2017 9th International Conference on Information Technology and Electrical Engineering (ICITEE), Phuket, Thailand

Parallel Operation Synchronous and Induction

Generator on Microgrid Testbed
F. Danang Wijaya1, Liwa Noor Gajayana2, Husna Putra Wijaya3
Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology
Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM)
Yogyakarta, Indonesia
1
danangwijaya@ugm.ac.id; 2liwa.noor.g@mail.ugm.ac.id; 3husna.putra.w@mail.ugm.ac

Abstract—This paper presents the development of laboratory scale
microgrid testbed for student learning consisting of synchronous
generator and induction generator that are operated in parallel.
Parallel operation is done by maintaining the voltage and
frequency according to the standard operation generally at the
voltage level of 380 Vll (+ 5% and -10%) and the frequency level 50
Hz (± 1%). Standard operation is performed by making the
synchronous generator as a reference parallel to the induction
generator. The test results show that parallel operation of
synchronous generator and induction generator can work well with
synchronous generator as provider of active power and reactive
power while induction generator only produce active power.
Keywords--parallel operation; synchronous generator; induction
generator;
Abbreviations and Acronyms
ns : Synchronous Speed
Pelec : Electrical Power
Pmech : Mechanical Power
Ʉ : Efficiency of the Machine
οܳ : Reactive Power consumed by the Machine
‫ܥ‬௒ : Capacitor Capacity in Wye Connection
ܷ : System Voltage
݂ : System Frequency
I. INTRODUCTION
Indonesia has a lot of potential to develop small scale
renewable energy-based generators that can be built in various
rural areas by both government and society. One such renewable
energy source is a micro hydro power plant. Induction
generators are typically used for these small power plants as they
can be reliable, affordable, inexpensive and easy to use for
operation and maintenance. Induction generator requires
reactive power to produce voltage. Reactive power can be
obtained from the power grid when it is present or from a
capacitor bank installed in parallel to the terminal so that the
generator operates independently (standalone). However the
quality of the voltage and frequency generated by an induction
generator operating independently is not good [1].
In stand alone systems, reactive power requirements can be
supplied by operating inductor generators and synchronous
generators in parallel [2]. A synchronous operating generator can
provide the reactive power required by an induction generator.
The addition of a capacitor bank to the system can be done so
that the reactive power requirements of the induction generator
are sufficient so that the capacity of the synchronous generator
does not have to be large.
Generally, parallel generator operation is very good to meet
the load requirement. Parallel operation between synchronous
generator and induction generator is very beneficial for small-
scale power plants because they complement each other. In this
study developed a microgid testbed consisting of an
isynchronous generator and an induction generator that is
operated in parallel. A parallel operating procedure developed
for the security of operations under no load and load conditions.
In stand alone systems, reactive power requirements can be
supplied by operating inductor generators and synchronous
generators in parallel [2].
This paper presents paralel operation of synchronous and
induction generator on laboratory scale microgrid testbed for
student learning and it organized as follows. The first section
describes the characteristics of parallel synchronization
operations of two generators, the second section is descriptions
of the developed microgrid testbed, the third is section
explanations of microgrid components and the specifications of
synchronous generators and induction generators, the fourth
section is explainanions of parallel operations of synchronous
generators and induction generators and finally conclusions.
II. CHARACTERISTICS OF GENERATOR PARALLEL OPERATIONS
(SYNCHRONIZATION)
A power plant was connected to the system through an
infinite bus. An infinite bus is a conductor that connected some
of power plants in parallel connection. When connecting a new
plant to a grid, synchronization needs to be done. Some
requirements of the synchronized power generator to the grid are
[3]:
1) The generator frequency is equal to the system frequency.
2) The generator voltage is equal to the system voltage.
3) The generator voltage is in phase with the system voltage.
4) The phase sequence of the generator is the same as that
of the system.
The synchronization can be achieved by configuring the new
generator which will connect to the system. The configurations
are as follows:
1) Set the prime mover so that the frequency of the generator
is close to the frequency of the system.

978-1-5090-6477-9/17/$31.00 ©2017 IEEE

 2017 9th International Conference on Information Technology and Electrical Engineering (ICITEE), Phuket, Thailand

2) On the synchronous generator, set the excitation value so testbed. Therefore, it must has a capacity greater than the
that the generator voltage is equal to the network voltage. capacity of the induction generator on the system.
3) Observe the phase angle between the output voltage of
In the starting period, the synchronous generator required
the generator and the system voltage.
excitation from the outside in order to generated voltage at its
4) Set the switch in a closed state, so the plant is connected
terminal. Then, for the output frequency of 50 Hz, the prime
to the network.
mover must be able to rotate until it reaches its synchronous
After it was synchronized, the power flow caused by speed (1):
additional generators in the system need to be observed. The ͳʹͲ݂
generator should be capable supplying active power to the grid ݊௦ ൌ (1)
‫݌‬
and should not absorb the active power from the grid. ͳʹͲ‫ݔ‬ͷͲ
݊௦ ൌ
III. MICROGRID TESTBED Ͷ
݊௦ ൌ ͳͷͲͲ‫݉݌ݎ‬
The prime mover was a 3-phase induction motor with a
capacity of 5.5 HP and connected to a synchronous generator
through a belt and a pulley with the ratio of 9:8.
B. Induction generator
The induction generator serves as a secondary power plant
that was operating after synchronous generator. The Induction
Fig. 1. Block Diagram of Microgrid generator capacity is smaller than the synchronous generator. To
generate a voltage, the induction generator must be rotated to
exceed its synchronous speed and must also be supplied with
reactive power. The reactive power required by an induction
generator can be obtained from the system, synchronous
generator, or bank capacitor.
The induction machine operated as a generator has a
specification of 1.5 kW with a power factor of 0.79 and an
efficiency of 80%. Thus, the electrical power required to drive
the machine was defined as follows[4] (2):
ܲ௠௘௖௛ (2)
ܲ௘௟௘௖ ൌ
ࣁ
ͳͷͲͲ
ܲ௘௟௘௖ ൌ
Fig. 2. Prime Mover Synchronous Generator (1), Synchronous Generator (2), ͲǤͺ
Induction Generator (3), Prime Mover Induction Generator (4), Prime Mover
Controller (5), Synchronous Generation Excitation System (6), Load (7), Bank
ܲ௘௟௘௖ ൌ ͳͺ͹ͷܹ
Capacitor (8), Prime Mover Control (9) Meanwhile, the reactive power that was required by
The microgrid testbed is a prototype of microgrid consisting induction generator was (3):
of synchronous and induction generator. Both generators were οܳ ൌ ܲ௘௟௘௖ –ƒሺܽ‫߶ •‘… ܿݎ‬ሻ (3)
rotated by an induction motor controlled by a three-phase
inverter. In addition, to support the system operation, the οܳ ൌ ͳͺ͹ͷ –ƒሺ͵͹Ǥͺͳ௢ ሻ
microgrid testbed was also equipped with busbar, bank οܳ ൌ ͳͶͷͶǤͻʹܸ‫ݎܣ‬
capacitor, and electrical load. The system used in the research
was showed in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. The specification of the For generating reactive power about 1454.92 VAr, the
synchronous and induction generators is showed in Table I. required capacitor in wye connection was (4):
οܳ (4)
TABLE I. SPECIFICATION OF THE GENERATOR ‫ܥ‬௒ ௣௘௥ ௙௔௦௘ ൌ 
ܷ ଶ ʹߨ݂
Synchronous Generator Induction Generator
ͳͶͷͶǤͻʹ
Voltage 380 V (wye) 380 V (wye) ‫ܥ‬௒ ௣௘௥ ௙௔௦௘ ൌ
Frequency 50 Hz 50 Hz ͵ͺͲଶ ‫ݔߨݔʹݔ‬ͷͲ
Speed 1500 rpm 1400 rpm ‫ܥ‬௒ ௣௘௥ ௙௔௦௘ ൌ ͵ʹ‫ܨ ଺ିͲͳݔ‬
Power 3 kW 1.5 kW
Cos ࢥ 1.0 0.79 The prime mover of an induction generator is a 3-phase
induction motor with a capacity of 3 HP and driven by three
A. Synchronous Generator phase inverter. It is used to operate at the same frequency and
The synchronous acts as the reference of frequency, the number of poles as the synchronous generator. The synchronous
producer of active power and the reactive power of the microgrid speed of prime mover in induction generator must be capable
 2017 9th International Conference on Information Technology and Electrical Engineering (ICITEE), Phuket, Thailand

rotating the generator rotor more than 1500 rpm in order to 400 -1270
generate a voltage. It was connected to an induction generator

Q Ind Generator (VAr)

Q Sync Generator (VAr)
through a belt and a pulley with a ratio of 4:3. 300 -1280
C. Busbar
200 -1290
The busbar on the microgrid testbed is the connection
between synchronous generator, induction generator, capacitor 100 -1300
bank, and load. The busbar used in this test has a length of 60
cm and consists of four conductors representing three phase and 0 -1310
neutral. Voltage, current, active power, reactive power, power 0 50 100 150 200
factor, and frequency were measured on the busbar to determine Load (W)
the parameters of synchronous generator, induction generator, Sync Generator Ind Generator
system, and load.
Fig. 3. Reactive Power of System Scenario 1
D. Capacitor Bank
The capacitor bank was connected to provide reactive power 300 -1270

Q Ind Generator (VAr)

Q Sync Generator (VAr)
into system. Reactive power in the system was used for 295 -1280
supplying the induction generator to produce voltage [5]. Based 290
on the calculation of reactive power requirement in equation (4), -1290
the capacitor was 32 ȝF in wye connection. But in this 285
-1300
experiment, capacitor bank 34 ȝF was used. 280
275 -1310
E. Load
270 -1320
The load used in the parallel operation was a resistive load 0 50 100 150 200
with having five steps. Each step of the load consists of three
Load (W)
incandescent lamps that represent a balanced three-phase load.
Sync Generator Ind Generator
Overall, the total load according to written on the specification
of the lamp is 150 W. Fig. 4. Reactive Power of System Scenario 2

IV. OPERATION ON MICROGRID TESTBED 350

Active Power (W)

A. Operation Scenario 1 300

The operation of scenario 1 is a system loading operation by 250
maintaining the system voltage and frequency at 380 VL-L and 200
50 Hz [6]. In order to maintain voltage and frequency, the prime 150
mover of induction generator and excitation of a synchronous 100
generator are being modified as adding load. Meanwhile, the 50
prime mover of synchronous generator is fixed. Thus, the 0
induction generator serves as the system's active power supply 0 50 100 150 200
for each load addition while the synchronous generator serves as Load (W)
the additional reactive power for the induction generator needs.
Ind Generator Sync Generator Load
B. Operation Scenario 2
Fig. 5. Active Power of System Scenario 1
Operation scenario 2 is a system loading operation by
maintaining the system voltage and frequency values of 380 VL-
350
L and 50 Hz [6]. In order to maintain, the prime mover and
Active Power (W)

300
excitation of a synchronous generator are being modified as
adding load. Meanwhile, the prime mover of synchronous 250
generator is fixed [7]. Thus the synchronous generator serves as 200
the system's active power supply for each load. 150
100
V. RESULT ANALYSIS OF MICROGRID TESTBED 50
The use of excessive capacitor banks makes the system has 0
excessive reactive power. As a result, the system's reactive 0 50 100 150 200
power is not absorbed by both generators [8]. It is known from Load (W)
the excitation current of the synchronous generator in this Ind Generator Sync Generator Load
parallel operation which is smaller than during standalone
operation. In this test, the system's reactive power is the same as Fig. 6. Active Power of System Scenario 2
the reactive power absorbed by the synchronous generator.
 2017 9th International Conference on Information Technology and Electrical Engineering (ICITEE), Phuket, Thailand

In both scenario operations, the system is loaded gradually In scenarios 1 and 2, the power factor in the synchronous
from 0 W to 150 W. Thus, it makes the microgrid testbed has generator will be affected by the large excitation currents and
different characteristics. the armature current flowing in it. In addition, its power factor
always had a positive value indicating that the excitation current
A. Reactive Power on The System
is in the lagging region of the synchronized generator curve V.
In scenario 1, as showed in Figure 3, the absorbed reactive power While the increasing in power factor in the system and induction
increases from the system by the induction generator as load generator is due to increased active power. The increasing in
rise. The addition of an excitation current in the synchronous power factor in the system is more significant than the increasing
generator will increase the reactive power it produces, but it of power factor in the induction generator due to the decreasing
decreased the reactive power that was absorbed from the system. reactive power in the system, as in Table II and Table III.
So that the reactive power read in the synchronous generator
decreases. E. Voltage and Frequency of the System
Each additional load on the system has made the system
In scenario 2, as showed in Figure 4, the induction generator
voltage and frequency decreased. In scenario 1, the voltage and
still absorbs the reactive power with the same magnitude as in
frequency correction was done by induction generator and
scenario 1. Similar to scenario 1, the addition of the synchronous
excitation system. While in scenario 2, voltage and frequency
generator excitation current will increase the reactive power it
repair was done by synchronous generator and excitation
generates and will decrease the reactive power which the system
system. The voltage was made up to a system voltage of 380
absorbs. However, due to the addition of rotational speed, it will
VL-L by maintaining a 50 Hz system frequency.
absorb more reactive power from the system as long as the
increasing of speed. So the synchronous generator absorbed F. Current on the System
larger reactive power in scenario 2 than in scenario 1.
TABLE IV. CURRENT ON TEST OF SCENARIO 1
C. Active Power on The System
Synchronous Generator Induction Generator
In scenario 1, as showed in Figure 5, each load addition Load
makes the active power of the induction generator output Complex Real Imaginary Complex Real Imaginary Current
Current Curren Current Current Curren Current (A)
increasing [8], while the active power of the synchronous (A) t (A) (A) (A) t (A) (A)
generator is relatively constant. Thus, only the induction 0.46 0.11 0.45 1.95 0.06 1.95 0.00
generator acted as the active power provider on the system. 0.45 0.11 0.43 1.99 0.28 1.97 0.06
In scenario 2, as showed in Figure 6, each load addition kept 0.43 0.10 0.42 1.99 0.34 1.96 0.15
both generator output power increases. By increasing the 0.42 0.09 0.41 2.01 0.38 1.97 0.21
synchronous generator’s rotational speed makes the output
0.39 0.09 0.37 2.04 0.45 1.99 0.34
power will larger. Thus, both generators acted as active power
provider on the system.
TABLE V. CURRENT ON TEST OF SCENARIO 2
D. Power Factor on the System
Synchronous Generator Induction Generator
Load
TABLE II. POWER FACTOR TEST OF SCENARIO 1 Complex Real Imaginary Complex Real Imaginary Current
Current Curren Current Current Curren Current (A)
Written Power Factor Power Power Factor (A) t (A) (A) (A) t (A) (A)
Load Synchronous Factor Induction 0.06 1.95 0.00
0.46 0.10 0.45 1.95
(W) Generator System Generator
0.46 0.11 0.45 1.96 0.08 1.96 0.06
0 0.23 0.22 -0.03
0.49 0.21 0.44 1.96 0.14 1.96 0.15
15 0.24 0.36 -0.14
45 0.23 0.45 -0.17 0.53 0.31 0.43 1.99 0.22 1.97 0.21
75 0.22 0.54 -0.19 0.63 0.46 0.42 2.00 0.32 1.98 0.34
150 0.24 0.67 -0.22 In scenario 1, according to the Table, the real current
generated by the synchronous generator was relatively constant
TABLE III. POWER FACTOR TEST OF SCENARIO 2 since no adjustment is made to the prime mover of the
Written Power Factor Power Power Factor synchronous generator. Then, the imaginary current becomes
Load Synchronous Factor Induction smaller as the reactive power of the synchronous generator
(W) Generator System Generator decreases. While the induction generator will increase along
0 0.23 0.22 -0.03 with the addition of load. Because it absorbed the reactive power
15 0.21 0.36 -0.04 of the system and produced an increasingly active power. The
45 0.44 0.45 -0.07 results of this scenario 1 test are appropriate in Table IV.
75 0.59 0.54 -0.11 In scenario 2, the real current of the synchronous generator
150 0.74 0.67 -0.16 increased, while the imaginary current decreased with each
addition of load. It is because the adjustment of speed from the
 2017 9th International Conference on Information Technology and Electrical Engineering (ICITEE), Phuket, Thailand

prime mover of synchronous generator, which makes the
generator active power increases, while the reactive power
decreases. While in the induction generator, real and imaginary
currents increases as the induction generator supplied the active
power to the system and absorbed the reactive power of the
larger system as the load increases. The results of this scenario
2 testing are appropriate in Table V.
[6] Sekretariat Departemen Energi dan Sumber Daya Mineral, UU
Nomor 4 Tahun 2009 tentang Aturan Distribusi Tenaga Listrik.
Jakarta, Indonesia: Kementrian Energi dan Sumber Daya Alam,
2009, pp. 8–9.
[7] P. J. Reddy, S. P. Singh, “Voltage and Frequency Control of Parallel
Operated Synchronous and Induction Generators in Micro Hydro
Scheme,” in International Conference on Computation of Power,
Energy, Information, and Communication, 2014, p. 5.
[8] V. Z. Silva, A. J. J. Rezek, R. D. L. Correa, “Analysis of
Synchronous and Induction Generators in Parallel Operation Mode in
an Isolated Electric System”, 2017, p. 8.

Fig. 7. Phasor Diagram of Synchronous Generator

Based on the test results of both scenarios, the emergence of

the initial current when the no-load condition was caused by the
induction generator and the synchronous generator absorbed the
reactive power of the capacitor. The condition of the
synchronous generator absorbed the reactive power can be
proved through the phasor diagram in Figure 7. While in the
induction generator, reactive power absorption was used to
generate a terminal voltage.
VI. CONCLUSION
The paralel operation of synchronous generator and
induction generator in microgrid testbed was presented. During
the operation, each additional load on the system has made the
voltage and frequency of the system drop, but it can be repaired
up to a value of 380 VL-L and 50 Hz. In both scenarios,
synchronous and induction generator are able to act as system
voltage and frequency stabilizers. In scenario 1, increasing the
speed of the induction generator made the reactive power
absorbed and the real power generated becomes gradually
increase. In scenario 2, increasing the speed of the synchronous
generator turns the reactive power absorbed and the resulting
power becomes larger when compared to scenario 1. Then, the
current in the system is a function of the real and imaginary
currents. The real current will be proportional to the active
power of the generator output, while the imaginary current will
be proportional to the reactive power of the generator.
REFERENCES
[1] S. J. Chapman, Electic Machinery Fundamentals, 4th ed. New York:
Mc Graw Hill, 2005.
[2] L. Liztyandi “Karakteristik Kerja Paralel Generator Induksi dengan
Generator Sinkron, pp. 91, 2013.
[3] T. Wildi, Electrical Machines, Drives, and Power Systems, 5th ed.
Ohio, 2002.
[4] S. Hening, “Perancangan Kendali Frekuensi Generator Induksi.”
Yogyakarta, pp. 29–30, 2016.
[5] C. P. Ion, C. Marinescu, "Control of Parallel Operating Micro Hydro
Power Plants" in 12th International Conference on Optimization of
Electrical and Electronic Equipment, 2010, p. 6.