Generator Operation Modes

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Generator Operation Modes

5-6 minutes
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)
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Generator Operation Modes about:reader?url=http://www.svri.nl/en/generator-operation-modes/
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.
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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.
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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
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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.
See also
Hans Stutvoet – Isochronous Vs Droop Control For

Generators
References
Woodward Application Note 01302 – Speed Droop and Power

Generation, 1991
Woodward Manual 26260 – Governing Fundamentals and

Power Management, 2004
Basler Electric Technical Paper – Parallel Operation with a

Network System, 2002
Basler Electric Technical Paper – Voltage Regulator and

Parallel Operation, 2002
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Generator Operation Modes

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Generator Operation Modes

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Generator Operation Modes about:reader?url=http://www.svri.

Generator Operation Modes

There are three modes of operation for generators: stand-

In stand-alone operation a generator is not connected with

Stand-alone Operation – the governor and voltage regulators

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

the total load determines the generator output power (MW,

engine fuel control options: isochronous speed control, droop

excitation current control options: constant voltage control,

power management system could keep bus frequency and

load flow analysis model: Slack Bus (also Reference Bus,

Paralleled With The Utility Operation

If a generator is paralleled with the utility grid and it is

Paralleled With Utility Operation – if considered as an infinite bus,

more / less fuel will raise / lower the generator active power

more / less excitation current will raise / lower the generator

the utility determines the frequency (Hz), speed (rpm) and

engine fuel control options: droop speed control, base load

excitation current control options: droop voltage control, VAR

power management system could keep the imported or

load flow analysis model: PQ bus (also Load Bus), PV bus

In island operation a generator is connected with other

Island Operation – all generators together determine frequency,

more / less fuel will raise / lower generator active power and

more / less excitation current will raise / lower the generator

the total plant load determines the sum of the power of all

engine fuel control options: droop speed control

excitation current control options: droop voltage control

power management system keeps the bus frequency and

load flow analysis model: at least one generator (or a fictive

Note that cross-current compensation is sometimes used to

All modes of operation are possible after closing or tripping

power system engineering, this should be taken into

Mode Of Operation Changes – all modes are possible after closing or

Hans Stutvoet – Isochronous Vs Droop Control For

Woodward Application Note 01302 – Speed Droop and Power

Woodward Manual 26260 – Governing Fundamentals and

Basler Electric Technical Paper – Parallel Operation with a

Basler Electric Technical Paper – Voltage Regulator and

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