Synchronizing Generator To The Grid

electrical-engineering-portal.com /synchronizing-generator-to-the-grid

Google+ 1/10/2015

Synchronizing generator

The physical method //

Having discussed the principles of synchronizing generator to the grid, we will look briefly on the physical method
of accomplishing it. In theory, there are at least two simple measurements or indications, which can be used for
synchronizing generator to a grid.

When two voltages satisfy the conditions of being equal in magnitude, have the same frequency
and an angle of zero between them, then around the voltage loop they add to be zero at each and
every instant of time on the sine waves.

Old generator synchroscope used for matching the speed and phase angle of a
generator before connecting it to the power grid (photo credit: Alex Luyckx via Flickr)

Consequently voltmeters connected across each of the synchronizing breaker contacts will both read zero. Lights
placed in the same position will also be totally out when all the synchronizing conditions are satisfied.

In practice, we need information which the voltmeters and light will not give us in order to synchronize a generator to
the grid. During the actual physical process of synchronizing, we want to know whether the generator or the grid
is fastand by how much.
1/3
The instrument, which will provide this information, is the synchroscope. Figure 1 shows the connection of a
synchroscope between the generator being synchronized and the grid.

We will still need to

use two voltmeters
to check that the
generator and the
grid voltage are the
same (noting that
these two
voltmeters are not
the ones referred to
above, since those
ones were placed
across the
synchronizing
breaker contacts).

Figure 1 Synchroscope checking Angle and Frequency

The position
of the
synchroscope pointer indicates the difference in angle between the generator voltage and the
grid voltage. When there is a zero angle between the two voltages, the synchroscope pointer is in
the vertical or 12 oclock, position.

The speed of
rotation of the
pointer indicates
the difference in
frequency of the
two voltages. The
pointer will rotate in
the Slow or counter
clockwise, direction
when the generator
frequency is below
the grid frequency.
The pointer will
rotate in the Fast or
clockwise, direction
when the generator
frequency is
greater than the
grid frequency. Old generator synchroscope (photo credit: Andreas Metz via Flickr)

It should be
pointed out that the synchroscope will only rotate for small differences in frequency of up to 2 Hz. With larger
frequency differences, the synchroscope is designed to not rotate.
2/3
The last two paragraphsindicate that when //

1. The pointer is vertical or at 12 oclock,

2. The pointer is steady, not rotating; then the two voltages are in phase and the frequencies of the generator
and grid are equal.

In practice the synchronizing breakers are closed when the generator is just slightly fast and at about the 5
minutes to 12 position moving toward 12 oclock. This allows a little bit of time for closing the synchronizing
breakers and it assures that the generator will not act as a motor once the synchronizing breaker is closed.

It is important to check the correct operation of the synchroscope before each synchronizing is
attempted.

To do this, the generator is operated at less than synchronous speed and the synchroscope must rotate in the slow
direction. Similarly when the generator is operated at a speed greater than synchronous, the synchroscope must
rotate in the Fast direction.

Diesel generators synchronizing with mains (VIDEO)

Diesel generators synchronizing with mains on peak lopping mode and on no-break transfer mode.

Generator synchronization (VIDEO)

A Cat trying to sync to the utility 11kv network.

Synchronization VEM generator (VIDEO)

Reference // Science and Reactor Fundamentals Electrical CNSC Technical Training Group

3/3