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C6.6 ENGINE - GENERATOR SET Operation & Maintenance Manuals - PARALLEL OPERATION
C6.6 ENGINE - GENERATOR SET Operation & Maintenance Manuals - PARALLEL OPERATION
2010/02/02
i03840814 - Parallel Operation
SEBU8256-03
Initial Start-Up
Preparing a generator for parallel operation requires special attention. Before you attempt to parallel units for the first time, check all
the units for the following three conditions.
• Same phase rotation
• Same alternating current frequency
• Same voltage adjustment
1. Check the phase rotation.
Units that operate in parallel must have the same phase rotation. There are two methods that may be used in order to determine if
the incoming unit and the unit that is on-line have the same phase rotation. These methods are listed below:
• Using a phase rotation meter
• Using a set of three light bulbs
Use the procedure below to determine the proper phase rotation by using three light bulbs.
Illustration 78 g00695380
WARNING
When servicing or repairing electric power generation equipment:
Make sure the unit is off-line (disconnected from utility and/or other generators power service), and either locked out or
tagged DO NOT OPERATE. Remove all fuses.
a. Connect the light bulbs with rated voltage between the generator leads and the corresponding line phase. For example, connect
terminal 1 to line 1 across the open circuit breaker.
b. Start the units that will be in operating in parallel. Bring the units up to speed. As the units approach the same speed, the lights
will start to blink.
• If the lights blink in sequence, one of the units is connected backward. In order to correct the problem, stop the units. Remove
generator leads 1 and 3 at the circuit breaker. Exchange these generator leads. This reverses the direction of phase rotation. Terminal
2 should always be connected to line 2. Go to 5.
• Both generators have the same phase rotation when the lights blink in unison. The first condition of Initial Start-Up has been met.
2. Adjust the frequency.
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The units that will be operating in parallel must operate at the same speed. Speed is proportional to the alternating current
frequency.
a. Allow each electric set to run under load for about 30 minutes.
b. Adjust the governor control in order to give the rated frequency at full load.
c. Remove the load and check the high idle speed. The high idle speed should be approximately 2 to 5 percent above full load speed
for governors that are equipped with droop. If these speeds cannot be obtained, contact your Caterpillar dealer.
d. For the most consistent results, repeat 2b and 2c until the second condition of Initial Start-Up has been met.
3. Adjust the voltage.The potentiometers should be at the initial settings. Refer to Operation and Maintenance Manual"Voltage
Regulators".
Note: Make sure that the speed droop is identical for all of the engines before adjustments are made to the generator.
a. Preset the unit for parallel operation by connecting the current transformer to S1 and S2 of the connector J2. Set potentiometer P1
for quadrature droop in the center position. Apply the rated load. The voltage should drop for 2% to 3%. Switch the positions of the
two incoming secondary wires of the current transformer if the voltage increases.
b. The no-load voltages should be identical for all the generators that are operating in parallel. Connect the generators in parallel. Try
to obtain a 0 kW power exchange by adjusting the speed of the generator. Try to minimize the circulating currents between
generators by altering the voltage setting with potentiometer P2 or Rhe on one of the generators.
Note: Do not change the voltage settings after this step.
c. Apply the available load. The setting is correct only if a reactive load is available. Equalize the Kilowatts or divide the rated power of
the units proportionally by altering the speed. Alter the quadrature droop potentiometer (P1) in order to equalize the currents or
divide the currents.
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Illustration 79 g00630841
Illustration 80 g00637397
The Speed brick converter changes the analog signal of the speed potentiometer into a pulse width modulated signal. The engine
electronic control can recognize this signal. The converter is mounted on the subpanel which is located within the control panel.
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15/12/23, 16:22 C6.6 ENGINE - GENERATOR SET Operation & Maintenance Manuals
Stopping
In order to remove a generator from the line, perform the following procedure.
1. Check the load. The load must be less than the rated capacity of the remaining units.
2. Be sure that the neutral of one of the remaining units is grounded.
3. Remove the load from the outgoing unit. See the Parallel Operation"Load Division - Speed Droop". The amperage may never go to
zero due to circulating currents.
4. Open the circuit breaker.
5. Allow the engine to cool for five minutes.
6. Stop the engine.
Circulating Currents
Understanding the circulating currents becomes very important when you parallel the units. These circulating currents are flowing
between generators in parallel operation. The circulating currents are caused by voltage differences between the generators. The
circulating currents are not doing useful work. The amount of the circulating current can be determined by subtracting the amperage
which is going to the load from the total generator amperage.
The circulating current may be as high as 25 percent of rated amperes with cold generator sets. Such current may not even be
considered harmful. The total generator current should not exceed the amperage rating.
As the generators warm, the circulating currents will decrease. The ammeter readings should decrease slightly, but the voltage meter
readings should remain constant.
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