ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

VII. Electrical System

To meet the power demand, two or more generators are used in sharing of load. Changeover

of main and standby generators units require a brief parallel running period to attain a smooth

transition without blackout. And for security it is not normally possible to run a main generator in

parallel with either the emergency generator or a shore supply. Parallel running is achieved in two

stages SYNCHRONIZING and LOAD SHARING. Both can be carried out automatically but hand

control is still commonly used, and it is generally provided anyway as back up to the control. In

paralleling, the incoming generator must be synchronize with the running generator (or the bus bar)

slightly greater than the bus voltage in amplitude and frequency. Usually, this parallel operation will

depend upon the revised procedures on the types of generator used, or perhaps who performs the

operation.

For safety, starting the generator should start at the local side with the responsible Engineer,

to make a visual inspection and confirm the actual condition of the prime mover and at the generator

side as well. Observe the exhaust gas, then start the governor test to set the two frequency

approximately the same frequency as shown on the bus bar frequency meter, so that incoming

voltage will now trimmed to be equal to the bus bar voltage. Switch the synchroscope to the

incoming machine and adjust the frequency until the synchroscope pointer revolves slowly in the

fast direction. Pointer position indicates relative phase of incoming machine and bus voltages: 12

o’clock identifies a zero phase difference and 6 o’clock identifies a 180-degree phase difference. The

rate of rotation indicates the frequency differential of 1/60 Hz. Check synchroscope indication

against synchronizing lamps to insure proper operation of synchroscope. Indicating lamps should be

alternating bright and dark in unison and at a rate equal to synchroscope rotation, with 12 o’clock

corresponding to the middle of the dark period, and 6 o’clock corresponding to the brightest

condition of the lamps.

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Close circuit breaker at a few degrees before 0 degrees. (Because of a slight time lag-15 to 30

cycles- for the closing mechanism to complete its operation, it is good practice to anticipate closing

by a few degrees so that actual closing occurs at 0 degrees.) Closing of the breaker with voltage out

of phase by more than 15 degrees will cause dangerous crosscurrent between the machines

paralleled. Out-of-phase closing at 180 degrees is identical to short-circuiting both machines.

The auto-synchronizing of an incoming generator does everything an operator would do

senses and controls the voltage and frequency then initiates a circuit breaker “close” signal at the

correct instant. When generators have been successfully synchronize the total bus bar load can now

be shared between them or totally transferred to the new machine. The generator governor directly

controls the power but load sharing depends characteristics of the prime movers. Sometimes there

are unavoidable events that might result a problem on the prime mover such lack of maintenance. To

avoid the problem great care must be given into units according to its periodical inspection and

maintenance as well as careful operation.

For manual method in achieving two generators being paralleled, the following operations

can be done. First, confirm the difference of voltage and frequency between the generator to be

paralleled and bus then select the generator to be paralleled using cam switch “SYS”. Confirm the

phase difference by “SYCHROSCOPE”. When the needle rotates toward fast side it means that the

generator frequency to be paralleled is higher than the bus frequency. The generator frequency can

be lowered by governor switch. When the rotation speed of SYNCHROSCOPE is high, it means that

the phase difference is bigger. Oppositely, the phase difference is smaller. ACB closes the generator

to be paralleled which can be done when the rotation speed of SYCHROSCOPE becomes low. The

uppermost point on scope is the synchronizing point and the ACB close switch closes the air circuit

breaker when the needle is near synchronizing point. After everything, put cam switch “SYS” at

“OFF” position after synchronizing. Note that during paralleling, the voltage being produced by the

generators are being synchronized by adjusting the governor.

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