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operation of generators

Parallel operation of
generators
Parallel operation of generators means two or
more generator of same or different size are
running with their output cable connected onto
a single electrical bus bar.

Paralleling is the process of synchronizing

multiple power sources, usually two or more
generators, and connecting them to a common
bus.

The process of getting generators to run in

parallel is known as synchronising
:
 Synchronising of incoming generator or
alternator with running current is very important
before doing paralleling it with running
generator.

Conditions Required Before

Synchronising Or Paralleling
Of Generators
To synchronize a generator to the grid or with
other generators, the following conditions must
be met.
:
 1.Frequency of incoming generator should be
same as running generator
2.Voltage of incoming generator should be
same as running generator
3.Phase angle should be same

1.Phase sequence:- The phase sequence of

incoming generator must be same as that of
running generator.
:
 2.Voltage :-The root mean square (RMS )
voltage of incoming generator should be same
as that RMS voltage of running generator or bus
bar or electric grid.

What will happen if voltage of incoming

generator more than voltage of running
generator or bus bar.There will be high reactive
power that flows from running generator into
the grid.

What will happen voltage of incoming generator

less than voltage of running generator or bus
bar.It cause incoming generator started
absorbing reactive power from running
generator or grid.

3.Frequency :- The frequency of incoming

generator should be same as that of running
generator or grid or bus bar.Improper frequency
matching causes the prime mover to accelerate
and decelerate rapidly, increasing the transient
torque.
:
 4.Phase angle :- The pahale angle between the
voltage of incoming generator and voltage of
running generator or bus bar is zero.
This can be observed by comparing the
occurrence of zero crossings or peaks in
voltage waveforms.

Need Of Paralleling Of
Generators
To increase total system size and redundancy,
generators are used in parallel.Rather than a
single large unit, most commercial power plants
use several small units to generate electricity is
more cost effective. This is known as Parallel
Generator Operation. The following are the
reasons why this practice is preferred.

Reason for use of generator in parallel

1.A group of alternators can supply a greater

load than a single alternator.
:
 2.When one machine is taken out of operation
for routine maintenance and inspection, the
remaining machines ensure that the supply
remains continuously.

3.There is no interruption in power supply if the

generator fails.

4.The parallel operation of the alternator lowers

the operating and energy generation costs.

5.A number of machines can be added without

disrupting the initial installation in order to meet
the increasing future demand of the load.

6.During periods of low load, one or more

alternators may shut down. As a result, the
remaining alternator operates more efficiently at
near or full load.
:
 7.Thus,It ensures greater supply security and
allows for overall economic generation.

Advantages Of Paralleling Of
Generators
1.Increase in redundancy by parallel operation
of generator

For critical loads, the redundancy inherent in

the parallel operation of many generators is
more reliable than a single generator unit. If a
unit fails, backup loads are prioritized and
redistributed among the system’s other
generators.

Paralleling of generator increase the

redundancy and make the system more reliable.

For example, suppose you have a total power

requirement of 2000kVA, but you need to
purchase a larger generator, say 3000kVA, to
account for load acceptance concerns. Instead,
you may buy 6 x 500kVA units and connect
them in parallel. In the first solution, in the event
:
 of a single failure, the 3000kVA unit would not
be able to run, and you would be without
power.In the second scenario, if one of the six
500kVA units fails, you still have 2500kVA
available, giving some redundancy.

2.Increase power; As the demand of electricity

increasing day by day continuously so,we can
increase the power of any plant by putting one
more generator in parallel with existing
generator equipment.

Let us understand by a example :-Imagine you

own a factory. You you have a single generator,
500kVA which you have had for 2 years.
Business is really good and you want to expand,
but you don’t have enough power. In this
instance you might consider adding a second
generator to your system, lets say another
500kVA. This will give you 1000kVA of power.

3.Increase efficiency :-When generators are

loaded at their rated values, they run the most
efficiently. Because of the operation of a few
generators at light loads and more generators
at high peak loads, the generators are
efficiently loaded.
:
 4. Reliability :- A group of small units is more
reliable than a single large unit. This is due to
the fact that if one alternator fails, the other
alternators remain active, and thus the entire
system is not shut down.

5.Ease of maintenance and service /

Continuity service :-If one alternator requires
periodic maintenance, breakdown, or repair, it
must be shut down and removed from service.
Because the other machines are running in
parallel, there is no interruption in the supply of
the load.

6.Load requirements :-The central station’s

load requirements change on a regular basis.
During low-load periods, only one or two
generators are used to meet load demands.
During peak-load demands, additional
alternators are connected in parallel to meet the
demand.

7.Reduce cost

What Are The Steps In

:
 Paralleling Of Generators
To be synchronized, two generators must have
an equal number of phases, the same phase
angle, the same voltage, frequency, and the
same voltage sine curve ( waveform ). This
means that the RYB connection point of the bus
bar should be connected to the RYB terminals
of the incoming generator rather than the RBY
terminals.

Paralleling of generator done by 3 method

1.synchroscope
2.Dark lamp method and 3.Two dark and one
bright

1.Synchroscope method

Allmodern control panels, whether on a ship or

in a large industry, have the capability of
paralleling generators automatically, it is
necessary to understand and prepare to do so
manually in the event that this is not the case. A
synchroscope is a device that measures the
degree of synchronization, allowing us to close
the breaker at right time.
:
 It uses a pointer to represent the relative speed
of the incoming machinery. If it moves
anticlockwise, the speed of the incoming
generator is less; if it moves clockwise, the
speed is greater.

1.Start the incoming generator and wait till it’s

speed gradually increase until it reaches the
required operational frequency.

2.Monitor the control panel to ensure that the

incoming generator has the same voltage and
frequency as the bus-bar.
:
 3.Make sure that the phase sequences of your
generators are the same.

4.Make any necessary adjustments to achieve

identical voltage, frequency, and phase
sequence.

5.Now, turn on the synchroscope and watch the

pointer move.

6.If the pointer moves anticlockwise, the

alternator speed increases; if it moves
clockwise, the alternator speed decreases.

7.Maintain the incoming generator’s speed

slightly higher than that of the load, so that the
pointer moves very slowly clockwise.
:
 8.Engage the breaker just before the pointer
reaches midnight (12 o’clock); this is the point
at which the incoming generator is in phase
with the bus bar.

9.Once get parallel then start sharing loading on

both generator.

10.When parallel operation done ,then decide

,you need to run both generator load or need to
turned off the running generator.

11.If you have to turn off running generator,then

lower the governing switch off running
generator and simultaneously increasing for
incoming generator.
:
 12.Turn off or trip the breaker for the running
generator; the generator is now in standby
mode.

13.Turn off the synchroscope

2.Dark Lamp Method

In the dark lamp method, all three bulbs are

connected across the same phase, i.e. RR’, YY’,
BB’, and a voltmeter is connected across two
phases of the bus bar and terminals of the
incoming generator.

Basic principle :-The basic idea behind how the

dark lamp method works is that when the two
generators are in sync, their net resultant
frequency is zero.
:
 Step :-

1.Start the incoming generator and wait for it

coming to its rated speed.

2.Connect the three bulbs with the open

terminal of incoming generator with switches
which connect it to the system.(all three bulbs
are connected across the same phase, i.e. RR’,
YY’, BB’,)
It us clearly shown in figure below:-

3.Monitor the voltage if incoming generator us

same as that of bus bar or running generator.
:
 4.If not same,then incoming generator field
current is now increased until the voltage
across the machine terminals equals the bus
bar voltage (by observing the readings on
voltmeters).

5.Now ,we check phase sequence

A)If there is a difference in the phase sequence,

the bulb glows (indicating a high phase
difference) and then becomes darker (less
phase difference).

B)If these three bulbs glow and dim at the same

time, it means that both generators are
connected to the same phases.

C)If the bulbs do not light up at the same time

or light up one by one, this indicates that
different phases are connected; to solve this
problem, one of the sequences should be
changed.

6.By changing the connection of any two lead of

incoming generator after shuting the
machine,the phase sequence can be changed.
:
 7.Now,we check frequency

The incoming machine’s frequency is adjusted

until the lamp flickers slowly. The rate of
flickering should be less than one dark period
per second. In the middle of their dark period,
the synchronizing switch is closed after finally
adjusting the incoming voltage.

3.Two Bright One Dark Lamp

Method
Steps To parallel Generators By Two Bright One
dark Lamp Method

1.Start the incoming generator and wait it to

come at its rated speed.

2.Connect the three lamps and a voltmeter to its

terminals as shown in the figure above, using
the two bright and one dark lamp method.

one dark and two bright lamp method have; one

lamp connected in phase while others out of
phase to the bus-bar i.e RB’, YY’, BR’.

3.Check the voltage of incoming generator via a

voltmeter is same as that of bus bar or running
generator.

4.If voltage is not same then Increases the

voltage by changing the field current in the
alternator until it reaches the voltage of the bus
bar.

5.Monitor for the bulb flicker and decide

whether it follows an anticlockwise or clockwise
pattern.

6.An anticlockwise rotation indicates slow

speed, whereas a clockwise rotation indicates
:
 fast speed of the incoming generator in relation
to the bus bar or running generator.

7.Change the alternator speed to reduce the

flickering of the bulb to near zero or as low as
possible.

8.Now, close the breaker when the bulb

connected in phase is dark and the other two
are equally bright.

9.After that, decide whether you need both

generators running or if the running generator
should be turned off.

10.This can be accomplished by lowering the

governor switch on the running generator while
increasing the governor switch on the incoming
generator.

11.Disconnect the power to the lamps and, if

applicable, turn off the step down transformer.

12.It is common practice for high voltage

generators to connect these lamps through a
step down transformer.

13.Turn off or trip the breaker for the running

generator; the generator is now in standby
mode.

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 Sanjeev Kumar

Sanjeev has completed his B.Tech in Marine

Engineering from Indian Maritime University
Kolkata. Gathered knowledge and
experience about all the Machineries
Onboard while sailing across. Loves to
share his learnings and experiences with
others.

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2 Comments

What is Water Hammering ? Types,

Causes,
[…] Parallel Effects
operation & Prevention
of generators -
[…]
MarinersPointPro
Reply
June 5, 2022 at 5:22 pm

Gary

June 18, 2023 at 4:31 am

I have 2 Honda EMS-4500 watt generators that

I want to parallel together, using the 3 or 2 lamp
method. Could you please send me a
schematic, showing the process of hooking up
all the wiring of both generators and the lamps
please.

Reply
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