Parallel Plant Operation If the load of a single generator becomes so large that its rating is exceeded, you should

add another generator in parallel to increase the power available for the generating station. Before two ac generators can be paralleled, the following conditions have to be fulfilled: 1. Their terminal voltages have to be equal. 2. Their frequencies have to be equal. 3. Their voltages have to be in phase. When two generators are operating so that the requirements are satisfied, they are said to be in synchronism. The operation of getting the machines into synchronism is called synchronizing. Generating plants may be operated in parallel on an isolated bus (two or more generators supplying camp or base load) or on an infinite bus (one or more generators paralleled to a utility grid). One of the primary considerations in paralleling generator sets is achieving the proper division of load. That can be accomplished by providing the governor of the generator with speed droop. That would result in a regulation of the system. The relationship of REGULATION to LOAD DIVISION is best explained by referring to a speed versus load curve of the governor. For simplicity,. we will refer to the normal speed as 100 percent speed and full load as 100 percent load. In the controlled system, we will be concerned with two types of governor operations: isochronous and speed droop. The operation of the isochronous governor (0 percent speed droop) can be explained by comparing speed versus load. as shown in figure 3-3. If the governor were set to maintain the speed represented by line A and connected to an increasing isolated load, the speed would remain constant. The isochronous governor will maintain the desired output frequency, regardless of load changes if the capacity of the engine is not exceeded. The speed-droop governor (100 percent speed droop) has a similar set of curves. but they are slanted. as shown in figure 3-4. If a speed-droop governor were connected to an increasing isolated load, the speed would drop (line A. fig. 3-4) until the maximum engine capacity is reached. Now lets imagine that we connect the speed- droop governor (slave machine) to a utility bus so large that our engine cannot change the bus frequency (an Figure 3-3.Isochronous governor
curve.

Figure 3-4.Speed-droop governor curve.

infinite bus). Remember that the speed of the engine is no longer determined by the speed setting but by the frequency of the infinite bus. In this case, if we should change the speed setting, we would cause a change in load, not in speed. To parallel the generator set, we are required to have a speed setting on line A (fig. 3-4). at which the no-load speed is equal to the bus frequency. Once the set is paralleled. if we increase the speed setting to line B. we do not change the speed. but we pick up approximately a half-load. Another increase in speed setting to line C will fully, load the engine. If the generator set is fully loaded and the main breaker is opened, the no-load speed would be 4 percent above synchronous speed. This governor would be defined as having 4 percent speed droop. Paralleling an isochronous governor to an infinite bus would be impractical because any difference in speed setting would cause the generator load to change constantly. A speed setting slightly higher than the bus frequency would cause the engine to go to full-load position. Similarly, if the speed setting were slightly below synchronous speed, the engine would go to no- load position. Setting speed droop on hydraulic governors is accomplished by adjusting the speed-droop knob located on the governor body. Setting the knob to position No. 5 does not mean 5 percent droop. Each of the settings on the knob represents a percentage of the total governor droop. If the governor has a maximum of 4 percent droop. the No. 5 position would be 50 percent of 4 percent droop. Setting speed droops on solid-state electronic governors is accomplished by placing the UNITPARALLEL switch in the PARALLEL position. The governor speed droop is factory set, and no further adjustments are necessary. ISOLATED BUS OPERATION.In the following discussion, assume that one generator, called the master machine, is operating and that a second generator, called the slave machine, is being synchronized to the master

machine. Governor con- trols on the master ernogenerator should be set to the ISOCHRONOUS or UNIT position. The governor setting on the slave generator must be set to the PARALLEL position. NOTE: The hydraulic governor droop setting is an approximate value. Setting the knob to position No. 5 will allow you to parallel and load the generator set. Minor adjustments may be necessary to prevent load swings after the unit is operational. When you are paralleling in the droop mode with other generator sets, the governor of only one set may be in the isochronous position; all others are in the droop position. The isochronous set (usually the largest capacity set) controls system frequency and immediately responds to system load changes. The droop generator sets carry only the load placed on them by the setting of their individual speed controls. Both voltage regulators should be set for parallel and automatic operation.

The slave machine is brought up to the desired frequency by operating the governor controls. It is preferable to have the frequency of the slave machine slightly higher than that of the master machine to assure that the slave machine will assume a small amount of load when the main circuit breaker is closed. Adjust the voltage controls on the slave machine until the voltage is identical to that of the master machine. Thus two of the requirements for synchronizing have been met: frequencies are equal and terminal voltages are equal. There are several methods to check generator phase sequence. Some generator sets are equipped with phase sequence indicator lights and a selector switch labeled GEN and BUS. Set the PHASE SEQUENCE SELECTOR SWITCH in the BUS position, and the 1-2-3 phase sequence indicating light should light. (The same light must light in either GEN or BUS position.) If 3-2-1 phase sequence is indicated, the slave machine has to be shut down, the load cables isolated, and two of the load cables interchanged at their connection to the load terminals. Another method to verify correct phase sequence is by using the synchronizing lights. When the synchronizing switch is turned on, the synchronizing lights will start blinking. If the synchronizing lights blink on simultaneously and off simultaneously, the voltage sequences of the two machines are in phase. The frequency at which the synchronizing lights blink on and off together indicates the different frequency output between the two machines. Raise or lower the speed of the slave machine until the lights blink on together and off together at the slowest possible rate. If the synchronizing lights are alternately blinking (one on while the other is off), the voltage sequence of the two machines is not in phase. Correct this condition by interchanging any two of the three load cables connected to the slave machine. Some of the portable generators being placed in the NMCB Table of Allowances (TOA) are equipped with a permissive paralleling relay. This relay, wired into the main breaker control circuit, prevents the operator from paralleling the generator until all three conditions have been met.

Now that all three paralleling requirements have been met, the slave machine can be paralleled and loaded. If a synchroscope is used, adjust the frequency of the slave machine until the synchroscope pointer rotates clockwise slowly through the ZERO position (twelve oclock). Close the main circuit breaker just before the pointer passes through the ZERO position. To parallel using synchronizing lights, wait until the close the main circuit breaker and turn off the synchronizing switch. After the main breaker has been closed, check and adjust the load distribution by adjusting the governor speed control. Maintain approximately one-half load on the master machine by manually adding or removing the load from the slave machine(s). The master machine will absorb all load changes and maintain correct frequency unless it becomes overloaded or until its load is reduced to zero.

The operator also must ensure that all generating sets operate at approximately the same power factor (PF). PF is a ratio, or percentage, relationship between watts (true power) of a load and the product of volts and amperes (apparent power) necessary to supply the load. PF is usually expressed as a percentage of 100. Inductive reactance in a circuit lowers the PF by causing the current to lag behind the voltage. Low PFs can be corrected by adding capacitor banks to the circuit. Since the inductive reactance cannot be changed at this point, the voltage control rheostat has to be adjusted on each generator to share the reactive load. This adjustment has a direct impact on the generator current, thus reducing the possibility of overheating the generator windings. PF adjustment was not discussed in the Single Plant Operation section because a single generator has to supply any true power and/or reactive load that may be in the circuit. The single generator must supply the correct voltage and frequency regardless of the power factor. INFINITE BUS OPERATION.Paralleling generator sets to an infinite bus is similar to the isolated bus procedure with the exception that all sets will be slave machines. The infinite bus establishes the grid frequency; therefore, the governor of each slave machine has to have speed droop to prevent constant load changes Basic Operating Precautions The order that you post in the station for the guidance of the watch standers should include a general list of operating rules and electrical safety precautions. BE SURE YOU ENFORCE THEM! The important operating rules are relatively few and simple. They are as follows: 1. Watch the switchboard instruments. They show how the system is operating; and they reveal overloads, improper division of kilowatt load or reactive current between generators operating in parallel, and other abnormal operating conditions. 2. Keep the frequency and voltage at their correct values. A variation from either will affect, to some extent at least, the operation of the electrical equipment of the base. This result is especially true of such equipment as teletypewriters or electrical clocks. An electrical clock and an accurate mechanical clock should be installed together at the generating station so that the operators can keep the generators on frequency. 3. Use good judgment when reclosing circuit breakers after they have tripped automatically; for example, generally the cause should be investigated if the circuit breaker trips immediately after the first reclosure. However, reclosing of the breaker the second time may be warranted if immediate restoration of power is necessary and there was no excessive interrupting disturbance when the breaker tripped. It should be kept in mind, however, that repeated closing and tripping may damage the circuit breaker as well as the overload vault area, thus increasing the repair or replacement work. 4. Do not start a plant unless all its switches and breakers are open and all external resistance is in the exciter field circuit. 5. Do not operate generators at continuous overload. Record the magnitude and duration of the overload in the log; record any unusual conditions or temperatures observed. 6. Do not continue to operate a machine in which there is vibration until the cause is found and corrected. Record the cause in the log.