Considerations for

Paralleling Dissimilar Equipment

 General Considerations
• You can parallel anything to anything, BUT:
– Genset dissimilarities may result in poorer load
sharing performance or,
– Potential for some nuisance tripping of
protection
– Some problems can be resolved with
modifications in the system sequence of
operation
• Switchgear to genset “incompatibility” can
normally be resolved with the cooperation of
the parties.

Paralleling Dissimilar Equipment (2)

 GenSet Compatibility
• Engine Compatibility
• Alternator Compatibility
• Control Compatibility
– Governor/kW Load Share
System
– Voltage Regulation/kVar load
share system
– Miscellaneous Controls
Paralleling Dissimilar Equipment (3)
 Core Compatibility Point
• When two or more machines are
paralleled:
• Instantaneous differences in voltage
will cause current (kVar) flow.
• Instantaneous differences in
frequency will cause kW flow.

Paralleling Dissimilar Equipment (4)

 GenSet Compatibility

• Engine Compatibility
– Not a big issue for prime power
• High speed engines are generally compatible
with each other on a steady state basis.
– Review steady state frequency regulation
• Typical: plus or minus 0.25% from no load to full
load
• Look at “steady state” values

Paralleling Dissimilar Equipment (5)

 Steady State Frequency Regulation

Frequency vs Time

60.3
60.2
60.1
frequency

DQKC
60
DFLE
59.9
59.8
59.7
25 26 27 28 29 30
tim e

FAE engines tend to have faster, more complex governing systems than
hydro-mechanically fueled engines.

Paralleling Dissimilar Equipment (6)

 Engine Compatibility
• Not a big issue for prime power
– High speed engines are generally compatible
with each other on a steady state basis.
• Review steady state frequency regulation
• Typical: plus or minus 0.25% from no load to full load
– Transient Performance Issues
• Dissimilar machines accept and reject load at
different rates
• Sudden load changes to paralleled machines may
cause load sharing disturbance.
• Reverse power on load rejection
– Extend time delay on reverse power trip
– Smaller load steps
» each load step ½ the smallest genset rating

Paralleling Dissimilar Equipment (7)

 GenSet Compatibility:
Impact of Harmonics

FUNDAMENTAL

3RD ORDER HARMONIC

5TH ORDER HARMONIC

• All Alternators have “imperfect” sinusoidal

waveforms
• Different alternators have different harmonic
content
Paralleling Dissimilar Equipment (8)
 GenSet Compatibility:
Impact of Harmonics

• Differences in harmonics cause different

waveform shapes
• Difference in “instantaneous voltage” cause
current flow
Paralleling Dissimilar Equipment (9)
 A
B
C
N
G

CIRCULATING NEUTRAL CURRENTS

• If there is a current path between dissimilar

alternators, current will flow
Paralleling Dissimilar Equipment (10)
 Physical Impact of Pitch
(Stator Coil Slot Span)/(# Slots/Pole)

Paralleling Dissimilar Equipment (11)

 Alternator Compatibility
• Compatible alternators have similar harmonics
– 3rd Order and multiple harmonics most problematic
– 2/3 Pitch machines, which have no 3rd order
harmonics, are “universally” compatible with each
other
• Deal with Dissimilarities by:
– Block flow of neutral current
• 3-wire (no neutral) connection on one or all machines
• be careful of neutral connection through ground path for
solidly grounded machines.
– Neutral reactors
– Replace alternator

Paralleling Dissimilar Equipment (12)

 GenSet Compatibility
• Control Compatibility
– Load Sharing (kW &kVar)
– Load Govern
REMOTE

ALARM
– Master Synchronizer LOAD SHARE EC

ENGINE
DATA

GOV
I/E VAR/PF METER PROT SYNC ILS
AVR GEN

CB

POWER
TO
LOAD
Paralleling Dissimilar Equipment (13)
PowerCommand Compatibility
– PCC Compatible with all that use analog
load sharing lines
• Woodward 2301
• Barber-Colman
• Governors America
– AVR Interface
• All PCC, or Reactive Droop

Paralleling Dissimilar Equipment (14)

 Genset Paralleling Compatibility
• Compatible Engines
– Similar Transient Performance
– Equal Frequency Regulation
• Compatible Alternators
– Same Pitch (2/3 most compatible)
– Can Solve Incompatibility with
Compromise
• Compatible Controls
– Load Sharing is Key Issue

Paralleling Dissimilar Equipment (15)

 Conventional Paralleling Architecture
ALARM ALARM ALARM
DISCRETE
SIGNALS METER METER METER
PLC PLC PLC
PROTECTION PROTECTION PROTECTION

SYNC SYNC
LOAD SHARE
ILS LINES ILS

CB CB

EC AVR EC AVR

GOV GOV

GENSET GENSET

GOVERNOR
BIAS SIGNAL

Paralleling Dissimilar Equipment (16)

 PowerCommand Systems
ALARM
METER
PLC

LOAD SHARE
LINES

CB CB

PCC PCC

GENSET GENSET

Paralleling Dissimilar Equipment (17)

 PowerCommand Differences
ALARM
• No Remote Paralleling
METER Control
Necessary PLC

• Genset Control Operates Breaker

LOAD SHARE
LINES

• No Governor/Speed Bias Available

• Load Sharing
CB Lines Connect
CB GenSet
to GenSet
• MasterControl
PCC
Could Be the Same PCC

GENSET GENSET

Paralleling Dissimilar Equipment (18)

 Situations
• Using All New PCC GenSets with
Switchgear by Others
• New PCC GenSet with Existing
Cummins/Onan GenSets (Detector-
style Controls)
• Using a New PCC GenSet with
Existing Switchgear and GenSets by
Others

Paralleling Dissimilar Equipment (19)

 Typical Isolated Bus Interface
(PCC to Conventional Gear)
ALARM ALARM ALARM
DISCRETE
SIGNALS METER METER METER

PLC PLC PLC

PROTECTION PROTECTION PROTECTION

CB CB

PCC PCC

GENSET GENSET

LOAD SHARE
LINES

Paralleling Dissimilar Equipment (20)

 ILSI: Isochronous Load Sharing Interface
ALARM ALARM ALARM
Optional METER METER METER
Components PLC PLC PLC
PROTECTION PROTECTION PROTECTION

NEW SWGR SYNC

LOAD SHARE
ILSI LINES ILS
GOVERNOR
SECTION BIAS SIGNAL

CB CB

EC AVR

PCC GOV

GENSET GENSET

Converts PCC Load Sharing Lines

Paralleling Dissimilar Equipment (21)
 ILSI Compatibility

• Woodward 2301
• Barber Colman Analog
• GAC (Governors America)
• Others
– using analog load sharing lines
– NOT CAN

Paralleling Dissimilar Equipment (22)

 Paralleling Compatibility
• Genset Paralleling Compatibility
– Compatible Engines
• Similar Transient Performance
• Equal Frequency Regulation
– Compatible Alternators
• Same Pitch (2/3 most compatible)
• Can Solve Incompatibility with Compromise
– Compatible Controls
• Load Sharing is Key Issue
• Switchgear Compatibility is Non-Issue
Paralleling Dissimilar Equipment (23)
 Specifications
• New Systems:
– 2/3 Pitch Alternators
– Analog kW Load Sharing Signals
• Old Systems
– Deal with “Odd Pitch” Alternators
• Floating Neutral on “odd” machine, or
• Reactors, or
• Replace Alternator
– Control Upgrades might be best choice

Paralleling Dissimilar Equipment (24)