Basics of Paralleling

Revised: February 1, 2017

© 2017 Cummins All Rights Reserved

Course Objectives

Participants will be able to:

– Discuss basic paralleling control functions to gain a better understanding of
how paralleling is accomplished
– Explain the advantages of paralleling to enhance the overall system
reliability, performance and flexibility
– Describe how generator set control functions are provided in a distributed
logic architecture to improve paralleling reliability
– Recognize the common building blocks of a backup power system and
their functionalities
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E
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Generator Set

 Skid
 Engine
 Alternator
 Cooling
 Control
Power System

Utility

Backup Power

Switchgear Transfer Switches

Loads
Paralleling
 Synchronous operation of two or more generator sets connected together
on a paralleling bus in order to provide power to common loads

Paralleling Switchgear Loads

Paralleling Operation

 Generators can be connected to a power plant or another generator source

only when the following conditions are met:
Sine
– Waveform
– Phase Sequence A A Square

– Speed difference (frequency)

– Phase angle difference Sawtooth
120° 120° 120° 120°
– Voltage amplitude difference
C ABC B B ACB C
f1
f2
v Ø
v v
∆V

0 t1 t2 t3 t4 t 0 90 180 270 360

Deg 0 t1 t2 t3 t4 t
Source-1
Source-2
Synchronization

 Synchronization is the mechanism of matching frequency, phase and voltage

of AC power sources

Electronic Maintains engine output speed

Governor

Automatic Voltage Maintains generator output voltage

Regulator
Electronic Governor (GOV)

Electronic
Governor

Pump

Speed Sensor Fuel Tank

Injectors

Fuel

T, w
Automatic Voltage Regulator (AVR)
DC Current
v
AVR

Output
0 t
Exciter Rotor
& Stator

 The output voltage can be

Main Rotor
Main Rotor increased or decreased by altering
the strength of the magnetic field

𝛿𝑩
𝜵×𝑬=− (𝐹𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑎𝑦 ′ 𝑠 𝐿𝑎𝑤)
Rectifier 𝛿𝑡
Magnetic
Main Stator Flux Field
 Synchronizer

 Match Frequency, Phase and Voltage

Sense line & load
Closed feedback loop: Hz, Ø Electronic waves:
Hz, Ø & V Governor Frequency Hz
Offset
Load Side Line Side Phase Ø
+ - V Voltage
Voltage V
Regulator
Offset
Line Side Wave

Generator Set Control Close signal

CB Synchronized
Synchronizer
Load Side Wave

AC Network:
480 VAC, 60 Hz, 3Ø
Synchronizing: Phase and Frequency
Source-1
 Adjusting the governor fuel set point Source-2
Ø
Offset (t)
v
Setpoint
1800 RPM + ω(t)
+ -
0 90 180 270 360
Deg

Electronic
Governor
Speed f1
Sensor f2
Fuel Fuel v
Actuator

Shaft 0 t1 t2 t3 t4 t
Prime
Mover
Synchronizing: Voltage Amplitude
 Adjusting the field excitation
Offset (t)
Setpoint
4.16kV +
+ - Source-1
v Source-2

Voltage
Regulator
Voltage
Sensor
0 t
Excitation
System

Electric
Generator
V(t)
Output
Rotor Position and Output Voltage

 ElectricalDegrees = P/2 * MechanicalDegrees P: Number of poles

v
One Wave Cycle

N SHAFT N
0 90 180 270 360 90 180 270 360 Deg

S
Alternator Shaft Position
(Degrees)

Air Gap Main Stator Coils in Slots

Controlling Speed, Phase and Voltage

Offset Offset
Setpoint Setpoint
1800 RPM + ω(t) 4.16kV +
+ - + -

Electronic Voltage
Governor Regulator
Speed Voltage
Sensor Sensor
Fuel Fuel Excitation
Actuator System

Prime Shaft Electric

Mover Generator
Output
Generator Set
Standby System Simulation: Isolated Bus
Paralleling Sequence of Operation: Isolated Bus
Remote Start

Engine Cranks & Builds Up

To Rated Speed & Voltage

Ready to Load

First Start De-energized Gen Energized

Synchronize
Arbitration Bus Status

First Start Sync Check

Permission Won Conditions Met
Close Generator Breaker
& Load Share
Load Sharing
 The proportional division of the kW and kVAR total load between multiple
generator sets in a paralleled system
– Load sharing is essential to avoid overloading and stability problems on the generator sets
 Load share can be Isochronous or Droop

2 MW

1 MW 1 MW

1 MW 0.5 MW 0.5 MW

2MW Load
Load Sharing
 The kW load sharing is achieved by increasing or decreasing fuel to the
engines
 The kVAR load sharing is achieved by increasing or decreasing the field
excitation to the alternators

GOV GOV GOV

Communication AVR AVR AVR
Wires kW
Load Share Lines kVAR
Load Share Lines

50% kW 50% kW 50% kW

50% kVAR 50% kVAR 50% kVAR
Energy Management

 Peak Shave
 Base Load

Peak Shave Base Load

Requirements

Requirements
Power

Power
User Supplied Power Utility Supplied Power

Utility Supplied Power

User Supplied Power

Time Time
Connecting to the Grid
 Base load, peak shave, extended paralleling
 Cannot change the grid voltage and frequency
 Drive generator sets to match the grid

Grid Synchronizer
Infinite Match kW Load
Source: Grid Govern Lines
kVAR Load
Frequency Govern Lines
Phase
GOV GOV
Voltage
AVR AVR
Grid Connecting Example
 Peak Shave Mode - Extended Paralleling
Grid
Controller
kW Load
Read Power Govern Lines
kVAR Load
Govern Lines
GOV GOV
Utility Import Setpoint: AVR AVR
e.g. 0.5 MW
0.5 MW
2 MW 2 MW

1 MW 1 MW

2.5 MW Load
Typical Generator Protection Elements
 15 – Synchronizer
 24 – Volts/Hertz
 25 – Synch Check
 27 – Undervoltage
 32 – Directional Power
 40 – Loss of Excitation/Reverse kVAR
 46 – Phase Balance Current
 47 – Phase Sequence Voltage
 50 – Instantaneous overcurrent
 51 – Time Overcurrent Reverse kVAR Reverse kW

 59 – Overvoltage
 81U/O – Under/Over Frequency
 Paralleling Control

Data Link Data Link

Human Machine Interface Generator Set Controller Engine Control Module

 User Interface  Paralleling  Engine Protection

 Configurations/Settings  Genset Protection  Governing
 Alarms  Voltage Regulation  Engine metering
 Start/Stop  Load Sharing
 Manual Paralleling  Generator Metering
Generator Set Paralleling Controls Capabilities
 Without a Digital Master Control, generator set control can:
– Parallel with each other
– Synchronize with the grid (single genset) - Base Load/Peak Shave
– Single Load Add/Shed Scheme
– Perform Load Demand

Grid

Load Load
Master Control
 Is required when:
– Synchronizing multiple generator sets with the utility or multiple utility feeds
– Load and capacity management
– System monitoring and control
– Complex sequence of operation
Master Control
Grid

Synchronize

Load 1 Load 2 Load 3 Load 4

Digital Master Control
Digital Master Control
Summary

 Governor and AVR are the basic functions on every genset and the
synchronizer, load share and load govern simply adjust the reference
point to them
 Paralleling enhances the overall system reliability, performance and
flexibility
 Distributed logic architecture in a paralleling system improves the overall
reliability by eliminating single points of failure
Thank You!

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© 2017 Cummins All Rights Reserved

Load Demand

 Match generating capacity to the load to optimize fuel efficiency and prolong
generator set life Capacity: 5MW

1 MW 1 MW 1 MW 1 MW 1 MW

CB CB CB CB CB

Load: 4.75
0.5 MW
1.5
3.0
3.5 MW
Reference Material:
Load Demand
 The load demand feature is used to match generating capacity to the
load to optimize fuel efficiency and prolong generator set life while
maintaining correct reserve capacity for the customer’s application
 Shutdown sequence can either be a fixed sequence or can be based on
running hours
– Fixed sequence: the sequence can be changed while the system is in operation
– Running hours: attempts to equalize generator set hours over time by exchanging
stopped and running generator sets
 To protect system integrity, load demand will restart all generator sets
whenever an overload condition is detected
 The minimum amount of capacity to maintain online is adjustable