Parallel operation of Generator

In order to maximize the efficiency of a generator especially when it delivers a load, it is being run
in parallel along with another generator, for:

1. Increase load capacity

2. For maintenance purposes
3. For balance in a certain power system

In order to do this operation, these criteria must be met:

1. Equal magnitude of terminal voltage

2. Equal operating frequencies
3. Same phase sequence
 Case I: With External characteristic given
Using the characteristic triangle of a generator in which its voltage is graphed along with its real power rating,
the following similar triangle is derived as shown in the figure,

Before bus load changes,

𝑃𝑎 = 𝑉𝑏𝑢𝑠 𝐼𝑎 𝑃𝑡 = 𝑃𝑎 + 𝑃𝑏 𝐼𝑡 = 𝐼𝑎 + 𝐼𝑏
𝑃𝑏 = 𝑉𝑏𝑢𝑠 𝐼𝑏 𝑃𝑏𝑢𝑠 = 𝑉𝑏𝑢𝑠 𝐼𝑡
After bus load changes,

∆𝐼 = ∆𝐼𝑎 + ∆𝐼𝑏 𝐼𝑡𝑁𝐸𝑊 = 𝐼𝑡 ± ∆𝐼 = 𝐼𝑎𝑁𝐸𝑊 + 𝐼𝑏𝑁𝐸𝑊

𝐼𝑎𝑁𝐸𝑊 = 𝐼𝑎 ± ∆𝐼𝑎 𝐼𝑏𝑁𝐸𝑊 = 𝐼𝑏 ± ∆𝐼𝑏

where: ∆𝐼 − 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑏𝑢𝑠 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡

∆𝐼𝑎 𝑎𝑛𝑑∆𝐼𝑏 − 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑎 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏 𝑑𝑢𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒
±∆𝐼 − + 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑎𝑛𝑑 − 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑑𝑒𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑
 ∆𝑉 (%𝑉𝑅𝑎 )(𝑉𝐹𝐿𝑎)(100) ∆𝑉 (%𝑉𝑅𝑏 )(𝑉𝐹𝐿𝑏 )(100)
= . =
𝐼𝑎 𝐼𝐹𝐿𝑎 𝐼𝑏 𝐼𝐹𝐿𝑏

𝑉𝑏𝑢𝑠𝑁𝐸𝑊 = 𝑉𝑏𝑢𝑠 ± ∆𝑉

where, +∆𝑉 − 𝑖𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑑𝑒𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑

−∆𝑉 − 𝑖𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑
𝑃𝑎𝑁𝐸𝑊 = 𝑉𝑏𝑢𝑠𝑁𝐸𝑊𝐼𝑎𝑁𝐸𝑊 . 𝑃𝑡𝑁𝐸𝑊 = 𝑉𝑏𝑢𝑠𝑁𝐸𝑊𝐼𝑡𝑁𝐸𝑊 = 𝑃𝑎𝑁𝐸𝑊 + 𝑃𝑏𝑁𝐸𝑊

𝑃𝑏𝑁𝐸𝑊 = 𝑉𝑏𝑢𝑠𝑁𝐸𝑊𝐼𝑏𝑁𝐸𝑊
Case II: With internal characteristic given
 EXAMPLE PROBLEMS
1. Two shunt DC generators G1 and G2 are rated at 100 and 150 kW at 110 V respectively. Their external load
characteristics may be considered as a straight line. The drop in the terminal voltage from no load to full load is
10 V for G1 and 20 V for G2. Calculate no-load voltages of these generators when they are operated in parallel
to a supply load of 2000 A, which divided between them in proportion to their ratings.
Solution:
100,000 150,000
At 110 V operating voltage, I1 = = 909. 1 𝐴, I1 = = 1363.64 𝐴
110 110
𝐼𝑡 = 909.1 + 1363.64 = 2272.74 𝐴
∆𝑉 𝑉𝑑𝑟𝑜𝑝 ∆𝑉 𝐼𝑙
𝑏𝑦 𝑠𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒, = , ∆𝐼 =
∆𝐼 𝐼𝑙 𝑉𝑑𝑟𝑜𝑝
∆𝑉 (909.1) ∆𝑉 (1363.64)
𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝐺1 , ∆𝐼1 = = 90.91∆𝑉 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝐺2, ∆𝐼2 = = 68.182∆𝑉
10 20
272.74
∆𝐼 = ∆𝐼1 + ∆𝐼2 → 2272.74 − 2000 = 90.91∆𝑉 + 68.182∆𝑉 → ∆𝑉 = = 1.714𝑉
90.91 + 68.182
𝑉𝑛𝑒𝑤 = 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑑 + ∆𝑉 = 110 + 1.714 = 111.714 𝑉
𝑉𝑁𝐿,𝐺1 = 𝑉𝑛𝑒𝑤 + 𝑉𝑑𝑟𝑜𝑝 = 111.714 + 10 = 121.714 𝑉
𝑉𝑁𝐿,𝐺2 = 111.714 + 20 = 131.714 𝑉
 EXAMPLE PROBLEMS
2. Two identical 800 kW, 230 V DC generators are operating in parallel and take equal shares of an 700 kW, 250 V
bus load. If the load drops to half and it causes the new operating voltage to increase by 5%, what will be the
voltage regulation of each machine?

Solution:
∆𝑉 = 𝑉𝑙𝑜𝑙𝑑 − 𝑉𝑙𝑛𝑒𝑤 = 0.05 250 = 12.5 𝑉
800000
𝐼𝑓𝑙1 = 𝐼𝑓𝑙2 = = 3478.26 𝐴
230
𝑃𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑 700000
𝐼𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑 = = = 2800 𝐴
𝑉𝑙 250
(∆𝑉)(𝐼𝑓𝑙 ) (3478.26)(12.5) 189.036
∆𝐼1 = ∆𝐼1 = = =
(𝑉𝑅%)(𝑉𝑓𝑙 ) (𝑉𝑅%)(230) 𝑉𝑅%
∆𝐼1 + ∆𝐼2 = ∆𝐼𝑏𝑢𝑠
189.036 189.036
2800 0.5 = +
𝑉𝑅% 𝑉𝑅%
189.36 + 189.36
𝑉𝑅% = = 0.27𝑥100 = 27%
1400
 EXAMPLE PROBLEMS
3. Two shunt generators are operating in parallel has a total output of 320 kW has the following specifications.
Ga= Ra=0.02 ohms, E=450 V, Gb= Ra=0.025 ohms, E=460 V. Find the bus voltage, neglecting shunt field current.
516

Solution:
𝐸𝑔1 − 𝑉𝑙 𝐸𝑔2 − 𝑉𝑙 450 − 𝑉𝑙 460 − 𝑉𝑙 320000
I𝑎1 + I𝑎2 = 𝐼𝑙 −→ + = + =
𝑅𝑎1 𝑅𝑎2 0.02 0.025 𝑉𝑙
320000
22500 − 50𝑉𝑙 + 18400 − 40𝑉𝑙 =
𝑉𝑙
40900𝑉𝑙 − 90𝑉𝑙2 = 320000
𝑉𝑙2 − 454.44𝑉𝑙 + 3555.55 = 0
𝑏𝑦 𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑑𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑐 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛, 𝑉𝑙+ = 446.5 𝑉 , 𝑉𝑙− = 7.964 𝑉 (𝑟𝑒𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡)
 EXAMPLE PROBLEMS
4. Two identical shunt generators operating in parallel supply a total load current of 2500 A. Each machine has a
shunt field resistance of 50 ohms and an armature resistance of 0.01 ohms. The induced emf generated are 230
V and 235 V respectively. Calculate the common operating voltage of each machine.

Solution:
𝐸𝑔1 − 𝑉𝑙 𝐸𝑔2 − 𝑉𝑙 𝑉𝑙 𝑉𝑙
I𝑎1 + I𝑎2 = 𝐼𝑙 + 𝐼𝑠ℎ1 + 𝐼𝑠ℎ2 −→ + = 2500 + +
𝑅𝑎1 𝑅𝑎2 𝑅𝑠ℎ1 𝑅𝑠ℎ2
230 − 𝑉𝑙 235 − 𝑉𝑙 𝑉𝑙 𝑉𝑙
+ = 2500 + +
0.01 0.01 50 50
−200𝑉𝑙 + 46500 = 2500 + 0.04𝑉𝑙
𝑉𝑙 = 219.95 𝑉
 EXAMPLE PROBLEMS
5. Two shunt generators running in parallel deliver a total load of 3,600 A. Each machine has shunt field
resistance of 60 ohms and an armature resistance of 0.01 ohms. Each has emfs of 455 and 460 V respectively.
Determine the kW share of each machine.

Solution:
I𝑎1 + I𝑎2 = 𝐼𝑙 + 𝐼𝑠ℎ1 + 𝐼𝑠ℎ2
455 − 𝑉𝑙 460 − 𝑉𝑙 𝑉𝑙 𝑉𝑙
+ = 4000 + +
0.01 0.01 60 60
−200𝑉𝑙 + 91000 = 4000 + 0.033𝑉𝑙
𝑉𝑙 = 434. 93 𝑉
455 − 434. 93 434. 93
𝐼𝑙1 = 𝐼𝑎1 − 𝐼𝑠ℎ1 = − = 1499.75 ≅ 1500 𝐴
0.01 60
𝐼𝑙2 = 𝐼𝑎2 − 𝐼𝑠ℎ2 = 𝐼𝑡 − 𝐼𝑙1 = 4000 − 1500 = 2500 𝐴
𝑃1 = 𝑉𝑙 𝐼𝑙1 = 434. 93 1500 = 652.4 𝑘𝑊
𝑃2 = 𝑉𝑙 𝐼𝑙2 = 434. 93 2500 = 1087.3 𝑘𝑊
 EXAMPLE PROBLEMS
6. Two shunt generators running in parallel deliver a total load of 1800 kW at 400 V. Each machine has shunt
field resistance of 160 ohms. If each machine has emfs of 455 and 460 V with 2 V brush drops for both,
respectively. Given that the two machine has identical armature configuration, Determine its input power.

Solution:
1800000
𝐼𝑙 = = 4500
400
455 − 400 − 2 460 − 400 − 2 400 400
+ = 4500 + +
𝑅𝑎 𝑅𝑎 60 60
53 + 58 = 4513.33𝑅𝑎
𝑅𝑎 = 0.025 𝑜ℎ𝑚
455 − 400 − 2
𝐼𝑎1 = = 2120 𝐴
0.025
460 − 400 − 2
𝐼𝑎2 = = 2320 𝐴
0.025
𝑃𝑎 = 2120 455 = 964,600 𝑊 = 964.6 𝑘𝑊
𝑃𝑏 = 2320 465 = 1,067,200 𝑊 = 1,067.2 𝑘𝑊
 EXAMPLE PROBLEMS
7. Two identical 600 kW, 230 V DC generators are operating in parallel and take equal shares of an 800 kW, 250 V
bus load. The voltage regulation of each machine is 5%. If one of the generators tripped off from the line, What
is voltage of the remaining machine?

Solution:
𝑃𝑓𝑙 600000
𝐼𝑓𝑙1 = 𝐼𝑓𝑙2 = = = 2608.69 𝐴
𝑉𝑓𝑙 230
𝑃𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑 800000
𝐼𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑 = = = 3200 𝐴
𝑉𝑙 250
3200
𝐼𝑙1 = 𝐼𝑙2 = = 1600 𝐴
2
∆𝑉 (𝑉𝑅%)(𝑉𝑓𝑙 )
= −→
∆𝐼 𝐼𝑓𝑙
(∆𝑉)(𝐼𝑓𝑙1) 2608.69∆𝑉
∆𝐼1 = = = 226.84∆𝑉
(𝑉𝑅%)(𝑉𝑓𝑙 ) (0.05)(230)
∆𝐼1 = ∆𝐼𝑏𝑢𝑠
226.84∆𝑉 = 1600
∆𝑉 = 7.05 𝑉 = 𝑉𝑙𝑜𝑙𝑑 − 𝑉𝑙𝑛𝑒𝑤 −−→ 𝑉𝑙𝑛𝑒𝑤 = 250 − 7.05 = 242.95 𝑉 ≅ 243 𝑉
 EXAMPLE PROBLEMS
8. Two 250 V DC generators are operating in parallel and taking equal shares of a 3000 A, 250 V busload. The
ratings of the generator are as follows. G1= VR%=2, 500 kW, G2= VR%=4, 400 kW. If the load drops to 1500 A,
determine the new operating bus voltage.

Solution:
𝑃𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑1 500000
𝐼𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑1 = = = 2000 𝐴
𝑉𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑1 250
𝑃𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑2 400000
𝐼𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑2 = = = 1600 𝐴
𝑉𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑2 250
(∆𝑉)(𝐼𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑1) 2000∆𝑉
∆𝐼1 = = = 400∆𝑉
(𝑉𝑅%)(𝑉𝑓𝑙 ) (0.02)(250)
(∆𝑉)(𝐼𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑2) 1600∆𝑉
∆𝐼2 = = = 160∆𝑉
(𝑉𝑅%)(𝑉𝑓𝑙 ) (0.02)(250)
∆𝐼1 + ∆𝐼2 = ∆𝐼 −→ 400∆𝑉 + 160∆𝑉 = 3000 − 1500
∆𝑉 = 2.678 𝑉
𝑉𝑙𝑛𝑒𝑤 = 250 + 2.678 = 252.678 𝑉 ≅ 253 𝑉
 EXAMPLE PROBLEMS
9. Two shunt generators are operating in parallel and taking equal shares of 2400 A, 230 V bus load. The rating
of the generators are G1= VR%=3, 500 kW, 250 V, G2= VR%=4, 600 kW, 250 V. If an additional 600 A is connected
to the bus, determine the current delivered by each generator at this condition.
Solution:
500000
𝐼𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑1 = = 2000 𝐴
250
600000
𝐼𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑2 = = 2400 𝐴
250
2000∆𝑉
∆𝐼1 = = 266.67∆𝑉
(0.03)(250)
2400∆𝑉
∆𝐼2 = = 240∆𝑉
(0.04)(250)
266.67∆𝑉 + 240∆𝑉 = 600
∆𝑉 = 1.184 𝑉
2400
𝐼1 = 𝐼2 = = 1200 𝐴
2
𝐼1𝑛𝑒𝑤 = 𝐼1 + ∆𝐼1 = 1200 + 266.67 1.184 = 1515.73 𝐴
𝐼2𝑛𝑒𝑤 = 𝐼2 + ∆𝐼2 = 1200 + 240 1.184 = 1484. 16 𝐴