Course: EE2013E ELECTRICAL MACHINES II Semester: Winter/ 2024-’25

Topic 8

Synchronous Generator-Operation on Infinite Bus Bars

Operation on infinite bus bars

Infinite bus bars are the supply lines with non variable voltage and frequency. This gets established
due to a large number of synchronous generators of higher capacity operating in parallel, where the
total capacity may be of several thousands of MVA. When a synchronous generator operates on
infinite bus bars, as its capacity is negligibly small compared to the capacity of the power supply
system, the terminal voltage and frequency of the bus bars remain constant irrespective of the
variations occurring in its prime mover input or excitation.

Thus it is slightly different from its operation in parallel with another generator. But a change in the
prime mover input or excitation of a synchronous generator operating on infinite bus bars affects the
real and reactive power sharing between the generators in the same manner as that of a synchronous
generator operating in parallel with another generator.

A per phase equivalent representation of a non salient pole synchronous generator operating on
infinite bus bars is as shown below.

The relevant network equation of the synchronous generator is again given as E = V + IZS.
*
Then, I = (E - V)/ Zs and S = P ± j Q = 3VI .

P Ananthakrishnan, EED, NIT Calicut

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Course: EE2013E ELECTRICAL MACHINES II Semester: Winter/ 2024-’25

Different to the case of a synchronous generator operating in parallel with another generator, the
terminal voltage takes a constant value at all conditions here. So a change in excitation of a
synchronous generator will effectively change the reactive component of the current supplied and
hence the reactive power delivered by it. Similarly, a change in prime mover input of a synchronous
generator effectively changes the active component of the current supplied and hence the real power
delivered by it.

Generator operation at ZPF

The excitation or field current required to generate an emf equal to the bus bar voltage is called normal
(100%) excitation or field current. Under this condition, the machine neither delivers nor receives any
current and hence the power delivered or consumed by it is zero. Then the machine is said to be just
floating on the supply lines, the operating point being represented by 1 in the corresponding phasor
diagram shown in (a).

If the field current (If) is increased to a value greater than the normal field current (Ifn), the generated
emf, IEI becomes greater than the terminal voltage, IVI, causing the generator to deliver a lagging
reactive current (Ir) and hence a lagging reactive power (Q) to the bus bars, the operating point being
represented by 2 in the phasor diagram shown in (b). Here, the E phasor has moved from the
operating point 1 to 2 along the IZS phasor, which always leads the Ir phasor by the impedance angle
( ) of the machine. With real power, P = 0, the tip of E phasor lies on the same straight line drawn at
the tip of V phasor at an angle, to Ir, for any If > Ifn, known as over excitation.

P Ananthakrishnan, EED, NIT Calicut

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Course: EE2013E ELECTRICAL MACHINES II Semester: Winter/ 2024-’25

If the excitation (If) is reduced to a value less than the normal field current (I fn), the generated emf, IEI

becomes less than the terminal voltage, IVI, causing the generator to deliver a leading reactive current
(Ir) and hence a leading reactive power (Q) to the bus bars, the operating point being represented by 3
in the phasor diagram shown in (c).

Here again, the E phasor has moved from the operating point 1 to 3 along the IZS phasor, which
always leads the Ir phasor by the impedance angle ( ) of the machine. With real power, P = 0, the tip
of E phasor lies on the same straight line drawn at the tip of V phasor at an angle, to Ir, for any If <
Ifn, known as under excitation also.

Hence, it is seen that all the operating points with real power, P = 0 shall fall on the same straight line
drawn at the tip of V phasor at an angle, (90- ) to it, for any excitation. This straight line is known as
the ZPF line, since it represents all the operating points of the machine at ZPF. One half of this ZPF
line corresponds to under excitation while other half of it corresponds to over excitation.

Generator operation at UPF

Now, if the prime mover input to the synchronous generator is increased while it is floating on the
supply lines, the operating point being represented by 1, it causes the generator to deliver an active
component of current (Ia) and hence corresponding real power (P) to the bus bars, the operating point
being represented by 4 in the phasor diagram shown in (d). Here, the E phasor has moved from the
operating point 1 to 4 along the IZS phasor, which always leads the Ia phasor by the impedance angle
( ) of the machine. With reactive power, Q = 0, the tip of E phasor lies on the same straight line drawn
at the tip of V phasor at an angle, to Ia, for any value of prime mover input.

(d) UPF operation

P Ananthakrishnan, EED, NIT Calicut
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Course: EE2013E ELECTRICAL MACHINES II Semester: Winter/ 2024-’25

Hence, it is seen that all the operating points with reactive power, Q = 0 shall fall on the same straight
line drawn at the tip of V phasor at an angle, to it, for any value of prime mover input. This straight
line is known as the UPF line, since it represents all the operating points of the machine at UPF.
Obviously, the UPF line which represents all the operating points of the machine with Q = 0 is
perpendicular to the ZPF line which represents all its operating points with P = 0.

Generator operation at power factors other than 0 and 1.

If the excitation (If) is increased to a value greater than the normal field current (Ifn) while the generator
is at the operating point 4, the generated emf, IEI shows a corresponding increase in its value causing
the generator to deliver a lagging reactive current (Ir) in addition to the existing active component of
current (Ia), the total current (I) being lagging in nature. The generator is then made to deliver real
power (P) and lagging reactive power (Q) to the bus bars, the operating point being represented by 5
in the phasor diagram shown in (e).

(e) Lagging power factor operation

Here again, the E phasor has moved from the operating point 4 to 5 along the IZS phasor, which
always leads the Ir phasor by the impedance angle, .

If the excitation (If) is reduced to a value less than the normal field current (I fn) while the generator is at
the operating point 4, the generated emf, IEI shows a corresponding decrease in its value causing the
generator to deliver a leading reactive current (Ir) in addition to the existing active component of
current (Ia), the total current (I) being leading in nature. The generator is then made to deliver real
power (P) and leading reactive power (Q) to the bus bars, the operating point being represented by 6
in the phasor diagram shown in (f).

P Ananthakrishnan, EED, NIT Calicut

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Course: EE2013E ELECTRICAL MACHINES II Semester: Winter/ 2024-’25

(f) Leading power factor operation

Here again, the E phasor has moved from the operating point 4 to 6 along the IZS phasor, which
always leads the Ir phasor by the impedance angle, . It can be seen that the operating points 4, 5 and
6 fall on the same straight line drawn through the operating point 4, being parallel to the ZPF line and
perpendicular to the UPF line.

The phasor diagram of a synchronous generator shown in (f) clearly displays all its operating points 1
to 6 considered here, with a comparison of the relevant P and Q values under certain assumptions.
Thus it reveals the possibility of developing a general load diagram by which the operation of a
synchronous machine on infinite bus bars can be represented diagrammatically for all possible modes
and conditions.

General load diagram

It is a four quadrant diagram, the mutually perpendicular axes of which are Q-axis and P-axis and the
construction of which is very simple. It happens to be a very powerful pictorial representation of the
operation of a synchronous machine on infinite bus bars, irrespective of its modes or other conditions.
This diagram is known as general load diagram because of its capability of displaying all the relevant
information regarding each and every operating point of the machine as a generator or motor.

Data required
Sr and Vr obtained from the name plate of the synchronous machine.
Synchronous impedance per phase, Zs obtained from the OCC and SCC.

P Ananthakrishnan, EED, NIT Calicut

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Course: EE2013E ELECTRICAL MACHINES II Semester: Winter/ 2024-’25

Resistance per phase, R measured separately.

Impedance angle of the synchronous machine, obtained as Cos-1 (R/ Zs).
Basic scale chosen for voltage (IVI), generated emf (IEI) and the impedance drop (IIZsI).

Resulting scales for III, ISI, P and Q.

Construction of the diagram

A set of two mutually perpendicular lines are drawn through the centre, O such that one is horizontal.
The horizontal line is designated as reactive power axis (Q-axis) and it is graduated as per the scale.
The vertical line is designated as real power axis (P-axis) and it is graduated as per the scale.
A line CO is drawn at an angle, (90- ) to the Q-axis as shown in the diagram.

P Ananthakrishnan, EED, NIT Calicut

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Course: EE2013E ELECTRICAL MACHINES II Semester: Winter/ 2024-’25

Concentric circles known as emf, E-circles are drawn with centre O as shown in the diagram.
The E-circle with radius CO is designated as 100% E-circle corresponding to normal excitation.
E-circles corresponding to under and over excitation are designated in terms of % excitation as shown.
The phase angles corresponding to P and Q axes are marked as 0º and 90º respectively.
Regions above and below Q-axis are marked for generator and motor operations respectively.
I quadrant is assigned for generator operation with lagging power factor.
II quadrant is assigned for generator operation with leading power factor.
III quadrant is assigned for motor operation with lagging power factor.
IV quadrant is assigned for motor operation with leading power factor.
General load diagram becomes ready for measurements corresponding to various operating points.

Use of the diagram

Any point of operation of a synchronous machine on infinite bus bars is associated with the following 6
quantities.
(i) IEI, the magnitude of generated emf
(ii) , the load angle (+ for generator and – for motor)
(iii) III, the magnitude of current
(iv) ∅, the power factor angle (+ ∅ for leading and – ∅ for lagging)
(v) P, the real power delivered/ received and
(vi) Q, the reactive power delivered/ received (+ j Q for lagging and – j Q for leading)

where, E = IEI∠(± ), I = III∠(± ∅), S = P ± j Q for generator and S = – (P ± j Q) for motor.

Any 2 out of these 6 quantities are sufficient to locate the relevant operating point of the machine on
the general load diagram and get the remaining quantities measured. This is considered as the main
advantage of the general load diagram, since it replaces the time consuming analytical computations
for the performance analysis of the machine to a greater extent. This is subject to the fact that the
precision of the results obtained shall depend up on the scale used for the construction of the diagram.

Additionally, it makes the loci of various quantities with respect to the variation of other relevant
quantities directly visible. (i) Locus of generated voltage for constant real power and variable excitation
and (ii) Locus of generated voltage for constant excitation and variable real power are examples of
that kind. The diagram is also capable of providing data to plot various performance graphs of the
machine such as V-curves and inverted V-curves.

P Ananthakrishnan, EED, NIT Calicut

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Course: EE2013E ELECTRICAL MACHINES II Semester: Winter/ 2024-’25

Examples
1. A 3-phase synchronous generator which has an impedance of (0.8 + j 10) per phase, delivers
200A at a power factor of 0.8 lagging to 11kV, constant frequency bus bars. If its excitation stands
unchanged and the prime mover input is increased to have an increase in real power delivered by
25%, find the new values of the current and power factor.
IVI = 11000/ √3 = 6350.85V, V = 6350.85∠0ºV
I1 = 200 (0.8 - j 0.6) = (160 - j 120)A
*
S1 = 3 V I1 = 3 (6350.85 + j 0) (160 + j 120) = (3.048 + j 2.286)MVA

E1 = V + I1 Zs = (6350.85 + j 0) + (160 - j 120) x (0.8 + j 10) = 7824.75∠11.08ºV

With P2 = 1.25 P1, Ia2 = 1.25 Ia1 = 1.25 x 160 = 200A and hence, I2 = (200 - j Ir2)A
E2 = V + I2 Zs = (6350.85 + j 0) + (200 - j Ir2) x (0.8 + j 10) = (6510.85 + 10Ir2) + j (2000 - 0.8Ir2)
IE2I2 = (6510.85 + 10Ir2)2 + (2000 - 0.8Ir2)2
Since, IE2I = IE1I = 7824.75V, 7824.752 = (6510.85 + 10Ir2)2 + (2000 - 0.8Ir2)2
Ir2 = 107.625A, I2 = (200 - j 107.625)A = 227.12∠-28.29ºA
*
S2 = 3 V I2 = 3 (6350.85 + j 0) (200 + j 107.625) = (3.811 + j 2.051)MVA

P2 = 3.811MW, Q2 = 2.051MVAR, (power factor)2 = 0.88 lagging.

2. The effective resistance and synchronous reactance per phase of a 7.5MVA, 3-phase, star-
connected synchronous generator operating on 11kV bus-bars are 0.8Ω and 8Ω respectively. If the
excitation of the machine is adjusted to 80% of its normal value, what will be the current, reactive
power delivered and the power factor of operation when the real power delivered is 5MW?
IVI = 11000/ √3 = 6350.85V, V = 6350.85∠0ºV
Zs = (0.8 + j 8) = 8.04∠84.29º, IZsI = 8.04 and = 84.29º

Po = 3 (IVI/ IZsI) [IE1I Cos ( - 1) - IVI Cos ] = 5MW

Also, IE1I =0.8 IVI = 5080.68V

Hence, ( - 1) = 57.316º, 1 = 26.974º

E1 = IE1I∠ 1 = 5080.68∠26.974ºV
I1 = (E1 - V)/ Zs = (262.653 + j 254.126) = 365.47∠44.1ºA
*
S1 = 3 V I1 = 3 (6350.85 + j 0) (262.653 - j 254.126) = (5 - j 4.842)MVA

Q1 = 4.842MVAR, (power factor)1 = 0.718 leading.

P Ananthakrishnan, EED, NIT Calicut

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