6

. f Alternators
. Parallel Operation o

ynchronising Cur-
f Alternators-- h E
. fon-Synchronising o , ct oflncreasing t e xc1ta-
Iutroduction-Requiremeuts For Pa~·al~o~ 01~;~; ~e-Effect ofReactance-Effefthe Altemators--Eff~r,t rl
nmt--Srnchromsmg Power-Syncluomsmg . q The Driving Torque of One o Characteristics-L-Jad
tion of One of the Alternators-Effect oflncreasmg U e ual Voltages--Governor er Output-Hunt-
Chauge in Speed of One of the Alternators-Effect
Shanng Between Two Alternators-Synchronous_ Mac
of ~.
mg Time Pe nod of Oscillation-Parallel Operation of tern
li:es
on Infinite Bus-bars-P~w.
a tors Through T1·ansm1ss1on
Lines-SolvE:d

E::1,.aruples Exercises Problems.

6.1. INTRODUCTION . . h ower is supplied from several

In most power stations (whether de or ac), it will. be found th at t ~ P •t pable of taking
smaller units (generators) operating in parallel rather than from a smgle la_rge um_ ca even thou h in
care of the maximum peak loads. There are a number of good reasons for this practice, g
some rnstances it might be cheaper to install only one or two large units to take care of the syste~ 1_oad
tas a rule. large machines and their auxiliary equipment cost less per kw output than small machmes).
The demand for electrical energy continues to grow at a steady space, electrical utilities and others find
it necessary to increase generating capacity at regular intervals. Since it is not economical to discard
serviceable alterna tor (or alternators) in favour of larger ones, it becomes necessary to either operate
alternators in parallel or else subdivide the load and feed it from multiple isolated systems. Of these
two ~lternatives, parallel ?peration is mu~h ~r_efer~ed because it does not require major changes in the
existing system and provides greater rehab1hty, improves efficiency faci'litates . · d ·
nance an d makes the supply of load possible. when it • ca
. (load) exceeds the f h l an 111=:imte-
·t 1epa1rs .
unit available. paci Y o t e argest smgle
I. Efficiency. The load on an electric power station fluct t
sometimes during the day and its minimum value d .· ua els, u~ually having its peak value
·l le night ho urs. s·mce generators
te ffi . l unng t
opera most e cient y when operated 011 full load ( .
a small unit delivering rated output when the load d or ne:r. y ~ull load), it is logical to operate
a larger unit is substit~1ted for the smaller one or ano:::n ~s _hght. Then as the load increases,
wi~1. the one already m operation. This keeps the m h~nit is connected to operate in parallel
an _mc~e~ses the efficiency of operation. ac mes loaded Upto their rated capacity
2. Reliability or Continuity of S . . .
• erv1ce Cont •
r~qu1rem~nt~ of electrical power systems . inu1ty of service is o
smgle umt. smce if one unit fail tl ·. Se~eral small units ar ne of the uttermost
·t O11 h s, le continuity 0 f e more rel· bl
um s. t e other hand if the O • . supply can be . . ia e than a large
1
breakdown of the prime-mover or~l we1 station _consisted only of na~nta1ned by the remaining
of supply). ie generator itself, there Will b a single unit, in th , t f
e a com 1 e e\ en o
3. Ma_inte11anco and Repair. It is co1 . p ete shutdown (failure
malllteuance of the machinery , isidere_d necessarv t
whe th · · so as to avoid th ·J O car1:y
.
n e unit1soutofservice h' h e Possibil· out regul
care of the entire load on the w ic mea~s. that the re . l~ of failure. Th ~r .lllspection and
system. Repairing of a unit~:irung Units should is lS possible only
also more con . be capable to take
Venient and ecoHumical
 ,J upc11 ,,.,,. •• , - ·· .. • 1111101·~
1w·<1llt
.f tltt'n' tll"o HlWt'rn l :tnut 11
I \ll\tf t\ \t\ t\
physi~n l Sizo. No tlo,,ht i '~ 1111w,,
... 1uch I:U~l' . tho"" oft1\f\( I't111,,
• 1. t l \,\11 1 \ ftl flt I 11 'th °
1 . t I ' g,,, 111 {11 (I I () l hf t I
'"" 1h,,,,
11
,:srt'l'cls t H' s1 :r.l'~ t n w lnd, H,i h In, 8 1L
l -
l >l1ratl' two o,· morp \llnt ~
., ""'Kl
,1 ''"''
. 1l\lf 11
l l '"' ti
'"' " n,
flt1 ll
1

o . n, \1 4\\ fl \l I II h•11,1, 1 1 ) o •nat 1,, • I

11 1 1 r 1, l ., 1 r
1,•QtJllU~MENTS l•'OH PAU ,\1 , \ I l11111t " fl
6 ,, Bl)j ,l.1t.L 01,
,,w• ·1lt1'niahH's to bl' o1h11•ntP1l l•:1t1\ 'l' HlN
fill' • 'l'l lH \I IH Ill\ I
l 1\J'l)}>O\". w~,, l't'{\\\ll 1'\uo,,1 'I ,, r1h11, l l
,r:tUOl r ,\'" l\k I I ' I ll11•n1
oPl ·r1w,· lll\\$t h:\\'t' tlw ~l\l\ hl I)\\( Iowa
II (llfll lfr1u
1. • \)\\t Vol( ir , nt
., 1'Ju~ mred ~lh'l'cls llf tlw nuwhn , 11"'' t·at illi.;
.... \t 1-11-1hoH\1l l
PN ) )(, RH1• h
- • ns 10 R1vl1 ti l(l
120 I
3 The altcrnat.,ors should bo of tl 0
· They may d'f'"
1 1er m · ' ~n,no t Ypn so ns t
· t }1oir kvn i·nf
1 The prime-movers of the alternnt
• 111g~
. ·
Kllnorat 0 v0 lt
,gos of th
°
'i, b d · · 018 should l
must e roopmg ones, so as to load tl \nve sn1ne spflod-1 . l .
0
5 The alternators s h ould have re •\ct le · rs 1·n Proportion·"toch,1rnctc11st1
genurnto.
. th . wh
. ~ anc0s
. paral1e I success fu 11Y, as ilh1strated . <1\'0\aturcs oth . en ontput rnung
. A u1 ti1011•
. , tn rt. 6.7. ,, <'twu:10 they ~1111 not
6.3. SYNCHRONISING OF ALTERNATORS
Itis. imperative that chang·iug· from one unit to tl
I d t' . ano ler or conne t' .
the others (a rea y opera mg m pnrallel) is canicd out with t1 c .m? ~n add1t1onal unit m parall
existing system. Exactly how a_n alternator is taken off or 11t :e ru1~1m1u~1 poss1b~e d1~turbanc
and frequency of the syste~n will be discussed here. P n n line w1thout d1sturbmg the ,. l
1
The process of connectmg an alternator in parallel with tl
bars (the bus-bars tow h ic ano ter. a1ternator
· }la num b er of alternatol's are connected) 11 d / with
or ,
.. t l,e common i
is ca e sync iro11,srnJ?.
6 3 1 Conditions For Proper Synchronising. lt will be logical to assun1e tllat o l lt
··· · 11 I · h u Y one n eruat r is
to be placed m para ~ wit ?ne or ?re alternators already in operation to meet an add1t1onal l ad
t
111

Those altemators, which are m operation and sharing the load, are called the nmni 11 g machrne~ whtl
that which is to be introduced in the system is known as the incoming machi 11 e. Before the m m ,
machine is connected in parallel with the running machine or machines it is necessary thnt ,t meeb
certain conditions, which are given below.
I. The terminal voltage of the incoming machine must be exactly equal to that of tlw othei$ or of
the bus-bars connecting them.
nn
2. The speed of the incoming machine must be such ~hat its frequency (boing l'uqnl tl) 120 i•qu.,b

bus-bar frequency. , . tlrnt of tht• bus-bar , oltage

. I t be t110 snme t s . l lb .
3. The phase of the incoming machme vo tagfe lm~s mi'ng mnchino nnd the lms-b:U' shoul( e, mf
relative to the load i.e. the p lrnse vo ltageso . t1emco
b no circulating cmrcnt. l>o t ~vN•'\tlwwmcmgso
. h t there w111 e · nclnne
phase oppos1uon. This imp I1es t a ( 1 b s bai·s) and the inconung m,l n.so sequcncl' of the
t he nlternators already m opera t 101. 1 t 1e u -. . ent to be met 18 · thnt t 10 \> 11• • 4 • •

I11 dditional requuem

case of 3-phase alternators, an a b bars t the bus-bars or m
~lllC machine 1s .
the same as t a
h t Of the us- ·
B
. lternator, 0
r01.0 connecting an a_ .
.
lentioned in Art 6.3.1·
1,. . tors. ei,
~sYllchronising of Single Phase Alter ng the load, the three con it
d1tions n
"1th another nlternator already supp yi
.. '-l&ued
 \( Jlf,,, ,,,,,,'

3:!6 voltnu•t• •• 111 t 1111'1 1

,,, I 111t{ 11 I
. - l I .. l
I \ I •I 1•1 1111111•1 I 1'111
1i1vhv 10 111
• ,u
'l'I 11 I 111111 11111" ..
'\""' .. "'
I 1
111,111 , 11
Theequaht~· otthetl•r111111.1 ,n1.1~c ~ 1· , 11111 ' ' ,,, ,1111 .... 11 • •• 1.,, 1 111 tliq
, 1 th• 1111 ,1111111~• ,, 11 •
11
f j VII l11111J1 " 1
runmng ,tlternator or the hu~ -h.11 :- ,1111 I t I 1, 11 e1 ' I I h•• li••lp ,, ~
equahtv offn'Q\ll'lll'\' and ph.,~,11~ out 1·,111 I 11 ' 1I" ,,1111111•'1 wit i / ,
' ' / ., , ,,,,,,,, 111 11 1
. ' I 1111111 WII II H 11 1•111' // j//
t'1Hls of clw double pl,ll' p.1r,dlt•h11~ "" 111 1 1111 1111' W\11

_._r ____ _
.--
1
I

1
:::i .
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I

Synchronising of Single Phase Alternators

Fig. 6.1
Let alternaror Bis to be connected to bus-bars, to which alternator A is already connected . The method
rt, be followed for doing so is given below.
The prime-mover of alternator B (incoming alternator) is started and brought up close to the lated
..:;peed. The alrernaror is then excited and its voltage is raised, by increasing its excitation, to that of bus-
bar::, or the running alternator. The synchronising lamps L 1 and L2 are connected across the double polt
paralleling switch of the incoming alternator B, as shown in fig. 6.1. If the frequencies of the alternators
and B are exactly the same and their terminal voltages, with respect to local series circuit, are m exa
phase opposition, no resultant voltage will act across the lamps L 1 and L 2 and, therefore, these lamps
remain da~k. If the ~equencies of ~he alternators A and B are not equal, the phase angle between the
,·cltage.s will be contmu~lly_changmg, and ~herefore, the c_urrent through the synchronising lamps no
through the local series circmt (shown dotted m the figure) will be changing, resulting inn · k · fl np
TJiefrequencyo ffl 1c .
. k enngo fl amps will beequa I tot h e d'f£ 1 erenceoffrequenciesofth t lt o t at....
ic enng
· · · ·11 b e wo a crua Oh• ••
greater the difference m frequencies, greater w1 e frequency of flickering and l . . ti l f"' .•
·
frequencies. · lesser w1·u b et h e fi:·equency offli ck enng. · .
1n the middle of the dark d . 1e < 1 l,e1 l nee
,· esse1
be rn phase oppos1t10n · wit · h respect tot h e Ioca 1 senes • . Synchronisii ·per10
· circuit. cl t.11e two vo. tagesf
18
lbrk pe1;od. This 1s knowns dark lamp method. ig one m the uuddll' o
Hence al the time of sy1tchronisi11g of alternators the speed of the i,,co,• 1111 · I .
!amps go 111 •
and out i.:ery slowly, the termmal ·
voltage of the ii/coming alt• cmac1l1le . rs e llll t'l
· a d'JllS td 1
15
uol!age l'._,·odju~ting the excil<:tio11 of tl,e i11co111 i11g alternator a 11 d the,, swit:Fi'~;~or ,~iade equal to bu.s-
m 1 1,.:: ·mddleo/thedarkpenod. mco111mgaltemator1scl
Smee Il is somewhat easier Lo judge the middle of bright than m'ddl f .
t"ugm<'~l~ prefer co synchronise in the middle of the bright period. T~s :~ dar~ penod, therefore, so
< thod and necessitates the crossing-over of the lamp connections a . h th od is known as bright /al
, s m t e ca se O f a 1ternaor C in fig.
,. ~ t>qWthty of terminal \-Oltages can also be determined by taking the d'
NnnulJ alternator or the bus-bars and to the incoming alternator. rea ings of the voltmeters connected to
 -I O J< rdlH) II of. \lt<!111ators
f\ ' (
10 1, 11 ,nm , , olt ,\gt' n(To ss 1ml " \ u ,, t l , i27
fhe 11
1 .l... ~.,lh •rn:t hn H1s 1np h,,61 '\\t1 '"ll
'
h 11 ht>i n,t Am tin, kt
ninp
n1Sl tll',ttw, \
t tlw m,,, ,mu m 'o 1t ,g,, ano s11 rn,1" o1l lwith rn8 m otho
itg dw11J oc urw h n dun n
P c to 1o nl ft n cir u1t In
, u1c t
l l \ 'l'l
l n\ ",th n h'n\. \hW h' m.1~ 1nt u,\,, nl '" '',," lln ln1111, w • I\
fth\'l\ \ ,,If ,,gt' ,, f ,,1w l\\,\{' l\l\h' ,
,,p1 ,, c:1ll1' " 111111111 v 11lt n or.ru r wh£tn alwr n l r C: •
t'
th ,t 11 lh, l\Ht:--h 11\\\hl~~,hl,• to \\~,• tn,n p N
t,te 11 , t, rnn Cll18 l 8 r I mv
\'- ,t ,i:. ' H
I
\-s: kt\\ 1\\ n ,\:-- p,lh 'ni 1•1 t t',\lrn ln1
. i , o n y ut hot (IX J
f.,1m ,' , nw, A lll P II ,. ltlJJl ow volt g-.
U \\I"' I , 1 • . m 11 1n1,trurr1('rr1t
"RSnry ror r d 1 1nu t}
I t 1\ t H' :,. ndti .•m~ t\\~ ,unp s. l l' l l' 1111 l• " l'<-
phi'\\ '
lt •nl,\ h)l' l\ ,w (' l\.\s lw,•n ~, 1wh1 Olll .,
\t,N' ,\ l ~l•d ' Ill \
lt '\ \\ \hl\ \\\,\\ l ){' \\\:\m i
' to (
l
,,ti,· ,, .. th(' hn,\ • < ,s opc ra t tn g m 11 I
u,\,,n,u1~ •' t ' t,) ,hl :-,, r lw 1o,hl 1s . ~ luth• . d fiom , in \ll¼ l l o,· lll ru 11 ns para
the runn in l
w, p
f
I r r A
,s ~\l
{ll,u.> \\ l ·
th, nh.'<.'h,unt:.l po\\ l't mpu t to t 1le prun ·
e-m over oflh
'
J1. a 1tern ator to the
. .
i mrng o cm r that ,
""''""'"'" ~th' im·d '- l inco ming Pr
1
,,unc .l po" er mpu t tot ie prun e-m over e incolte ming al ternat< r d
,,,h1.-111gt : ' m,Jl'\' ~tea m (ope ning the stea m of ex1s tin > an ,.
'- 11 iunt "to;
valv e) to the prim e-! a ~nfathor ~ - This may
u' ' l
, ·hull'' .rnd sun u Lane ous 1y c1osm
· · g the be r ad 7d
·n' un ui. l stea m valv e of alteovei to t e mco mmg alternat.c f
A Wh
(H • • tht' t'ntn ~ loa d . as m d"1cat e dbYt l1e amm eter rna or . en the mcomrng
• • u11l'~ f s and watt mete rs · th li
M \~- . nd fidJ brea ker o a l tern ator 1 n e ne th
l l''-':\t-l'l s . A are open ed, the late r unit is then shut crrcu1ts e Im
b l . . d f d
·Tl Ul ,~t imp orta nt pom t. to e emp 1as1
\l' \.~ zed, is that load cann ot be shift ed own 1 esne d
. fr
om one mac b1r.e to
.
~nt1t l1e1 b,• adju stme nt of exci tatio n. The adJu stm ent of exci
&)I' the .tlter nato r.
tatio n chan ges the volta ge and pow c. r id
r .-
,r
6 S.l. S~·n chro nisi.n~ of 3-~ has e Alte rna tors . Th~ sam
e two meth o~s of sync hron ising , as already
c~~ed fur sync hrom smg of smg le pha se alte
rnat ors, m Art 6.3.2, but with sligh t modifica dis-
three phase alte rnat ors. . . tions are US<::d fo-r
. . .
The ,lddi tiona l co11d1t10n to be met m case of_s .
ynch rom smg of 3-ph ase alter nato rs s that
~~qucnCto of the inco min g mac hine shou ld mat ch with that of the syst em 1 the pha."-€ .
1'ht> proce~s of chec king the ph_a~e sequ ence . . . to whic h, it is going to be connec.cd.
.
and gett mg :~ corr ect is know n as phas ing
The different met hod s of pha smg out of alte rnat OlLt the alter nato r:
ors are give n below:
J. TIU'<'<! Dal'li Lam p Met hod . Fig·. 6.2. show
s an alte rnat or A supp lyin g a load , with alter
nato r B all
e- -- -- -- c: ;> -- -- -- -- -- -- <; r- -- -- -- -- --
v- -- -O -- + -- -- -- -- -- '? -, t- -- -- --
-c r-
-4 -( -

B'

Sy11chronising of 3-Phase .4ltemators

Fig. 6.2
 328

t r B r.ttn l phnc;, d ,ut b

",red up and re.ldy for start-up lfthe,:p ""' lo,, ,'OIi i;, nltrrnAt rs tbr ltcrnnh
,,, fie, G 1 Th, l'tim
connecn ng thl'-"'t"' l.uups acl'\.1s~ th,• t'1Hl"' ofthl' tnple pole pn, 11<' 1m..-: "'' 1trhn" 0''- 11 "
rnd d Th~ ""' u , r
1
mover of the lll('(Hlllllg .,ltenrntm i3 1<: ,, (.nrlt d nnd bnrnt";hl up r\
then excited and 1t~ ' '-1ltn~l' 1-.. ra1, C'\1 ln 1tll. 1t'n<:m~ the C':,.r1t.n1tfln 10 cbnt O
h t.he r":h<! runntnt; h n\Rl r f lht
l r.onnrch:d n\\ th th~
bu5-bars and the l:uup~ :u~ " atdwd do.,eh Uthe mronung oh rnetor B aq pro]
r' t ch ,, c: 1hnt m mint
lamps s hould bt>l'(lmt> bu~ht .rnd dun n1t;\'thl'l lfth{', b11k!ht nnd duu 111 c;rqurncr
~tho Ill mmg herna
alteru.1t0 r B 1s Uf'"t l)l'Opl'rl' ~'unnertc- d " 1th th,• bu,-b.us . nnrl the phnc:c c:cquehncr. 0 ,trrtbnn nl n'- ...._
. . .
rorB. cheret01"\." mu~tbe ..-e, t'1~e,1·-el .thv-etoth ~:-~stew Tlu,usun l ,,. a, ,odot ac:ac:bl1onto cb,c, " th ;~ •~" 'Ille
of t he le.1ds 0n 1.'1ther the alre1n,lh )r SHlt.' or the hue 5Hi.e of the switt:h It ,s Jl0$": 1
• b e vN,,ent
e ff PC£ y rt'Yeismg tne ' uu'"t.'-:-
· hl'll o f l\)l,H10n ot· t lw .1 l ternat01. b Ul th l:-· 1:-• , t'f ·' ·, e_1·t
uom ron
unle , ~ cith r th ,,,n
Once the .tlie1 u,u0r B !us been pr0perly phased ou, 1i will ah\ ,l~ s. t-e i:' tUTI: c
01 t he r0r.3n ...,:-:. 1s .1.!tere.:i so est.ablisl uug the proper phas e sequence
I ·t oft hr !':\'llc.:!.
1s nut a ronnn,rn. PH
msms:' p rocess c,,.· :::ie a.hernatu rs
The speed u.f :-he pnme-m ow r of the inc-omlllc- machine 1s further ad) usted until th t' ainp~ fl k.
½
tCJ her nt 1
n•ry Iow rate ,usua ll y 1ess t h an one dark penod "'per second\ an d t h e rn 1tage of the 111~0U1111~ mac iue 1,1
U l t.ch
agam .:1.d3usred and made equal to that of the r unm.ng- g-enerato r tor bus-b.1rs' and the
par.l l' mg ::;,,i · 11
closed at th e msra.nt all the three lamps are dark. - -
. .
':'be d.m1d,·anr~ge of tlus m~thod 1s that lamps go dark.at some~·ha t less tha~ h~lt_tl~e
~ r.·u e:~-olta ~
and so the paralleli ng s\ntch Illlght be closed when then~ s a considerable pha~e ditlerenL
1 e bet een the
machine s. with a high circulati ng cunem resulting in possible damage to the maclune s.
An° th e~· dis..td\'all--
r.age IS that the lamp filament s might burn out. For this reason it is desirable to haYe
the two trequt.3nO:
nearly equal so that the synchron ising is not depende nt on a const.ant dark period. A
third dis.idva uta
is that the flicker oflamps does not indicate whether the incoming alteruato r is slow
or fast .
The ahoYe difficulties are eliminat ed in two bright a11d one dark lamp metliod in which
two of the lam
are cross-con nected. as shown in case of incoming alternato r C in fig. 6.2 aboYe.
II. Tu·o Bright and One Darh Lamp il-fethod. When the incoming alternato r ism synclu-o
nism. wi
alternar or .-\ or bus-bars . lamps 1 and L are bright and L:z is dark.
1 3
Since near the point of synchron ism, the brightne ss of one lamp increase s aud of another
decrease s
the instant at which the incomin g machine is in synchron ism with the bus-bars can
be accurate lv de
mined and the parallel ing switch should be closed at this instant.
-
Lee the voltage star RYB refer to bus-bars and sta1· shown in
dotted. the R'Y'B' to incomin g machine C. The instanta neous Yolt-
age across the three lamps are given by the phasors RY', R'Y and
BB'. When the frequenc y of incomin g alternat or is the same as
that of the bus-bar, both phasor diagram s rotate in space with the
same angular velocity, so the potentia l difference across each lamp
remains constant .
If the incomin g machine is too fast, then phasor diagram
R'Y'B' will rotate faster than RYB so the voltage across lamp L
represen ted by RY' decrease s, the voltage across lamp 1 repre-3 \
\
1
sented by R'Y increase s and voltage across lamp 4 represen ted \
\
by BB' decrease s. And if the incomin g machine is too slow then \
\
diagram R'Y'B' will rotate slower than RYB so at that instant \
\
voltage across lamp L3 represen ted by RY' increase s, voltage across \
\
Jamp L 1 represen ted by R'Y decrease s and voltage across lamp L? \
I
represeu ted by BB' mcrease1:>. - \
Hence when the three lamps are placed in a nng, a light wave Y'
Lravelling in counter- clockwi se direction indicate s that the incom- Fig. 6.3
mg machine is slow and light wave travellin g iu clockwise direction indicate s that
th . .
fast. so by observing the sequenc es of brightness of the lamps, it can be de term. de 1hncommg mac
machine is fast or slow. me w e_ther the in
The paralleling switch is closed when the changes in light are very slow and at th .
0DIID8Cted clirectly aaoss one phase is dark. e instant the la
 r Iii
D >

Parnllel Operation o[J\/t . 'l'.,I,' J

e1 no tors

In case of high-volt a ·e . ,,,, ,,,

,.,.
the usual c·,se d. . g genei_aton;, wlnrh
IS

Is not practical I 11
c • n ect connecho 11 0 f 1
IIIJtHJAll'l
,,. (' ,..
1,1,r,ltllll;

· s 1
uc l cases the l
· am pH H v n , ,
be connecte d t hrou l . ampR _may
ers (the . g l potcmhal trarn,fonn -
potent1a l t ransfonn ers dn•pct ly
across the switch ·rncl tl1c l .
• • c amps mto t 1·1e
secondar y circmts of the potential trans-
fonneTs) . However . in most installati ons
there will be potential transform ers con-
nected across the line on both sides of the
paralleli ng switch.
Alternati vely, the synchron ising can be
done with the help of one three limbed trans-
fonn~r and a lamp*, the two primary LAMP
wmdmgs on the outer limbs being connected
to the bus-bars and the incoming alterna-
tor 1h·espectivelyli'. and the secondar y winding Fig. 6.4
on t e centra 1 mb to a lamp (fig. 6.4). The
correct moment for closing the parallelin g switch is the micldle of the dark period if the primari~
s are each
connecte d the same way round, and the midclle of the bright period if the connectio ns of one
winding are
reversed. ·
!~the 1>hase sequence is known to be correct, the best method of synchron ising alternato rs is by
meana
of a smgle phase device, called the synchroscope**, which provides a more accurate indicatio n of synchro-
nism than do lamps. The dial markings of the synchrosc ope are shown in fig. 6.5.
The synchrns cope is an instrume nt for indicating difference of phase and frequenc y between
two
voltag·es. It is essential ly a split-pha se motor in which torque is developed if
t.he frequenc ies of the two voltages differ. Voltages from correspon ding phases 0 0
of the mcoming and running generator s are applied to the synchrosc ope. A
pointer. which is attached to the rotating part of the instrumen t, moves over
the c..lial face 111 eithe1· a clockwise or counter-cl ockwise direction, depending on
whethPr the incoming machine is fast or slow, when the frequencie s of the two
alti~rnato rs are equal, no torque is exerted on the rotating part of the instru-
ment and so the pointer stops. When the pointer stops in the vertical position,
tlw frequt'nc ies are equal, the voltages are in phase, and the parallelin g switch
mav bP dosed.
· In practice it is sometime s difficult to acljust t.~e sp~ed of the ~coming o
0
achine closely enough to stop the synchrosc ope pomter m the vertical posi- .___ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _...:.J
~~~n. In such a case, the speed of the incom~ng machin~ should be adjusted as Fig. 6.5
cl o!-e l y a S l)oss ible, and the parallelin. . g switch
. closed
k h . Just before
. the pointer
. reaches the vert1ca1 ..
when travellin g in the fast direction. This ma ~st e mcoming _machine position
to take a small amount ofload
. 1
nnme dia te Y a fte 1. closure of switch and results • •
m stable operation .
· b
It is very importan t th~t the synchrom ~mg operation e ~one ~s accu_rately as possible. If the switch is
1 . d ·l en the alternato r is out of phase with the sys~em, a high circulatm g cu1Tent will momenta nl
fl
close \\h ltl e i11aclline and pull it ahead (or back) to its correct position. However this create
t u·oua 1 · • h · £ d . yl ow
0 ' s a vo tage
disturban ce on tlie :;_·vstem ' and sometune s t e uiagnetlc orces eveloped on the alternator \Vln . dm .
gs will
damage the roils_. uisin~ operation has been correctly accomplis hed, the machine will now b
.,
If the ::.n1cluo ·ther· contribut e to nor rlraw anything from the system To mak th e ~oat1ng on
.. ·
the 1me. 1.e. · 1 . t will ne1 · d
. . e is to be increase d . 1,h.1s 1s b • .
one y ra1sm.g ·
the speeds tt"
e e machine d li
e ver
lo.ad (k,,r) the dnvuig to~~u tends to raise the :frequency of the electrical system ;h mg~f tbe governor
15 on
, ht" pnme mo,·er. but t governor settings on the pnme-mo ver (s) of one or· O
e hy way to prevent
h \luenc, l"13e is to lower tie 1
more ot er alternato rs on
h S\ stem of Part III of Basic Electrical Engineenn b h
:- 6 ., page 110. .
L ,I, ,dcr Art,>. ·-· .
39 o f Part Ill of Basic Electnc
. al E . g Y t e sa
ngllleering by th me author.
,
l .... ,~,,
rc1· -\1 t .i Ci pni::-e 1,. e same author.
 ,i:IO
Ar' Mc,, 11 ,, ,

eyH r.hron1~m t,y .,, with lhe rith

6.4. SY N('fl H ONISI NC: CIJIW Is'N'I' ", II "' nd Jo 'c1 nsii11 '"
in o111•o•<'d
''t
•vu, h , ""' r
' ·111 l11,,1111-1~rl. 11 f nchro111sin
()nc,- " •ynd,rnuou """ lmu ' " / I h,• , ond I J '"" o •Y IJ JJJJJl<JJ'B,
·ilr,,, n,1101 s Any r,•111l1•11rv to d1•pi11 • 111111111 "111g t l11 o111ch I ho 11 ,, ~
IOJrJ111•p1orl11n.•1,
' I I 111•10,11,11 •
I ,1111gc11111•11 o l110111s111, I If'
I 1wo alf,.1 · ~ E L - - - - ~
I 1
Wh,•n n J""'" ,. , Ill l'X,111 8.}' 11<'
nrl I"""" J oppO~l·
/•,1JI. "r- ", ( " )
natori, hnve1 "'"
,•q11nl rn, f "'"',,,• I"I'm
"
f:s ." l11r h 1111• 111. ex,nl flows rou11 d the
ll
'""'· ,, •i1w11111fio" <,h'o) • Noc1rcu)a11ngcm1e . a nitu db e u tnot1n{Jx~1ctr,h~, sJA,,ll•
rirru11rh, i11d1t<'<'d e1ufs
locnlWh1"11 • '. of the two a Ite rnators id the m
are equal g ·t and cause• flow of,..,,., en1 cal
DI, cu·cm
local
6 (b') I ltanL emf acts rom e
11011 , ns how,i,n hg G , l ie1rrcsu •• --------- -- •
the sy,1rliro111s,11g c111 rent, l&y . ·) due to some
If any nltcrnator (say, the second alternato1 h angle o
d1'-turlrn11ce reucb to retard, E2 falls back by a p a~e their in-
i•l,•r.tnc.al dcgrc"s, as shown m fig. 6.6 (b). Now th oug 1 ase
durcd emfs E1 and E, are equal in magnitude bu~ have a P11 be
d1ffernnce of 180° - o. Let each of the induced emis E, and E2
Fig. 6.6 (b)
equal to E. ( ) . O
20
Resultant emf, ER = 2 Eco.;; 180°-o] = 2 E cos 90° __
[ = 2 E sm -2
2
0
=?Ex-=Eo
- 2 ·: ois very s
Synchronising current, Isy =z Eo
ER =z
s -~
where z is the combined
if it 1s c;nnected synchronous impedance per phase of the two alternators (or ofone alternatoro
to infinite bus-bars**).

,
The synchronising current I.,. lags be!Und the 1·esnltant emf ER by an angle 9 given by 9 = tan-
X
1
w J1ere X, is the comLined synchronous re ad ance and R, is the effective re sis ta nee of the two alternators l
of one alternator only if it is connected to infinite bus-bars).
If resistance R., is very small as compared to Synchronous reactance X, then

Synchronising current I,,= E& and lags bel1ind ER by 90" i.e. almost in phase with E .
XS l
1'hus I,,. is generating cun·ent with respect to machine no 1 and mot · . ct
machme
. 110. 2 (m
. . generator act10n
. the current flows m
. the direction
· of the · d d f h. .
onng current with respe ·
current flows in a direction opposite to that of the induced emf) Th. •n uce em W ile m motor• ..
torque T,,. which tends to accelerate the motoring machine 18 c~rrent (i
sets up a synchrom I,,
generating machine (i.e. machine no. !). .e. mac IJne no. 2) and deaccelerate
Similarly if the machine no 2 tends to speed up, induced fE .
synchronosing current I, will be generating current With . em 2 Will tend to advance in phase and
with1rcs11ect to machine nt L The torque developed due to reshpect _to machine no 2 and motoring cu
. no <
mac 1uw •>
an d accelcrate machu1e
. no L sync ro111sing current I Y will now tend to re
Thus, any depa11ure from oynchronis,u results ind . 1
8
tends to keep the machines in synchronism. e,e 0 Pment of a synchronising torque 'f, w
6.5. SYNCHRONISING POWER
1
In above caae (A116.4), machine no. I supplies ,ower e
I E I (180° ) 1 · qua 1to E I
powerequa to 2 ',. cos - $2 . I •, cos 1l>1 and the machine no. 2r
• TIie Jlhaoora a1-e a.. umed to be rotating counter-cJockwi
• d91n1taon uf infinite hus-bnrR see Art. G.14, se.
 Parallel Operation of Al
ternators
311
Power supplied by m .
, ac 1llne no 1 p
The power supplied b . . - owc-r Hllllpliorl to mnchmo no 2 + roppet los8e!I .
Y rnach1ne no 1 1s en ll ed the sy,u•/ h the expt ess1011
1101118 j 11 g pow,,r nnrl 1e given Y

, g5 lHf (6 3)
l~ x - = - -
X, X,
..• i:,
,~ I = 1'~ and~ ,s very small
Total synchronising power fi . a r~2
or 3· })haRes == 3 p == - O (6.4)
A' XS
6.6. SYNCHRONISING TORQUE
lfT_,;'" be the synchronising torque in N ..
- lll, t 11en total synchromsmg power
3p 21tN
SJ' ::;: T X --1L
~y 60
or synchronising torque 1' _ 3PSJ' x 60 ... (6.5)
' S.)' - ----
21tN s

wheJ.'e N 5 is the synchronous speed in rpi d. al 120/

u an 1s equ to -p-.
6. 7. EFFECT OF REACTANCE
y~
Since with r~spect ~o l~~l circuit, the emf of an alternator is in phase opposition to the e~f of anoth:r
alternator with which it is working in parallel, the machines run as synchronous motor ~1th respect ..o
.,.! another. Hence if due to certain reasons, the input to machine no. 2 is cut off, which is quite probable, it
must receive wattful motor current from the other.

BUS-BARS

- - - E,

lo~ Fig. 6.8 (a)

Fi.g. 6.8 (b)

Fig. 6.7 .
aible reactance. Their emfs E and E will be
· t nee but negli t,• 1
·11 b
2
1 t ·
. h. s having res1s a_ 6 8 (a) and thefr resultant emf ER w1 e a mos m
Con.::,1der two mac ine_ . s shown u1 fig. .
os1uou, a
ticnllr 111 phase op P
 ACMachLJui~

332
ER . 1· .
. I = R wil oe m pli~~
. . . I iven by the re1ation sy R1 + 2 .
811
d E Th synchromsmg current s y g
quadrature with E1 2· e h ising current I . will be wattles~
. . hE d E Hence the sync ron s.)
with E and therefore. m quadrature wit 1 an 2· h' 2 which needs help.
~ and cou,·ey no power from machine no. 1 to mac me no. t' but no resistance. The synchronis.
curren h' h . tl
N'ow con,ider the two mac mes avmg ie syi
ichronous reac ance,
h £
f h
lmost in phase with one o t e emfs
l . R' 1 ill supply power to machine no. 2 an dkee~
.. · d t • ·t1 ·esultant emfE t ere ore, a ·
mg current Is. will be m qua r~ urn w1 11 ,
s.a) w pha.se \,·1th E . as shown m fig 6.8 (b). 'lhus mac nne no. w
1

lhe ~:;:,:,t:b:~~~:::~i.ons it is obvious that without reactance t~e machines could not_ develop motor oni:
generawr pa~ier, respectively to restore synchronism,; parallel operation would not _
be posSible.
6.8. EFFECT OF INCREASING THE EXCITATION OF ONE OF THE ALTERNATORS
For s1mplicH:y, let us consider two identical alternators sharing equally a load whose power factor is cost
If both machines have exactly the same excitation it will be found that their currents 1 and 1 are equal lll
1 2
magnitude (say I eachJ and in phase, since the condition8 are identical for both machines. The phasot
diagram forthe total load, for one phase is given in fig. 6.9 (a). Now, if the excitation of one of the alternators
is increased, it will cause flow of synchronising current Isy almost in quadrature with supply voltage V
Therefore. the load current of alternator 1, whose excitation has been increased, will be I , the phasor sum
1
ofls-" and I and that of alternator 2 will be 12,_ the phasor difference of 1 Y and I. Hence power factor cos ~ d
8 1
al_ternator 1 decre~ses and that of the other improves. Because synchronising current 1 , is in quadrature
with V, therefore, 1t do_es not cha~ge wattful (active) components but changes wattleq8 J •
nents. Hence by changing the excitation, the ower .-nl'4~"'•'"a