Electrical Power

Systems Lab
 Experiment 4:
Parallel Operation of a Synchronous Generator with
Infinite Bus
Second Semester 2021/2022
 Operation of Generators in Parallel with Large Power Systems
Buses are of 3 types and are classified as:
• PQ bus – the real power |P| and reactive power |Q| are specified. It is also known as Load Bus. Generally, in a PQ bus, the
generated real and reactive power will be assumed to be zero. However, power will be flowing out, thus, the real power and
reactive power will be both negative. The Load Bus will be used to find the bus voltage and angle.

• PV bus – the real power |P| and the voltage magnitude |V| are specified. It is also known as Generator Bus. The real power and
voltage are specified for buses that are generators. These buses have a constant power generation, controlled through a prime
mover, and a constant bus voltage.

• Slack bus – to balance the active and reactive power in the system. It is also known as the Reference Bus or
the Swing Bus. The slack bus will serve as an angular reference for all other buses in the system, which is set
to 0°. The voltage magnitude is also assumed to be 1 p.u. at the slack bus.
 Operation of Generators in Parallel with Large Power Systems

Infinite Bus

Definition: The bus whose voltage and frequency remain constant even after the
variation in the load is known as the infinite bus. The alternators operating in parallel in
a power system are the example of the infinite bus. The on and off of any of the
alternators will not affect the working of the power system.

The capacity of a parallel operating system is enormous, their voltage and frequency
remain constant even after the disturbance of the load. The connection and
disconnection of any of the machines will not affect the magnitude and phase of
voltage and frequency of an infinite bus. In an infinite bus system

• The voltage and frequency always remain constant.

• The synchronous impedance of the bus is low because of
the parallel operations of the machine.
 Operation of Generators in Parallel with Large Power Systems

Synchronous Machine on Infinite Bus

The performance of the synchronous machine varies on the infinite bus. When the
synchronous machine operates independently, variation in their excitation causes the
changes in their terminal voltage. The power factor of the synchronous machine
depends only on their load. But when the synchronous machines are operating in
parallel, the change in their excitation changes the power factor of the load.
 Operation of Generators in Parallel with Large Power Systems

Obtaining an Infinite Bus

Consider generators G1, G2, G3……Gn connected to an infinite bus as shown in the
figure below:
 Operation of Generators in Parallel with Large Power Systems
Proof of Voltage Remaining Constant

If the number of alternators operating in parallel is infinite only then

ZS = 0
 Operation of Generators in Parallel with Large Power Systems
Proof of Frequency Remaining Constant
Operation of Generators in Parallel with Large Power Systems

● When a synchronous generator is connected to a power system, the power system is often so
large that nothing the operator of the generator does will have much of an effect on the power
system.
● An infinite bus is a power system so large that its voltage and frequency do not vary
regardless of how much real and reactive power is drawn from or supplied to it.
Operation of Generators in Parallel with Large Power Systems

● Consider adding a generator to an infinite bus supplying a load.

The frequency and terminal voltage of all
machines must be the same. Therefore, their
power-frequency and reactive power-voltage
characteristics can be plotted with a common
vertical axis
Operation of Generators in Parallel with Large Power Systems

● If the no-load frequency of the oncoming generator is slightly higher than the system’s
frequency, the generator will be “floating” on the line supplying a small amount of real power
and little or no reactive power
Operation of Generators in Parallel with Large Power Systems

● If the no-load frequency of the oncoming generator is slightly lower than the system’s
frequency, the generator will supply a negative power to the system: the generator actually
consumes energy acting as a motor
Operation of Generators in Parallel with Large Power Systems

● If the frequency of the generator is increased after it is connected to the infinite bus, the system
frequency cannot change and the power supplied by the generator increases.

If the frequency of the generator is

further increased, power output from
the generator will be increased and at
some point it may exceed the power
consumed by the load. This extra
power will be consumed by the load.
Operation of Generators in Parallel with Large Power Systems

When the generator is operating in parallel to an infinite bus:

1. The frequency and terminal voltage of the generator are controlled by the system to which it is
connected.
2. The governor set points of the generator control the real power supplied by the generator to the
system.
3. The generator’s field current controls the reactive power supplied by the generator to the
system.