INTERNAL USE ONLY

Voltage, Frequency control and

Synchronization

Muhammad Aamer

1 © Wärtsilä
 MODES OF OPERATION OF D.G. SETS
Solo Mode
One set running independently

Island Parallel Mode

More than one set sharing common load and not parallel with
grid

Grid Parallel Mode

One or more sets in parallel with grid

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MODES OF OPERATION OF D.G. SETS

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 GRID PARALLEL OPERATION
 Stable Grid
– DG continues to supply kW & kVAR as set initially

 Unstable Grid
– kW decreases with increase in grid frequency and vice
versa
– kVAR decreases with increase in grid voltage and vice
versa

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 CONTROL OPTIONS IN VARIOUS MODES OF
OPERATION

Mode of Operation
Control Options
Solo Island parallel Grid parallel
DG Load No Yes Yes
Total Plant Load No No Yes
Voltage Yes Yes No
Frequency Yes Yes No

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 GRID PARALLEL OPERATION - kW & PF
Regulation
 For Hydraulic Governors use kW regulator &
governor motor to adjust speed of engine to
maintain kW load.
 Run electronic governors in kW mode.
 For Analog AVR use kVAR / pf regulator to adjust
voltage of the alternator to maintain the power factor
and hence kVAR load.
 Run Digital AVR in pf / kVAR mode.
 PLC’s can also be used to maintain kW and kVAR
INTERNAL USE ONLY

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 SPEED (VOLTAGE) DROOP

Speed (Voltage) droop is the reduction in Speed (Voltage)

from no load Speed (Voltage) to full load Speed (Voltage).
Expressed as percentage of rated Speed (Voltage).

%DROOP = (NO LOAD SPEED (VOLTAGE) - FULL LOAD SPEED (VOLTAGE))X 100

RATED SPEED (VOLTAGE)

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7 © Wärtsilä
 18V46 Engine Control Modes:
● Speed droop control
● kW control
● Isochronous control.
kW control is enabled only in parallel operation, while
isochronous control is available in island operation.
When the "generating set control" switch on the manual control
unit is in position "auto", the control mode is selected by the
control system. When the switch is in position "manual", the
control mode selection is made with the "engine control“ switch.
The PLC prohibits selections that would result in conflicting
operation modes.

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8 © Wärtsilä
 Speed Droop Mode:
Speed droop mode is the typical control mode for smaller grids or
island operation. In the speed droop control mode, the generating
set shares the load with the grid or other generating sets according
to a linear speed droop curve.
The speed droop curve specifies the speed reduction (droop) at
increased engine load. At load changes, the engine speed
reference is adjusted in accordance with the speed droop curve to
maintain the nominal frequency. The engine load is determined by
the system load. In automatic mode, the PLC calculates the speed
reference (the operator can change it from the WOIS terminal). In
manual mode, the speed is regulated by increasing or decreasing
the fuel supply with the "fuel" switch on the manual control unit.
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 KW Control Mode:

In the kW control mode, the active power of the generating set is

maintained at a preset level irrespective of system load or
frequency. In automatic mode, the operator can enter the power
setpoint at the WOIS terminal. The active power will be slowly
increased to the set value after the breaker has been closed. In
manual mode, the power is regulated by increasing or decreasing
the fuel supply with the "fuel" switch on the manual control unit.
If the plant is suddenly disconnected from the grid, it will drop to
either speed droop mode or isochronous mode, depending on the
selection made at the WOIS terminal

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 Generator output control:
The output of the generator is controlled by the generator
excitation system along with the automatic voltage regulator
(AVR). The AVR controls the DC field current in the rotor and
adjusts the excitation as required to compensate for load
changes. The following generator control modes are available:
● Voltage droop control
● Power factor control.
The control mode selection is made with the "generator control"
switch on the manual control unit when the "generating set
control" switch is in position "manual". In automatic mode, the
control system selects the generator control
mode based on the “parallel with grid” signal.

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 Voltage droop control:
In the voltage droop control mode, the generating set shares the
reactive load with other generating sets and the grid in relation to
the sizes of the units. This is the typical operating mode for
smaller grids or island operation. The sharing of the reactive load
is done by adjusting the reference voltage of the generator
according to a linear voltage droop curve. In automatic mode, the
voltage is automatically regulated, while in manual mode, the
operator may adjust the voltage with the "excitation" switch on
the manual control unit. A control method called voltage droop
compensation enables the reactive power to be shared equally
between generators connected in parallel while maintaining
a constant voltage in an island system.
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 Power factor control:
In the power factor control mode, the power factor of the
generating set is kept constant at a preset level. The power
factor control mode is enabled in parallel operation only. In
automatic mode, the PLC sends increase or decrease
commands to the AVR in accordance with the set value. The AVR
adjusts the generator excitation current to keep the power factor
constant, independent of changes in the active power. In manual
mode, the operator can give increase or decrease commands
with the "excitation" switch on the manual control unit.

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 SYNCHRONISING
At the instance of opening the valve in hydraulic circuit
if the pressure difference across both sides of the valve
is ZERO;
• Fluid will not flow through it after opening.
P

At the instance of connecting two different sources, if

the potential difference between them is ZERO
• Current will not flow in between two sources when
they are paralleled.

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V
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 SYNCHRONISING
Basic Requirements

Conditions to be checked on Incomer & Busbar supply:

1 Check equal voltages

V

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 SYNCHRONISING

2 Check equal frequencies

1 /  freq

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 SYNCHRONISING
3 Same phase sequence

 X

G G

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 SYNCHRONISING

4 Sources in synchronism (Check for synchronism)

Incomer 300 Ahead

Incomer
Busbar
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 SYNCHRONISING

Incomer 600 Ahead

Incomer 1800 Ahead

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 SYNCHRONISING

Incomer 2700 Ahead

Sources in Synchronism

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 SYNCHRONISING
Recommended settings for synchroscope

• Difference in Voltage V 5%
• Difference in Phase Angle   10 deg
• Time Delay  t 0.5 sec

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21 © Wärtsilä
 SYNCHRONISING
Control system requirement

 Compare magnitude & frequency and indicate their

relative status
 Facilitate adjustment of voltage & frequency
 Check for synchronism
 Facilitate synchronising breaker closure
 Isolate synchronising systems after breaker closure

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 SYNCHRONISING
Operational requirement

• Maintain speed & voltage higher to prevent

reverse power & reverse kVAR trip.
• Neutral isolator condition to be checked. For medium
or low resistance grounding Neutral of any one
machine should be kept closed. This precaution is
taken to prevent earth fault relay operation.

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 THANKS

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