WHAT IS GENERATOR SYNCHRONIZATION?

Generator synchronization is the process of matching or ‘synchronising’ parameters or variables such

as voltage, frequency, phase angle, phase sequence, and waveform of an alternator (generator) or other
source with a active and working power system. Before the generator is reconnected to the power system,
generator synchronization may be done. Once a generator is synchronised with the variables of another
generator, alternator, or bus bar, the system can run swiftly again.
These are the four conditions that need to be met in order to synchronize a generator to the grid:
1. Phase sequence-of the 3 phases of the generator must be the same as the phase sequence of the 3
phases of the grid.
2. Phase angle- between the voltage produced by the generator and the voltage produced by the grid
must be 0.
3. Voltage magnitude- of the sinusoidal voltage produced by the generator must be equal to the
magnitude of the sinusoidal voltage of the grid.
4. Frequency- of the sinusoidal voltage produced by the generator must be equal to the frequency of
the sinusoidal voltage produced by the grid.
Generator synchronisation to a power system must be conducted accurately to counteract further damage
to the unit. Additionally, improper synchronisation can affect the healthy power system.
When synchronizing a generator to a power system, the frequency and voltage of the generator must be
alike. The rotor angle and the instantaneous power system phase angle must be close prior to closing the
generator breaker and connecting the isolated generator to a power system.
Mostly, the synchronization process is automated through an automatic synchronizer with manual control
capabilities that can be used in backup situations. Synchronising panels generally indicate any
adjustments that the operator should make in regards to the governor and excitement and when it’s
deemed acceptable to close the breaker.

WHY IS GENERATOR SYNCHRONISATION NEEDED?

A generator cannot deliver power to an electrical power system unless all the previously mentioned
parameters (voltage, frequency and other parameters) are exactly matched to the network. The need for
synchronisation arises when two or more alternators work together to supply the power to the load.
Since electrical loads do not remain constant and vary with time (depending on the load), it is necessary
two or more generators supplying the power be interconnected and operate in parallel in order to handle
larger loads.
Using a series of small units instead of a single generator is known as parallel operation. Synchronisation
is critical for parallelization, and many commercial plants prefer this setup for its:

● Reliability: With multiple alternators, parallel operation is much more reliable than single-unit
generators. In a single-unit system, the whole setup will shut down if the alternator fails. In
parallel systems, one alternator can fail and the other units will keep the system active.
● Continuity: If a unit needs maintenance, the other systems can stay up and running to prevent
your entire operation from stopping.
 ● Load: Your load requirements may vary throughout the day. Adjust your parallel system to
accommodate higher and lower loads with more or fewer active systems.
● Efficiency: Generators run at the highest efficiency when they operate at their load rating. By
adapting to load changes, your system can remain efficient at all times.
● Capacity: Bigger operations require more power. With more generators, systems have more
alternators for increased capacity.

Requirements for Synchronising the Generator with the Grid (Power

System)
Before connecting the generator to the power system, it is best to close the switch while the
generator is running.
The following are the conditions that must be met before the switch can be closed:
● The generator and bus voltages should have equivalent magnitudes.
● The generator and bus voltages should have the same frequency.
● The generator's three phases and the bus's should follow the same phase order.
● The voltages of the generator and transport should be equal.
If none of the preceding conditions are true, there may be a voltage across the open switch
terminals. If the switch was turned off, the circuit would have virtually no impedance added,
resulting in extremely high currents.

Phase Angle
The voltage produced by the generator and grid must be zero. The phase angle can be
determined by comparing the frequent occurrence of the peaks or zero crossing of the
sinusoidal waveforms.

If the breaker is closed when both their values are same, the connection will be seamless and
reliable. Only then the pointer will indicate 12:00 o’clock (Figure 4 below)

If the generator is exactly out-of phase (180°), the ponter will indicate 6:00 o’clock.

Figure 4 – Generator in Phase with Grid

Frequency
The frequency of voltage produced by the generator and the grid must be equal.

Figure 2 – Generator Slower than Grid

Incase the generator is slower than the grid, the synchroscope would rotate rapidly anti-
clockwise.

If the breaker was closed, the generator would be out of step and act like a motor. The grid
would try to increase its speed. The motor and stator will be slipping poles and can damage the
generator. This same problem si to occur id the generator was fasgter than the grid. The grid
would try to decrease its speed, resulting in the slipping of poles.

Figure 3 – Generator at Same Speed asGrid but not in

Phase
Figure 3 shows the condition where the generator and grid have matching speed. The high points and
zero crossings of the sinusoidal voltages occur at the same rate of speed.
However, if you notice in 2 with the grid and a phase angle exists between them. This would appear as a
non-rotating synchroscope (both generator and grid at same frequency), where the pointer would appear
stuck at about 9:00 o’clock (generator lagging grid).
If the generator breaker were to be closed at this time, the grid would pull the generator into step.
However, this again would cause a large current in-rush to the generator and high stresses on the
rotor/stator with subsequent damage to the generator. If the generator were leading the grid, it would try
to immediately push power into the grid with the same destructive forces as mentioned.

Voltage Magnitude
The magnitude of voltage produced by the generator and the grid must be equal.

Incase of the conditions being met by the voltages differing (Voltage Differential), closing the AC
generator output breaker will cause a large MVAR flow.
As we now know that when a generaator is synchronized to the grid, the internal voltage and the
terminal voltage of the generator are equal.

If the generator voltage is higher than the grid voltage: the internal voltage is higher than the
grid voltage, it will put out MVAR

If the generator voltage is less than the grid voltage: the internal voltage is lower than the grid
voltage, it will absorb MVAR

Phase sequence :
The phase sequence of the three phases of the generator must be the same as the three phases of the
electrical system or grid. The sequence of the power leads can be changed during maintenance.
For a better understanding, if a generator is producing an ABC sequence and the bus is operating a
different sequence like CDE will create a magnetic field disturbing the rotation of the machine. With this
opposition, high pulsating torques are created, which can in some cases damage the machine.

We need a method to identify if the poles of the three-phase switch have zero voltage. This can be solved
with the help of manual techniques although many automatic electronic devices allow safe and reliable
paralleling of synchronous generators.
 FIGURE 1:  The problem of synchronizing a generator with the power system.

Techniques for paralleling of synchronous generators

Three-Bulb Method
As shown in Figure 2(a), the three-bulb method involves placing a light bulb across each pole of
the three-phase switch that links the generator to the power system.
The goal is to close the switch when all of the lights are out because that would mean that there
is almost no voltage across any of the switch's poles.
Take into consideration each of our four criteria. All three of the switch's poles will have voltages
across them, and all three bulbs will always be on if the generator and bus are operating at
significantly different voltage levels or are separated by a constant phase angle.
.
The phasor voltages will rotate at different speeds if the bus and generator have different
frequencies. Figure 2 (b) shows the two phasor voltage sets. The bulbs will eventually go dark
as a result of the two sets coming into phase with one another, but they will then drift out of
phase due to the different speeds at which they rotate. As a result, if the generator and bus
follow the same phase sequence, as shown, the lights will turn on and off simultaneously.

However, only one phase can be in phase at any given time if the phase sequences are
different, as shown in Figure 2(c). As a result, each light would go out sequentially. Keep in
mind that when the voltage is too low to light the bulbs but not zero, they will remain dark for
some time.
FIGURE 2:  Three-bulb method for synchronizing a generator to an infinite bus.
Schematic.
Phasor diagrams of generator and bus voltages with the same phase sequences.
Phasor diagrams of generator and bus voltages with opposite phase sequences.
To properly parallel a generator using the three-bulb method, the generator should be brought up to a few
RPM over synchronous speed and the excitation should be adjusted so that the voltages on the two sides
of the switch are approximately equal.
If the phase sequences are correct, then the bulbs should be glowing and be darkening together. With the
generator running only a few RPM above synchronous speed, the cycle time for the bulbs to lighten and
darken should be five to ten seconds. If that is the case, then the switch can be closed during the middle of
the dark cycle and the generator will pull into synchronism with the infinite bus.
 If the phase sequence is incorrect, then the bulbs will go dark one at a time. In that case, the generator
should be shut down and two of its connections to the switch should be reversed. Then the process can be
repeated.
“Note that it is important that the generator is operating slightly above synchronous speed. That way,
when the switch is closed, the generator must slow down slightly, which means it will deliver power to
the bus. If the machine was running below synchronous speed, it would have to speed up when the switch
was closed, which would require that it draws power from the bus, making it a motor.”
The light bulbs must have a voltage rating of twice the phase voltage since the voltages can be 180° out of
phase. Obviously, on higher voltage systems, that can be a problem. To solve that, transformers can be
used.

The Three-Bulb Method with Transformers

As shownin Figure 3(a), transformers can be utilized to lessen the voltage that
the bulbs perceive. The three-bulb method's operation is identical to the
system's. Two open-delta transformers are used in this case.
The high side of one open-delta bank is connected to the generator output, while
the high side of the other bank is connected to the bus lines. The low sides of the
two banks are associated with the lights, as displayed.
The fact that the three-bulb method does not indicate which side has the higher
frequency is one of its drawbacks. That information can be obtained by altering
the connections.
FIGURE 3:  Three-bulb method using transformers.

● Schematic.

● Open-delta connection.

Two-Light-and-One-Dark-Method
Two-Light and One-Dark Method A three-bulb method variation that provides
frequency data is depicted in Figure 4.
Here, the two external stages are cross-associated. The middle bulb is dark and the
outside ones are bright when the system and generator are phased correctly. The
bulbs will flash sequentially if the frequencies differ, and the direction of the
flashing indicates whether the generator speed is high or low.
The ability to close the switch when the two outside lights are at their maximum
(at equal brightness) is another benefit of this method. The operator can close the
switch when the system and generator are more closely aligned because it is easier
to determine the maximum brightness than the middle of the dark period. Using a
synchroscope is another method for determining the relative frequency or phase
angle.

FIGURE 4:  Two-bright-and-one-dark method of synchronization.

Synchroscope

The synchroscope is a device that demonstrates the momentary point between

two voltages of the very recurrence or that shows the recurrence distinction
between them in the event that they are not something similar.
A synchroscope and phase angle meter are shown in Figure 5. The pointer will, of
course, rotate if the frequencies are different because the angle between the
voltages is always changing.
The bus would be connected to the right terminal and the generator to the left
terminal (alternators may be required to lower the voltages). Assuming the
generator's recurrence is too high, the needle will turn clockwise; The needle turns
anti-clockwise if it is too low.

FIGURE 5:  Illustration of a phase angle meter/synchroscope.