Generator Operation Modes

4 July 2014

There are three modes of operation for generators: stand-alone, island and parallel with the
utility. Each operation mode requires specific turbine fuel and generator excitation controls. In
this post I describe features of each mode of operation.

Stand-alone Operation
In stand-alone operation a generator is not connected with other generators or the utility. As an
isolated unit it supplies power to all connected load. Examples are emergency generators,
aggregates or portable diesel generator sets.

Stand-alone Operation – the governor and voltage regulators determine frequency and voltage.

Features:

 more / less fuel will raise / lower the frequency (Hz)

 more / less excitation current will raise / lower the voltage (kV)
 the total load determines the generator output power (MW, MVAr)
 engine fuel control options: isochronous speed control, droop speed control
 excitation current control options: constant voltage control, droop voltage control
 power management system could keep bus frequency and voltage constant if droop
control modes are active (else not necessary)
 load flow analysis model: Slack Bus (also Reference Bus, Swing Bus)
Paralleled With The Utility Operation
If a generator is paralleled with the utility grid and it is considered as an infinite bus, the utility
grid will determine the generator frequency, speed and voltage. An example is an industrial
generator used for cogeneration. In practice such an engine generator set can not change the
frequency, but it can slightly change the generator terminal voltage.

Paralleled With Utility Operation – if considered as an infinite bus, the utility grid
will determine the generator frequency, speed and voltage.

Features:

 more / less fuel will raise / lower the generator active power (MW)
 more / less excitation current will raise / lower the generator reactive power (MVAr)
 the utility determines the frequency (Hz), speed (rpm) and voltage (kV)
 the difference between the total plant load and the generator output power will be
imported or exported (MW, MVAr)
 engine fuel control options: droop speed control, base load (MW) control
 excitation current control options: droop voltage control, VAR control, PF control
 power management system could keep the imported or exported power (MW, MVAR) or
power factor constant
 load flow analysis model: PQ bus (also Load Bus), PV bus (also Generator Bus)

Island Operation
In island operation a generator is connected with other generators, but not with the utility. As an
isolated system the generators supply all power to the connected load. Examples are power
systems on ships, on offshore platforms or in the desert.
Island Operation – all generators together determine frequency, speed and voltage. The total
load (MW, MVAr) should be shared.

Features:

 more / less fuel will raise / lower generator active power and the bus frequency (MW,
Hz)
 more / less excitation current will raise / lower the generator reactive power and the bus
voltage (MVAr, kV)
 the total plant load determines the sum of the power of all generators (MW, MVAr)
 engine fuel control options: droop speed control
 excitation current control options: droop voltage control
 power management system keeps the bus frequency and voltage constant, while sharing
the load (MW, MVAr) proportional or cost optimised over all engine generator sets
 load flow analysis model: at least one generator (or a fictive untility) must be slack bus,
the other generators may be PQ or PV buses

Note that cross-current compensation is sometimes used to share reactive power, while
maintaining the bus voltage constant. I prefer a power management system or VAr Load Sharing
devices.

Mode Of Operation Changes

All modes of operation are possible after closing or tripping breakers in the configuration in the
image below. During the power system engineering, this should be taken into consideration. I
highly recommend to use a power management system in this configuration.
Mode Of Operation Changes – all modes are possible after closing or tripping breakers.

http://www.svri.nl/en/generator-operation-modes/

Isochronous Vs Droop Control For

Generators
4 July 2014

What is isochronous control? And droop control? When should you use isochronous speed
control and when droop? What is reactive droop compensation? In this post I will answer these
questions.

Why should you use droop control?

Suppose that a generator is paralleled with the utility grid. If it is considered as an infinite bus,
the utility grid will determine the generator frequency (speed) and voltage. When the speed (and
frequency) setpoint is slightly lower, the speed governor will fully close the fuel supply in
attempt to lower the frequency. Is the setpoint slightly higher, the speed governor will fully open
the fuel supply. For the automatic voltage regulator and the reactive power something similar
happens. To solve these problems, we use droop controls.

Isochronous and Droop Speed Control

In the isochronous speed control mode the speed will return to the original speed setpoint after
a load has been applied or rejected. However in parallel operation this would cause instability as
explained above.

In the droop speed control mode the speed will decrease by a fixed percentage when the
generator is loaded from no-load to full load. This provides a stable working point for each load
in case of parallel operation.

Isochronous Speed Control – speed and frequency return to speed setpoint after a load change.

Droop Speed Control – speed and frequency will decrease when the load increases.

The droop slope is a fixed setting mostly between 3 and 5%. But the operator or power
management system can adjust the speed setpoint in order to:

 return to the rated frequency in stand-alone operation

  change the generator active power (MW) in parallel operation

Constant Voltage Control and Reactive Droop

Compensation
In the constant voltage control mode the voltage will return to the original voltage setpoint after
a load has been applied or rejected. However in parallel operation this would cause instability as
explained above.

In the droop voltage control or reactive droop compensation mode the voltage will decrease
by a fixed percentage when the generator is loaded from no-load to full load. This provides a
stable working point for each load in case of parallel operation.

Constant Voltage Control – voltage returns to the voltage setpoint if reactive load changes.
Droop Voltage Control – voltage will decrease if the reactive load increases.

The droop slope is a fixed setting mostly between 2 and 4%. But the operator or power
management system could adjust the voltage setpoint in order to:

 return to the rated voltage in stand-alone operation

 change the generator reactive power (MVAr) in parallel operation

http://www.svri.nl/en/isochronous-vs-droop-control-for-generators/