Paralleling Basics

& Paralleling Controls

 Why Parallel Gensets?
• Reliability
– In situations where load can be split up,
failure of one genset leaves the system
still able to serve the most critical loads.
• Better reliability for critical loads
• Poorer reliability for non-critical loads

Paralleling Basics & Controls (2)

 Why Parallel Gensets?
• Performance
– Small, high speed (1800 RPM) gensets
can start faster than larger slow speed
machines
– High speed gensets have better
transient performance than slow speed
machines
– Stiffer Emergency/Standby “Grid”

Paralleling Basics & Controls (3)

 Why Parallel Gensets?

• Cost Effectiveness
– May be lower cost to install several small
gensets vs. single larger genset
• Especially for systems over 2000kW
• Installation Cost Reductions, Flexibility
– Servicing convenience
– Prime Power: reduced fuel consumption,
better load factor
– Interruptible Service Contract without
Interruption in Power Supply

Paralleling Basics & Controls (4)

 Don’t Parallel When:
• Not economically viable
– gensets are very small (under 300kW)
– existing gensets not compatible with
new
• Not technically viable
– loads can’t be split and controlled
(standby)

Paralleling Basics & Controls (5)

 What is Paralleling?
• Making two or more small gensets work
together and act like one BIG genset.

2X
X Watts of Power

- Evercharge +

- Evercharge +

Paralleling Basics & Controls (6)

Same Operating Voltage, Frequency, Phase
Rotation

G1 G2 G1

G2

LOAD
• With both gensets running and breaker closed, the voltage and
frequency must be identical between any points on the bus.

Paralleling Basics & Controls (7)

• “Magnet thing”...
– Once a generator is closed to an
operating bus, it is “magnetically
coupled” to the system
• It CAN’T slip out of synchronism if it is
operating properly.
• It WILL slip out of synchronism if magnetic
field is lost

Paralleling Basics & Controls (8)

Alternator Capability Curve

Paralleling Basics & Controls (9)

 Synchronizing

• In-phase means voltages between gensets are at the

same 0-crossing point
– at this point they may be at different voltage magnitude
• Out of Phase means 0-crossing is not matched--
Paralleling Basics & Controls (10)
Out of Phase Paralleling Test

Paralleling Basics & Controls (11)

Paralleling Functions REMOTE

• Traditional Designs start with a EC

ENGINE
non-paralleling genset….
– EC: Engine Control
• Protection for Engine GOV
• Start/Stop
• Operator Interface (Alarm/Metering) AVR GEN
– GOV: Governor
• Measure Speed/Control Fuel Rate
– AVR: Automatic Voltage Regulation
• Measure Voltage/Control Excitation CB

POWER
TO
LOAD
Paralleling Basics & Controls (12)
 Load Sharing for Paralleling

alternator
l o ad
=

kVAR =
A
kV

kW = engine

kW Demanded by Load

kVar Demanded by Load

• Engines Produce kW--Fuel Rate Controls

• Alternators Make kVAR--Excitation Controls
Paralleling Basics & Controls (13)
 Load Sharing
REMOTE

LOAD SHARE EC

ENGINE
DATA

A
B
GOV
C
N
G
ILS
AVR GEN
CIRCULATING NEUTRAL CURRENTS

CB
• Add kW Load Sharing Controls: ILS
• Add kVar Load Sharing: Cross Current
POWER
TO
LOAD
Paralleling Basics & Controls (14)
Synchronizing
REMOTE

LOAD SHARE EC

ENGINE
DATA

GOV
SYNC ILS
AVR GEN

CB

POWER
TO
LOAD
Paralleling Basics & Controls (15)
 Synchronizing Improvements

60 Typical Synchronizing Range

59
FREQUENCY

58 RAMPI
NG
PROPE TO
R HZ

57

56

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
TIME (SECONDS)

Paralleling Basics & Controls (16)

 Genset Protection REMOTE

LOAD SHARE EC

ENGINE
DATA

GOV
PROT SYNC ILS
AVR GEN

CB

Minimum Paralleling Genset Protection: POWER

• Loss of Field (40) TO
LOAD
• Reverse Power (32)Paralleling Basics & Controls (17)
Metering/Manual Controls/HMI
REMOTE
TRADITIONAL PARALLEL CONTROL
ALARM
LOAD SHARE EC

ENGINE
DATA

GOV
METER PROT SYNC ILS
AVR GEN

PARALLEL BREAKER

CB

POWER
TO
LOAD

Paralleling Basics & Controls (18)

 Or, by location…
GOVERNOR GOVERNOR

GENSET ENGINE GENSET ENGINE

START COMMANDS
CONTROL CONTROL

AVR AVR

ALARM LAMPS ALARM LAMPS ALARM LAMPS

PROTECTION PROTECTION PLC PROTECTION

AC METERS AC METERS AC METERS

ILS ILS

SYNC SYNC

52-G 52-G

PARALLEL CONTROL #2 PARALLEL CONTROL #2 MASTER CONTROL

LOADS
Paralleling Basics & Controls (19)
 Load Govern Functions
REMOTE

• Import/Export Control ALARM

• Var/PF Control LOAD SHARE EC

ENGINE
DATA

GOV
I/E VAR/PF METER PROT SYNC ILS
AVR GEN

UTILITY CB CB
CLOSED SIGNAL

THESE FUNCTIONS ARE ALL REQUIRED POWER

TO
FOR UTILITY PARALLELING APPLICATIONS LOAD

Paralleling Basics & Controls (20)

 Impacts of Digital Control
LOAD SHARE REMOTE
DATA

ENGINE
POWERCOMMAND
CONTROL

GEN

• Fewer Components
• Less Space
CB
• Better Reliability
• Better Performance
• Lower Cost POWER
TO
LOAD
Paralleling Basics & Controls (21)
PowerCommand ANSI Functions GENSET

SURGE SUPPRESSORS
AM SW KW KWH PF 40 32 65 90 51V

VM SW HZ 27 81U 59

86
VM SW HZ 47 SYNC 25

SS
POWERCOMMAND CONTROL

SWITCHGEAR TRIP

CLOSE

Paralleling Basics & Controls (22)

 Looking to the Future

• Facility Life>>Electronics “Sales Life Cycle”

• Need to Design for Replacement

Paralleling Basics & Controls (23)

 Digital Control Alternatives
DIGITAL PARALLEL CONTROL
• Governor by engine REMOTE

mfr. (only) LOAD SHARE

ENGINE
• Governor/Engine DATA
EC
GOV
Control Integrated INTEGRATED
PARALLEL SPEED
• Speed and Voltage CONTROL
BIAS

AVR GEN
Bias
• Paralleling Control VOLTAGE

by others
BIAS

CB
• Interface to Other
PARALLEL BREAKER
Gensets still Load
Sharing ONLY. POWER
TO
LOAD

Paralleling Basics & Controls (24)

 Conventional Paralleling Hardware
How can this be made reliable?
– Many components--mostly analog
– Hundreds of interconnecting wires
– Hard to train
– Parts availability

Paralleling Basics & Controls (25)

Paralleling Hardware: Each Genset
• Load Sharing
– Droop or Isochronous?
• Synchronizing
– Auto and Manual
• Genset Protection
– Reverse Var, Reverse Power, Sync Check
• Monitoring and Manual Control
– Metering
• AM, VM, FM, kWM, Sync Scope/Lights
– Breaker Control
• Load Govern (Optional)

Paralleling Basics & Controls (26)

 Traditional Equipment Construction

Paralleling Basics & Controls (27)

 Paralleling Master
Control Control
1 per genset 1 per system

Distribution
Equipment
control

breaker Distribution
Equipment
Paralleling Basics & Controls (28)
Paralleling Hardware: Master Control
• Interfaces gensets to facility
– Load Add
– Load Shed
– Load Demand
– Operator Monitoring Station
• Total System AC Metering
– Ammeter, Voltmeter, Frequency, KW
• Status Display
– Availability of Sources, Status of Load Service
• Manual Control Provisions
– Auto Load Control Bypass
– Manual Power Transfer
– Test
– Power Transfer Control

Paralleling Basics & Controls (29)

 Take-Aways
• Paralleling improves reliability of service
to critical loads, and can lower costs in
some applications
– Consider interruptible or cogeneration
• Paralleling requires additional controls to
manage load sharing, synchronizing, and
other functions
– These functions are available in integrated
digital system designs that improve reliability
and performance, and reduce cost
• Master control systems are often used to
provide system level functions
• Digital vs. Analog Decision

Paralleling Basics & Controls (30)