Synchronization of Generators

In this tutorial, we will learn about Synchronization of Generators. Often electrical generators are
removed from the service and connected back to the power system during variations of the load,
emergency outages, maintenance, etc. Every time before reconnecting the generator to the
system, it must be synchronized with parameters of the power system network.

An improper synchronization can affect the healthy power system and results in electrical and
mechanical transients that can damage the prime mover, generator, transformers and other power
system components.

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What is Synchronization of Generators?
The process of matching parameters such as voltage, frequency, phase angle, phase sequence and
waveform of alternator (generator) or other source with a healthy or running power system is
called Synchronization of Generators.

A Generator cannot deliver power to electric power system unless its voltage, frequency and
other parameters are exactly matched with the network. Synchronization is accomplished by
controlling the exciter current and the engine speed of the generator.

The need for synchronization arrives, particularly when two or more alternators are working
together to supply the power to the load. This is because electrical loads are not constant and
they vary with time (depending on the load) and hence it is necessary to interconnect two or
more alternators operating in parallel to supply larger loads.

Synchronization matches various parameters of one alternator (or generator) to another alternator
or to the bus bar. The process of synchronization is also called as Paralleling of Alternators or
Generators.

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Need of Paralleling of Generators
In most commercial power plants, several small units supply the power rather than single large
unit. This is called as Parallel Operation of Generators. The reasons for preferring this practice
are enumerated below.

Reliability

Several small units are more reliable than single large unit. This is because, if one alternator is
failed, other alternators are still active and hence the whole system will not be shutdown.

Continuity of Service

In case of periodic maintenance, break-down or repairs of one alternator, it must be shutdown

and removed from service. Since the other machines are operating in parallel, the interruption to
supply the load is prevented.

Load Requirements

The load requirements in the central station changes continuously. During light-load periods,
only one or two generators are operated to supply the load demands. During peak-load demands,
additional alternators are connected in parallel to meet the demand.

High Efficiency

Generators run most efficiently when they are loaded at their rated values. Due to the operation
of few generators at light-loads and more generators at high peak loads efficiently loads the
generators.

Expanded Capacity

As the demand for electric power is increasing continuously, utility companies have been
increasing the physical size of the generating plants by adding more alternators. So, these
alternators have to be connected in parallel with the existing generator equipment.

Conditions for Synchronization or Paralleling of Generators

There are certain requirements that must be met for successful paralleling of alternators. The
following conditions must be met in order to synchronize a generator to the grid or with other
generators.

Phase Sequence

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The phase sequence of the three phases of the alternator which is being connected to the power
system bus must have the same phase sequence as that of the three phases of the bus bar (or
electric grid). This problem comes mainly in the event of initial installation or after maintenance.

Voltage Magnitude

The RMS voltage of the incoming alternator should be same as the RMS voltage of the bus bar
or electric grid. If the incoming alternator voltage is more than the bus bar voltage, there will be
a high reactive power that flows from the generator into the grid.

If the incoming alternator voltage is lower than the bus bar voltage, generator absorbs the high
reactive power from the bus bar.

Frequency

The frequency of the incoming generator must be equal to the frequency of the bus bar. Improper
matching of frequency results in high acceleration and deceleration in the prime mover that
increases the transient torque.

Phase Angle

The phase angle between the incoming generator voltage and voltage of the bus bar should be
zero. This can be observed by comparing the occurrence of zero crossing or peaks of the voltage
waveforms.

Procedure for Connecting Alternators in Parallel

When the above stated methods are fulfilled, the alternators are said to be synchronized. The
actual process of synchronization or paralleling generators includes the following steps.

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  Consider that alternator-1 is supplying power to the bus bars at rated voltage and
frequency.
 Now, an incoming alternator-2 is to be connected in parallel with alternator-1 for the first
time. By increasing the speed of the alternator, its frequency is varied and hence the
speed is adjusted till it matches with bus bar frequency (or the frequency of alternator-1).
Also, by varying the field rheostat, the voltage of the alternator-2 is varied and hence it is
adjusted till the voltage matches with bus bar voltage.
 The three voltages generated by the alternator-2 must be in phase with the respective
voltages of the bus bar (or alternator-1). This is achieved by maintaining the same phase
sequence and frequency of alternator-2 with bus bar or alternator-1. For achieving these
relationships, synchronizing lamps technique is used.

Different Techniques for Synchronization

There are different techniques being available for the synchronization of alternators. The primary
purpose of these techniques is to check all four conditions discussed above. The common
methods used for synchronizing the alternators are given below:

 Three Dark Lamps Method

 Two Bright, One Dark Method
 Synchroscope Method

Three Dark Lamps Method

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The figure below shows the circuit for bright lamp method used to synchronize the alternators.
Assume that alternator is connected to the load supplying rated voltage and frequency to it. Now
the alternator-2 is to be connected in parallel with alternator-1.

Three lamps (each of which is rated for alternator terminal voltage) are connected across the
switches of the alternator-2. From the figure, it is clear that the moment when all the conditions
of parallel operation are satisfied, the lamps should be more or less dark.

To synchronize the alternator-2 with bus bar, the prime mover of the alternator-2 is driven at
speed close to the synchronous speed decided by the bus bar frequency and number of poles of
the alternator.

Now the field current of the generator-2 is increased till voltage across the machine terminals is
equal to the bus bar voltage (by observing the readings on voltmeters).

If lamps go ON and OFF concurrently, indicating that the phase sequence of alternator-2
matches with bus bar. On the other hand, if they ON and OFF one after another, it resembles the
incorrect phase sequence.

By changing the connections of any two leads of alternator-2 after shutting down the machine,
the phase sequence can be changed.

Depending on the frequency difference between alternator-2 voltage and bus bar voltage, ON
and OFF rate of these lamps is decided. Hence, the rate of flickering has to be reduced to match
the frequency. This is possible by adjusting the speed of alternator by its prime mover control.
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When all these parameters are set, the lamps become dark and then the synchronizing switch can
be closed to synchronize alternator-2 with alternator-1.

The main disadvantage of this method is that rate of flickering only indicates the difference
between the alternator-2 and the bus bar. But the information of alternator frequency in relation
to bus bar frequency is not available in this method.

Suppose, if the bus bar frequency is 50Hz, the rate of flickering of lamps is same when the
frequency of the alternator is either 51 or 49 Hz, as the difference in these two cases is 1Hz.

Two Bright and One Dark Lamp Method

The connections for this method are shown in figure below and it is useful in finding whether the
alternator frequency is lower or higher than the bus bar frequency.

Here, the lamp L2 is connected across the pole in the middle line of synchronizing switch as
similar to the dark lamp method, whereas the lamps L1 and L3 are connected in a transposed
manner.

The voltage condition checking is similar to the previous method and after it, the lamps glow
bright and dark one after another. The lower or higher value of alternator frequency in
comparison with bus bar frequency is determined by the sequence in which the lamps become
dark and bright.

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The sequence of becoming bright and dark L1- L2 – L3 indicates that the incoming generator
frequency is higher than the bus bar frequency. Hence, the alternator speed has to be reduced by
prime mover control till the flickering rate is brought down to a small.

On the other hand, the sequence flickering L1- L3 – L2 indicates that incoming alternator
frequency is less than that of bus bar.

Hence, the speed of the alternator is increased by the prime mover till the rate of flickering is
brought down to as small as possible. The synchronizing switch is then closed at the instant
when lamps L1 and L3 are equally bright and lamp L2 is dark.

The disadvantage of this method is that the correctness of phase sequence cannot be checked.
However, this requirement is unnecessary for permanently connected alternators where checking
of phase sequence is enough to be carried out for the first time of operation alone.

Synchroscope Method

It is similar to the two bright and one dark lamp method and indicates whether the alternator
frequency is higher or lower than the bus bar frequency. A synchroscope is used for better
accuracy of synchronization and it consists of two pairs of terminals.

One pair of terminals marked as ‘existing’ has to be connected across the bus bar terminals or to
the existing alternator and other pair of terminals marked as ‘incoming’ has to be connected
across the terminals of incoming alternator.

The synchroscope has circular dial over which a pointer is hinged that is capable of rotating in
clockwise and anticlockwise directions.

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After the voltage condition is checked, the operator has to check the synchroscope. The rate at
which the pointer rotates indicates the difference of frequency between the incoming alternator
and the bus bar.

Also, the direction to which the pointer rotates (to either fast or slow) gives the information,
whether the incoming alternator frequency is higher or lower than the bus bar frequency and
hence the pointer moves either fast or slow.

The appropriate correction has to be made to control the speed of the alternator so as to bring the
rate of rotation of pointer as small as possible. Therefore, synchroscope along with voltmeters
are enough for synchronization process. However, in most of the cases a set of lights along with
synchroscope is used as a double-check system.

These are the methods of synchronizing the generators. This process must be done carefully to
prevent the disturbances in the power system as well as to avoid a serious damage to the
machine. Only three lamps methods are not preferred today due to less accuracy and manual
operation.

These processes need a skilled and experienced person to handle the equipment while
synchronizing. In most cases synchroscope method with set of lamps is used as mentioned
above.

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Modern synchronization equipment automates the whole synchronization process with the use of
microprocessor based systems that avoids manual lamps and synchroscope observations. These
methods are easier to manage and more reliable.

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