Module 6

Parallel
Generators
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Title: Direct Current Generator

Title of the Lesson: Parallel Operations OF DC Generators

Duration: 4 hrs

In this module, we are going to discuss the importance of

connecting generators in parallel, the conditions for paralleling dc
generators and the load sharing of each generator for the continuous
power supply.

Objectives

1. Know the importance of paralleling dc generators.

2. To discuss the conditions of paralleling DC generators
3. To know how the generator share the load in proportion to their
kilowatt capacity.

Parallel Operation of DC Generators

A. Advantages of Parallel Operation of Dc Generator

Power plant whether DC or AC stations, will be generally found

to have several smaller generators running in parallel rather than large
single units capable of supplying the maximum peak load. These smaller
units can be run singly or in various parallel combinations to suit the actual
load demand. Such practice is considered extremely desirable for the
following reasons:

1) Continuity of Service

If a single large generator is used in the power plant, then in case

of its breakdown, the whole plant will be shut down. However, if power is
supplied from a number of small units operating in parallel, then in case
of failure of one unit, the continuity of supply can be maintained by other
healthy units.

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2) Efficiency

Usually the load on the electrical power plant fluctuate its peal
value sometimes during the day and its minimum value during the late
night hours. Since generators operate most efficient when delivering full
load, it is economical to use a single small unit when the load is light. Then,
as the load demand increases, a large generator can be substituted for
the smaller one or another smaller unit can be connected to run in parallel
with one already in operation.

3) Maintenance and Repair

It is considered a good practice to inspect generators carefully and

periodically to forestall any possibility of failure or breakdown. This is
possible only when the generator is at rest which means that there must
be other generators to take care of the load. Moreover, when the
generators does actually breakdown, it can be repaired with more care
and not in rush, provided there are other generators available to maintain
service.

4) Increasing Plant Capacity

In the modern world of increasing population, the use of electricity

is continuously increasing. When added capacity is required, the new unit
can be simply paralleled with the old units. In many situations, a single unit
of desired large capacity may not be available. In that case, a number of
smaller units can be operated in parallel to meet the load requirement.
Generally, a single large unit is more expensive.

B. Conditions for Parallel Operation of Dc Generator:

To connect the generators in parallel to common bus-bars, the
generators should satisfy the following conditions.
1. The incoming generators voltage should be same as bus-bar voltage.
2. The +ve and -ve terminals (i.e. polarity) of generators must be
connected to +ve and -ve of bus-bars (otherwise a serious short-circuit
will occur).
3. Equalizer bar should be used for compound and series generators.
4. Induced e.m.fs of generators should be preferably same (otherwise
circulating currents result ).

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C. Connection of Parallel DC Generators
1. The generators in a power plant, connected by heavy thick copper
bars, called bus-bars which act as positive and negative terminals.
To connect the generators in parallel, Positive terminal of the
generators are connected to the positive terminal of the bus-bars
and negative terminals of generators are connected to negative
terminal of the bus-bars, as shown in the figure.
Moreover, paralleling a generator with reverse polarity
effectively short circuits it and results in damaged brushes, a
damaged commutator and a blocked-out power plant. Generators
that have been tripped off the bus – because of a heavy fault
current should always be checked for reverse polarity before
paralleling.
2. To connect the 2 generator with the 1 existing working generators,
first we have to bring the speed of the prime mover of the 2
generator to the rated speed. At this point switch S4 is closed.
3. The circuit breaker V2 (voltmeter) connected across the open
switch S2 is closed to complete the circuit. The excitation of the
generator 2 is increased with the help of field rheostat till it
generates voltage equal to the voltage of bus-bars.
4. The main switch S2 is then closed and the generator 2 is ready to
be paralleled with existing generator. But at this point of time
generator 2 is not taking any load as its induced e.m.f. is equal to
bus-bar voltage. The present condition is called floating, that
means ready for supply but not supplying current to the load.
5. In order to deliver current from generator 2, it is necessary that its
induced e.m.f. E should be greater than the bus-bars voltage V.
By strengthening the field current, the induced e.m.f. of generator
2 could be improved and the current supply will get started. To
maintain bus-bar voltage, the field of generator 1 is weakened so
that value remains constant.

𝐸−𝑉
𝐼=
𝑅𝑎

Field current I given by where, Ra is resistance of armature winding.

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Fig. 1.38

D. Parallel Operation of Shunt DC Generator

There may be two conditions for parallel operation of shunt DC
generators.

Condition 1
The no-load voltage of the generators to be operated in parallel is the
same.

Condition 2
The no-load voltage of the generators to be operated in parallel is
unequal.

D.1 No Load Voltage of Parallel Generators is the Same

Let us consider E is the no-load voltage of DC generator 1 and 2 as
shown in the figure below.

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V is the voltage of the bus to which we will connect the DC generators.
Also, we consider the armature resistance of Generator 1 and 2 are R1 and
R2 respectively. The load delivered by generator 1 and generator 2 are,
𝐼1 𝑅1 = 𝐸 − 𝑉 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐼2 𝑅2 = 𝐸 − 𝑉
From these two equations, we can write,

𝐼1 𝑅1 = 𝐼2 𝑅2

𝐼1 𝑅2
=
𝐼2 𝑅1

1
𝐼∝
𝑅

Here, I1 is the load current delivered by generator 1 and I 2 is the

load current delivered by generator 2.
From the above expressions we can conclude that when the no
load voltage or open circuit voltage of generators in parallel is same, the
current delivered by the individual generator is inversely proportional to
the armature resistance of that generator.

D.2 No Load Voltage of Parallel Generators is not the Same

Now, we come to the 2nd condition where two generators are
being operated in parallel with unequal no load voltage.

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 In that case, let us consider E1 and E2 are the open circuit or no
load voltage of generator 1 and 2 respectively. Now we can write,
𝐸1 − 𝑉 = 𝑅1 𝐼1
𝐸1 − 𝑉
𝐼1 =
𝑅1
𝐸2 − 𝑉 = 𝑅2 𝐼2
𝐸2 − 𝑉
𝐼2 =
𝑅2
Now, by making ratio of I1 and I2 we get,

𝐼1 𝐸1 − 𝑉 𝑅2
= ×
𝐼2 𝐸2 − 𝑉 𝑅1
Again we know that, the no load voltage of a DC generator is
directly proportional to the field flux and speed of the prime mover. So,
we can write,

𝐸1 ∝ ∅1 𝑁1

Where, Φ1 and N1 are the field flux and RPM of generator 1. Now, we
can write,
𝐸1 = 𝐾1 ∅1 𝑁1

Where, K1 is the proportionality constant.

Similarly, we can establish that the no load voltage of generator 2,

𝐸2 = 𝐾2 ∅2 𝑁2

Placing the expression of E1 and E2 in the expression of

armature currents or load currents, we get, the ratio of load currents as
𝐼1 𝐾1 ∅1 𝑁1 − 𝑉 𝑅2
= ×
𝐼2 𝐾2 ∅2 𝑁2 − 𝑉 𝑅1

Therefore, from the above equation it is clear to us that by

controlling the field excitation (Φ) and speed of the prime mover (N), we
can control the load sharing by these two generators on the system.
Whatever maybe the value of field flux or RPM of the generator but it is

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true that during parallel operation of DC shunt generators, the voltage drop
across the armature would be such that it will cause same terminal voltage
for both the generators when running with loads. This online terminal
voltage will be exactly equal to the voltage of the bus to which we connect
the generator.

E. Load Sharing
The load sharing between shunt generators in parallel can be
easily regulated because of their drooping characteristics. The load may
be shifted from one generator to another merely by adjusting the field
excitation.

Let us discuss the load sharing of two generators which have

unequal no-load voltages.

Let 𝐸1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐸2 = no-load voltages of the two generators

𝑅1 , 𝑅2 = their armature resistances

𝑉 = common terminal voltage (Bus-bars voltage).

𝐸1 −𝑉 (𝐸2 −𝑉)
then 𝐼1 = 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐼2 =
𝑅1 𝑅2

Thus the current output of the generators depends upon the values of
E1 and E3. These values may be changed by field rheostats. The
common terminal voltage (or bus-bars voltage) will depend upon

(i) the e.m.f.s of individual generators and

(ii) the total load current supplied.

It is generally desired to keep the bus bars voltage constant. This can be
achieved by adjusting the field excitations of the generators operating
in parallel.

It should be kept in mind that:

(1) two parallel shunt generators having equal no-load voltages share
the load in such a ration that the load current of each machine
produces the same drop in each generator.

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 (2) In the case of two shunt generators having unequal no-load
voltages, the load currents produce sufficient voltage drop in each
so as to keep their terminal voltage the same.
(3) The generator with the different power ratings but the same
voltage regulation will divide any oncoming bus load in direct
proportion to their respective power ratings.
F. Compound Generators in Parallel

Let us see the parallel operation with dc compound generators.

Here the generators are taking an equal share of the load.

Let the two compound generators G1and G2 are connected for

parallel operation as shown in the figure. Consider, for instance, the
generator G1 takes increased sharing of the load. Due to this, the
current through the series winding of that generator G1 increases
further. Therefore, the emf in the generator also increases, which
makes the generator to take more load.

As the load on the two generators is to be constant. It may

result in the weakening of the series field of the generator G2. Which
in turn further reduces the load on generator G2.

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It this condition may continue, at a time generator G1 takes the entire load,
and at that instant, the generator G2 will start working as a motor. This may
result in the opening of the circuit breakers of the generator and the entire
parallel operation will be stopped.

In order to make the parallel operation, stable and smooth. A conductor

of low resistance known as “Equalizer Bar " is connected between the two
armature ends of two generators as shown in the figure. The operation of
the equalizing bar is to make an equal flow of field currents in two
generators series field coils.

Suppose when the current through the winding of

generator G1 increases. Due to the sharing of load increases. This current
also passes through the equalizing bar. Therefore, this current will be
shared by the series field winding of the generator G2. In this way the
current is balanced in both the windings of the generators with the help of
an equalizing bar and load sharing is made equal on both generators.

G. Parallel Operation of Series Generator

Two identical series generator G1 and G2 are connected in parallel. Let
E1 and E2 are initially equal, generators supply equal currents and have
equal shunt resistances. When E1 increases slightly (E1 > E2). In that case,
I1 becomes greater than I2.

Consequently, the field through generator G1 is strengthened thus

increasing E1 further whist the field of generator G2 is weakened thus
decreasing E2 further. At a stage when G1 supplies power not only to the
whole load but also supplies power to G2 which starts running as a motor.
Here, the two machines will form a short-circuited loop and the current will
rise in the loop.

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 This condition can be prevented by placing an equalizing bar between
two generators because of which two machines passes similarly equal
currents to the load, the slight difference between the two currents are
adjusted in the loop is made by the armatures and the equalizer bar.

Self-Evaluation Test

(1) What are the reasons for paralleling dc generators?

(2) What will happen to the series generators connected in parallel
without equalizer?
(3) How does parallel generator share their load to other generators?
(4) What is the effect of connecting generator in parallel with reverse
polarity?
(5) Enumerate the procedure for connecting dc generators in parallel.

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Exercises:

1. Two shunt generators are connected in parallel to supply a load of 5000

Amp. Each machine has an armature resistance of 0.03 ohm and a
field resistance of 60 ohms, but the emf of one machine is 600 V and
that of the other is 640 V. What power does each machine supply?

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2. Two shunt generators operating in parallel deliver a total current of
250A. One of the generators is rated 50 kW and the other 100 kW.
The voltage rating of both machine is 500 V and have regulations of
6 percent (smaller one) and 4 percent. Assuming linear
characteristics, determine: (a) the current delivered by each
machine, (b) the terminal voltage, (c) the output power of each
generator.

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3. Two 220 V dc generators, each having linear external
characteristics operate in parallel. One machine has a terminal
voltage of 270 V on no-load and 220 V at a load current of 35 A,
while the other has a voltage of 280 V at no-load and 220 V at 50
A. Calculate the output current of each machine and the bus bar
voltage when the total load is 60 A. What is the kW output of each
machine?

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4. Two generators, each having no-load voltage of 500 V, are connected
in parallel to a constant resistance load consuming 400 kw. The
terminal potential difference of one machine falls linearly to 470 V as
the load is increased to 850 A, while that of the other falls linearly to
460 V when the load is 600 A. Find the load current and voltage of
each generator. If the induced emf of one machine is increased to
share load equally, find the new load current and voltage

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5. Two shunt generators and a battery are working in parallel. The open
circuit voltage, armature and field resistances of generators are 250
V, 0.24 Ω, 100 Ω and 248 V, 0.12 Ω and 100 Ω respectively. If the
generators supply the same current when the load current is 40A,
calculate the emf of the battery if its internal resistance is 0.172 Ω.

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