Chapter 16: Synchronous

Generators (2)

Generator under Load

The behavior of a synchronous
generator depends upon the
connected load
two basic load categories
o isolated loads
o infinite bus

isolated loads with a lagging pf

o current lags the terminal voltage, E
o the voltage drop across the
synchronous reactance, EX, leads
the current by 90
o the induced voltage, E0, generated
by the flux, , is equal to the
phasor sum of E and EX

Generator under Load

isolated loads with a leading pf
current leads the terminal voltage, E
the voltage drop across the
synchronous reactance, EX, leads the
current by 90
the induced voltage, E0, generated by
the flux, , is equal to the phasor sum
of E and EX

note that E0 always leads E by the

angle d
for lagging loads E0 is greater than E
for leading loads E is greater than E0

Generator under Load

Example
A 36 MVA, 20.8 kV, 3-phase
generator
synchronous reactance is 9 ohms
nominal current is 1000 A
no-load saturation curve is given

Adjust the excitation so that the

terminal voltage is fixed at 21 kV
i. calculate the excitation current
ii. draw the phasor diagrams for the
following load conditions
a. no-load
b. resistive load of 36 MW
c. capacitive load of 12 MVAr

Generator under Load

Example
A 36 MVA, 20.8 kV, 3-phase generator
synchronous reactance is 9 ohms
nominal current is 1000 A
no-load saturation curve is given
Adjust the excitation so that the terminal voltage is fixed at 21 kV
i. calculate the excitation current
ii. draw the phasor diagrams for the following load conditions
a. no-load
b. resistive load of 36 MW
c. capacitive load of 12 MVAr

Generator under Load

Example
A 36 MVA, 20.8 kV, 3-phase generator
synchronous reactance is 9 ohms
nominal current is 1000 A
no-load saturation curve is given
Adjust the excitation so that the terminal voltage is fixed at 21 kV
i. calculate the excitation current
ii. draw the phasor diagrams for the following load conditions
a. no-load
b. resistive load of 36 MW
c. capacitive load of 12 MVAr

Generator under Load

Example
A 36 MVA, 20.8 kV, 3-phase generator
synchronous reactance is 9 ohms
nominal current is 1000 A
no-load saturation curve is given
Adjust the excitation so that the terminal voltage is fixed at 21 kV
i. calculate the excitation current
ii. draw the phasor diagrams for the following load conditions
a. no-load
b. resistive load of 36 MW
c. capacitive load of 12 MVAr

Regulation Curves
Voltage regulation is the behaviour of the generators terminal
voltage as the load varies
Regulation is a function of the load current
the regulation curve is a plot of the terminal voltage, VT, with respect to
load current, I, ranging from no-load to full-load
o for a fixed field excitation current
o for a given load power factor

family of curves are developed for various field excitation currents and
for different load power factors
percent regulation is defined as:

Regulation Curves
Example
Consider the regulation
curves for a 36 MVA, 21 kV
generator. Calculate the
percent regulation
corresponding to the unity
power factor curve

Synchronization of a
Generator
Often two or more generators are connected in parallel to
supply a common load in large utility systems
connecting a generator to other generators is called paralleling
many paralleled generators behaves like an infinite bus
o voltage and frequency are constant and can not be easily altered

before connecting a generator to an electrical grid, it must be

synchronized
o
o
o
o

the generator frequency is equal to the system frequency

the generator voltage is equal to the system voltage
the generator voltage is in phase with the system voltage
the phase sequence of the generator is the same as that of the system

Synchronization of a Generator
To synchronize a generator
adjust the speed regulator of the prime mover so that frequencies are
close
adjust the excitation so that generator voltage and system voltage are
equal
observe the phase angle by means of a synchroscope, which indicates
the phase angle between two voltages
o the pointer rotates proportional to the frequency difference
o a zero mark indicates a zero degree phase angle
o the speed regulator is adjusted so that the pointer barely creeps across the
dial

on the zero mark, the line circuit breaker is closed

Connecting to an Infinite
Bus
An infinite bus system is so powerful that it imposes its own
voltage magnitude and frequency
once an apparatus is connected to an infinite bus, it becomes part of it
for a synchronized generator, the operator can only vary two machine
parameters
o the field excitation current, IX
o the prime-movers mechanical torque, T

Connecting to an Infinite Bus

Varying the exciting current
impacts the induced voltage E0
causes a current to flow that is 90 degrees out-of-phase due to the
synchronous reactance

does not affect the flow of active (real) power

does cause reactive power to flow

Connecting to an Infinite Bus

Varying the mechanical torque
by opening up the control valve of the prime-mover, an increase torque
is developed
the rotor will accelerate, E0 will increase in value and begin to slip
ahead of phasor E, leading by a phase angle
Although both voltages have similar values, the phase angle produces a
difference of potential across the synchronous reactance
o a current will flow, but this time almost in phase with E
o real (active) power will flow

Active Power Delivered

The active power delivered by a synchronous generator is
given by

PE = 3-phase power delivered by the generator

E = induced generator voltage
VT = generator terminal voltage
XS = synchronous reactance, per phase
= phase angle between E and VT

Active Power Delivered

Active Power Delivered

Example
A 36 MVA, 21 kV, 1800 rpm, 3-phase, 60 Hz generator is
connected to the power grid
synchronous reactance of 9 W per phase
line-to-neutral exciting voltage is 12 kV
line-to-line system voltage is 17.3 kV.

Calculate
a. the active power delivered when the power angle d is 30
b. the peak power that the generator can deliver before losing
synchronism

Example
A 36 MVA, 21 kV, 1800 rpm, 3-phase, 60 Hz generator is connected to the power grid
synchronous reactance of 9 W per phase
line-to-neutral exciting voltage is 12 kV
line-to-line system voltage is 17.3 kV.
Calculate
a. the active power delivered when the power angle d is 30
b. the peak power that the generator can deliver before losing synchronism

Transient Reactance
A synchronous generator
connected to a system is subject
to switching events
short-circuits, load energization,
etc.

In many cases, the equivalent

circuit does not reflect the
behavior of the machine
the equivalent circuit is only valid
for steady-state operation
for sudden, large current changes
another reactance is needed
o reactance X' whose value varies as a
function of time

the reactance for a short circuit

o prior to the fault, the reactance
equals the synchronous value
o at the instant of fault, the
reactance falls to a much lower
value, X'd

Transient Reactance
The reactance X'd is called the transient reactance
can be as low as 15% of the synchronous reactance
consequently, the initial short-circuit current is much higher than that
corresponding to the synchronous reactance

Transient Model
Example
A 250 MVA, 25 kV, 3-phase generator delivers its rated output at
unity power factor
a synchronous reactance of 1.6 pu
a transient reactance of 0.23 pu

A short circuit suddenly occurs on the connecting transmission

line, close to the generator
Calculate
a. the induced voltage, E0, prior to the short circuit
b. the initial value of the short-circuit current
c. the final value of the short-circuit current if the circuit breaker should fail
to open

Transient Model
A 250 MVA, 25 kV, 3-phase generator
delivers its rated output at unity power
factor
a synchronous reactance of 1.6 pu
a transient reactance of 0.23 pu
A short circuit suddenly occurs on the
connecting transmission line, close to
the generator
Calculate
a. the induced voltage, E0, prior to the
short circuit
b. the initial value of the short-circuit
current
c. the final value of the short-circuit
current if the circuit breaker should
fail to open

Transient Model
A 250 MVA, 25 kV, 3-phase generator
delivers its rated output at unity power
factor
a synchronous reactance of 1.6 pu
a transient reactance of 0.23 pu
A short circuit suddenly occurs on the
connecting transmission line, close to
the generator
Calculate
a. the induced voltage, E0, prior to the
short circuit
b. the initial value of the short-circuit
current
c. the final value of the short-circuit
current if the circuit breaker should
fail to open

Transient Model
A 250 MVA, 25 kV, 3-phase generator
delivers its rated output at unity power
factor
a synchronous reactance of 1.6 pu
a transient reactance of 0.23 pu
A short circuit suddenly occurs on the
connecting transmission line, close to
the generator
Calculate
a. the induced voltage, E0, prior to the
short circuit
b. the initial value of the short-circuit
current
c. the final value of the short-circuit
current if the circuit breaker should
fail to open

Power Transfer
We are often interested in the active
power that can be transmitted between
source A and source B
using Kirchhoffs voltage law
the active power absorbed at source B is
applying the geometry law of the sines for
a triangle

substitution results in

Power Transfer
Example
A transmission line connects two generators
generator A operates at E = 20 kV 5
generator B operates at E = 15 kV 42
the transmission line has a reactance of 14 ohms

Calculate the active power that flows over the line which
machine is receiving the power

Power Transfer
Example
A transmission line connects two generators
generator A operates at E = 20 kV 5
generator B operates at E = 15 kV 42
the transmission line has a reactance of
14 ohms
Calculate the active power that flows over the
line which machine is receiving the power

Machine Efficiency
The physical size of the synchronous machine has a profound
effect upon:
efficiency, power output, relative cost, and temperature rise
losses in the machine
o I2R losses in the stator windings
o Idc2Rf losses in the rotor field winding
o iron core losses and mechanical losses

keeping all machine parameters and materials the same

o an increase in all linear dimensions causes
voltage increases by the square
output power increases by the 4th power
losses increase by the 3rd power

Homework
Problems 16-22, 16-23, and 16-24