Conditions
In order to synchronize a generator to the grid, four conditions must be met:
- Phase Sequence
- Voltage Magnitude
- Frequency
- Phase Angle
1. Phase Sequence
The phase sequence (or phase rotation) of the three phases of the generator must be the same as the phase sequence of the three phases of the electrical system (Grid).
The generator or transformer power leads could actually be interchanged during maintenance orthe potential transformer leads could be interchanged during maintenance.
2. Voltage Magnitude
The magnitude of the sinusoidal voltage produced by the generator must be equal to the magnitude of the sinusoidal voltage of the grid.
If all other conditions are met but the two voltages are not the same, that is there is a voltage differential, closing of the AC generator output breaker will cause a potentially large MVAR flow.
If the generator voltage is higher than the grid voltage, this means that the internal voltage of the generator is higher than the grid voltage. When it is connected to the grid the generator will be overexcited and it will put out MVAR.
If the generator voltage is less than the grid voltage, this means that the internal voltage of the generator is lower than the grid voltage. When it is connected to the grid the generator will be under-excited and it will absorb MVAR.
3. Frequency
The frequency of the sinusoidal voltage produced by the generator must be equal to the frequency of the sinusoidal voltage produced by the grid.
In Figure 2 above the generator is slower than the grid.
The synchroscope would be rotating rapidly counter clockwise. If the generator breaker were to be accidentally closed, the generator would be out of step with the external electrical system. It would behave like motor and the grid would try to bring it up to speed.
In doing so, the rotor and stator would be slipping poles and damage (possibly destroy) the generator as described previously. The same problem would occur if the generator were faster than the grid.
The grid would try to slow it down, again resulting in slipping of poles.
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.
4. Phase Angle
As previously mentioned, the phase angle between the voltage produced by the generator and the voltage produced by the grid must be zero.
The phase angle (0 to 360°) can be readily observed by comparing the simultaneous occurrence of the peaks or zero crossings of the sinusoidal waveforms.
At that instance (Figure 4 below), the pointer on the synchroscope would indicate 12:00 oíclock.
The worst case occurs if the generator is exactly out-of phase, with a phase angle of 180° and the synchroscope pointing at 6:00 o’clock.
Synchronisation of Generators to a Busbar (VIDEO)
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Resource: Science and Reactor Fundamentals – Electrical CNSC Technical Training Group
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Edvard Csanyi
Hi, I'm an electrical engineer, programmer and founder of EEP - Electrical Engineering Portal. I worked twelve years at Schneider Electric in the position of technical support for low- and medium-voltage projects and the design of busbar trunking systems.I'm highly specialized in the design of LV/MV switchgear and low-voltage, high-power busbar trunking (<6300A) in substations, commercial buildings and industry facilities. I'm also a professional in AutoCAD programming.
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Hi, I am constructing a 6 MW Small Hydro Power Project. Want to evacuate power through existing line which is running near the project. The line connects to the grid. I want to evacuate by tapping on the existing line. Any suggesion
Totally possible if deliered to grid at same voltage and sync wave phase
well, assuming that the synchronous machine is connected to and running on the grid (synchronized), what needs to be changed in order to cause the machine to draw power from the grid (to act as a load) or to deliver power to the grid (to act like a source)?
Slight increase or decrease in speed will cause a change in current flow
Sand me synchronize system DWG
hello i am currently doing a university course in electrical engineering i was wondering if you anyone could give me information on why the frequency needs to be synchronised first and then followed by the voltage probably very basic answer just cant find it. thanks for any help
The angular velocity will accelerate/decelerate if frequency is not synchronised first, thus preventing, voltage synchronism.
first we adjust the frequency by increasing/decreasing engine speed.
. by adjusting the frequency also the voltage will be affected
E or V (generator)=N(stator)* Magnatic Field of the Rotot * w
as w=2*pi * f
so now f is adjusted already and it is fixed after that we will adjust V(generator)
and that will be done by AVR or manually by VR
adjusting V(generator) is actually done by adjusting the current of the (stator excitor) which would change the magnatic field of the main rotor and eventually the V(generator) would be changed(adjusted).
if you adjust the voltage first then adjusting the frequency in this case will lead the V(generator) to be changed as per the equation mentioned before
hi there i am currently doing a university course in electrical engineering i was wondering if you anyone could give me information on why the frequency needs to be synchronised first and then followed by the voltage probably very basic answer just cant find it. thanks for any help
How to synchronize 33KV star with 33kv delta
When I question the synchronization of generator 1 with generator 2, generator 2 is disconnected at 500 kW load When I question the synchronization of generator 1 with generator 2, generator 2 is disconnected at 500 kW load with trip cutter separated
very helpful
Pls. how do i solve this problem. i run a drilling rig with 3 Generators, whenever i tried to synchronized 2 gen the power percentage increased to 65% without load, please what would do resolve this problem.
thanks
Respected sir
My question is related to inter connected power system please tell me how to decide after synchronizing of generator with grid how much power will flow from generator.
Assume that gride voltage is 1P.U at ange 0 degree.
And my second question is how to flow power from generator as our requirement means if i want to flow power from my synchronized generator only 5MW so which setting is to be changed
Assume that gride voltage is 1P.U at ange 0 degree also i have one master generator unit.
Hello
How this led meter is working with this generator synchronization please tell
HELLO
what is use of this LED rotating in this panel
That LED will indicate the phase angle difference between the voltage generated by DG and grid voltage. When speed of governor is increase the frequency of generated voltage also increases in same proportion. Synchroscope is LED is showing how much difference is their in the frequency of dg and grid voltage. If LED is in too slow region then we need to raise governor speed and vice versa.
The guy first raises speed manually and then put in auto mode which makes DG frequency same as grid frequency by slowing down governor.
I hope you are cleared.
Please the generator voltage,the frequency at the speed of 100 percent are okey before synchronization. the problem is upon turning on the synchro switch it will grab the load from the grid
Synchronization with Grid explained in most simple manner with clarity. Thanks for sharing
I want to know If three phase (coming from generator output through step down transformer) connected to AVR, gets interchanged by any two phase, will it give the phase angle fault at the time of synchronisation of generator with Main busbar kindly guide me.
i have two , 1500 KVA generators with synchronizing , panel , sometimes ,synchronizing take more than 3 minutes , which is not accepted by client. what is the standard time , why it so long , why this problem happenand how to solve.
You can reduce the delay time on the ATS module. But the delay time is good for balancing of the load and parameters before closing the busbar or circuit breaker
Group of 4 gensets of 1010 kva cummins set with stamford alternator is running in parallel and load is injection moulding unit the load on Dg sets is around 40 % due to load varying in injection process when the plant is running every 3 min there will be a load of 1.3 MVA on the sets, during the process if we want to reverse Synch with the grid what type of issues we might face.
If a generator is supplying a load which is equal to 90% of the generator’s rated out put, would the synchroniczation procedure to the grid be the same?
The generator’s share of the load at synchronisation is zero, other generators are supplying the load at that time, that is why the frequency of the grid is 60 Hz. After synchronisation you can load the generator to the 90% of rated output that you mention. The other generators on the system would have their outputs reduced accordingly. So to answer your question, it doesn’t matter what the generator’s output will be, at the moment of synchronising the output is zero.
What is frequency tolerance limits for system synchronization condition for two different power sources (Generator and bus bar)
Hello, I would like to have information as how to generate the grid frequency using the synchronous generator or DFIG or PMSG in the wind turbines. What are the converter parameters we need, to get the frequency as 50Hz and the voltage as 690 volts at the grid side? As my academic project is based on this issue. I am looking forward for your help. Please help me on this issue
I have 40kva And 60kva Hw can I sychoronize The both of Generator
We have two generator of 15MW having 11KV voltage which runs in parallel.when load requirment exceeds 30MW we have to syncronised generators with grid which is 132/11KV.When grid runs in parallel with generator the average powerfactor of grid is poor due to which we have to pay baby penalty to EB.But when load puts on grid indipentantly running as well as average powerfactor is good.Please guide me why such type of condition occur and also how to avoid poor powerfactor during synchronised condition.
You can have OLTC to improve the power factor. You can also install capacitor banks to improve the condition.
Dear Edvard,
Greetings,
Please tell the advantanges and disadvantages of having GCB at STG, in order to avoid direct synchronizing with HV breaker.
thank you for this page …. but i not understand 4. Phase Angle part
I would like to synchronise 440/220 volts 3 phase 4 wire generator with grid transformer of 11000/433V delta wye. How do I do that?
thanks for providing a real good and easy concept of synchronization. Well done, Keep it up. A good service to the electrical engineering community.
My problem is that have one generator run in meanwhile the two are connected to synchronizing panel (both Gen has 1000kw rating each) so when on the second Gen and synchronize the the total load move the new gen just on please what is the Problem
Wow! this is great!This is good write up,its very helpful.God bless….
Thank you for shearing your wonderful knowleadge.
For emergency generation purposes where your site is normally powered by the Grid the benefit of running in this fashion is that you ensure that when running in parallel, if the grid supply is lost then you ensure 100% of your site load can be comfortably transfered to the emergency generator. I have direct experience of manually closing generator circuit breakers to the grid supply, you soon learn to have all the parameters as close to the grid as possible. The main problem is getting the generator speed (frequency) controlled so that the frequency is synchronised as close to the grid as possible.
i need to synchronize my unit with grid. but last time we done it but it make fluctuation in voltage and some cards are buringi…i dont know why… any one can aswer for my querry…
I want to synchronize the Gas Turibine Generator with the Grid at 11kV Level. The Generator is generating Voltage at 11kV with Dyn11, 11/ 11kV Generator Isolation Transformer. We are receiving Grid Power through Yy0, 132/11kV Transformer. Can they be made parallel? Can Voltages be at the same Phase Angle.
I need how to connect and synchronize the mains with a generator
I need to couple with synchroscope
Sir my question is practically we keep the generator voltage and frequency slightly higher than the grid voltage. Why is this done?
I work at a powerhouse and we have 6 30MW hydro generators. We have 3 to a bus. last week the CO2 was set off by our 87G Relay on unit 4. Everything tested great. Yesterday the same thing happend to a different unit on the same bus. the operator on duty said as sood as he put the sycronizor in auto it closed the breaker. The sycn. was at 3 o’clock and it tripped the 87G. these 2 units are on the same bus. Since the first trip on unit #4 we have run unit #5 several times. Any thoughts on whats going on here.
Did you check with the synchronizer? is it OK? do check for abnormalities in the bus during switching. you might come to a conclusion.
How we can connect two generator one is150kva and other 180kva gen .when load increase on 150kva then 180kva will start .180kva is stand by.
Thanks for this article. However, there is no discussion on how to achieve same frequency, voltage and phase. The discussion on this will be helpful
My experience is limited to marine installations but the operating principles are the same.
The frequency of the incoming generator is regulated by varying the speed of the prime mover. The governor should handle that.
For the voltage, that is regulated by the AVR and it does this by varying the rotor field excitation on the generator.
Just as with the frequencies, for the voltage phase angles, a synchroscope or synchronising lamps will be the indicator as to when the voltages are in phase.
For the phase sequences, both the generator and grid busbars are checked using the same phase sequence meter. As mentioned by Edvard, the terminals can be interchanged if the phase sequence isn’t the same.
My explanation isn’t that detailed by I hope it helps.
Phase angel is the angel difference between the generator voltage and the grid voltage. While phase sequence means that the three phases of the generator must match with the same phases on the grid.
For example: A, B, and C are the three phases of the generator. Then to have the same phase sequence with the grid connect them to their match on the grid A to A etc…
Note down that u dont need to confirm this condition everytime u synchronyze the gen. with the grid. Because the gen. Is connected permenantly.
When paralleling the Generator to Grid, What % of variation in both the voltages are allowed & what is the criteria for it?
there is something that’s i want to ask you phase angle and phase sequence is it same function .. thats we done during synchronizing ..
Very neat, very helpful.
I have not come across any source e explaining the Synchronization concept this simple and they say “simplicity is the ultimate sophistication”
Great work!
many thanks you are a real kind man; you help many many people around world
many thanks
very helpful, i must say, never seen such a useful and efficient portal
Good article. It would be desirable to improve the PDF generator in Spanish to save it and print it, is failing