 100 200 300
400KW
 Let’s do the load curve Engines:
Eng #1 : 3508B 800 KW
Eng #2 : 3412 100 KW
3412 kW
400 1200 kw

300 x 925 kw

200 x 650 kw

100 x 375 kw

0 3500 kW
100 275 450 625 800
-13-
 Load transfer
Engines:
Situation:
Situation: Eng #1 : 3508B 800 KW
Eng#1&
Eng#1 & 22are
are ““on the load
on the load”
” Eng #2 : 3412 400 KW

Wewant
We wanttotoService
ServiceEng#2
Eng#2
w/ocutting
w/o cuttingthe
thepower
power..

Eng #1 Eng #2

800KW 400KW

+ +
Speed pot Speed pot
-14-
 Isochronous

0% droop 0% droop

Electric governor has the ability to sense the load

and compare it to the load other units carry

-15-
 0 speed droop

Engine Generator
PT CT
Governor
L
O
DC voltage
A
Parallel
Load GAIN pot Lines D
2301A Woodward
Parallel
Rated speed pot
Lines 6VDC

-16-
 0 speed droop
Engine Generator
PT CT
Governor
L
O
Parallel A
Lines
D
2301A Woodward
Summing
point
6VDC

Generator Engine
CT PT
Governor

2301A Woodward

Summing

6VDC
point

-17-
0 speed droop

6VDC
3VDC
0VDC

Load
Load
0% 100%
50%
-18-
 0 speed droop

6VDC 6VDC
3VDC 3VDC
0VDC 0VDC

Load
Load Load
Load

0% 100% 0%
50% 50%

-19-