In all of my 60 plus years of electrical and electronics I have often wondered how in the world different AC generating stations kept their multi-phase generators in sync within an electrical distribution grid. Your video explained it in less than 2 minutes. Such a simple and beautiful methodology. I have subscribed to your channel and look forward to learning more from your videos. Thanks for sharing with all of us.
@@David-cy5zu There seems to be a common misconception in Europe that the US is a third world country, and that we're all backwards and inferior. Not so, friend. We rather like it here. Once this Covid issue passes, you're welcome to come visit. I'll take you out to celebrate some of our unique freedoms that we so cherish.
@@PatrickKQ4HBD In the case of AC power that might be partially correct, but as a consiquence of history, by being an early adopter of the technology. At a time when material science haden't provided the insulating materials to safely use more that 120V AC in the home. This requires bigger more expencive cables to do the same work as for 220V. When a guy comes from Africa and dominates the space and automotive sectors, starting with only a few hundred million bucks, it's not the best look for the country's industrial and commercial proficiency. Should i not mention Intel. Doh!
@@timboatfield @Tim Boatfield Alternating current power transmission. Cheap reusable rockets. Space-based high speed internet with truly global coverage. The semiconductor industry. 99% of the world's personal computers. I could go on for days. All of these things have one thing in common: country of origin. Such a country that has the right business conditions to grow such a list must be an amazing place to live, and probably attracts the best and brightest from around the world.
@@PatrickKQ4HBD High on pride, short of facts. I'm sure you could go on for days. 99% of the worlds computeres?! I thought you were talking about China! Yuu are living in a theme park in your own head, but it's not reality.
I always wondered how, if at all, the utility companies connect themselves to the grid and run in "parallel". This is an awesome scale-model demonstration that makes it clear! Thanks for posting this!
I was told years ago by an LG&E (Louisville Gas & Electric) employee that it used to be procedure to shut down power briefly in order to switch generators. This was before it was known that phasing was possible. Seems an employee who liked to have a drink forgot to shut off the first generator before engaging the second one. The transfer was seamless much to the surprise of the engineers. By shear luck he phased them perfectly and didn’t destroy the equipment! This was the first time this happened successfully and thus the engineers knew it was possible. So now we don’t have nightly blackouts.
Bill - I'm a PE who's been associated the electrical power industry since the 1960s. The three lamps were used previously to the synchroscope in order to show relative rotation. This was also true on shipboard AC systems.
This is quite amazing. I am an electrician and I have often wondered how they did this. Not just achieving synchronisation, but also maintaining it. The "maintaining it" part always held the most intrigue for me. How on earth would they prevent one generator from drifting out of sync ? My oh my. What a beautiful circumstance that the generators regulate each other and keep themselves in sync! I feel like I have just learned a year's worth of knowledge in this single video. *_INVALUABLE !_* >
Think of synchronism as a chain connecting the shaft of each generator. They operate in lock step. The only way they can get out of sync is if the excitation of people be generator (DC voltage to the field winding) is reduced to the point where the generator can slip out of synchronism. That is a very rare occurrence. Once in sync with other generators, adjustment of the speed control or throttle does not vary the speed of the generator. It then controls the torque applied to the generator shaft which varies the power (Watts) that the generator produces. Adjustment of the excitation voltage to the generator field varies the voltage and current produced by the generator which is known as reactive power (VAR).
it's like a single generator where the load and mechanical force applied to the shaft will dictate the frequency...regulators regulate the power applied to the shaft according to the load...ex: if the load increases it will cause the frequency to drop and since it should never go below 60hz (n.a) regulators read inputs from frequency sensitive sensors and send output signals to correct the problem. in hydroelectric dams it is done buy opening valves to let more water in (more force) to spin the turbines. these regulators operate using finely tuned algorithms because the tolerance for frequency dips or overshoot is extremely small. breakers will cause power outage if the frequency dips or overshoots by 1hz for example (not sure how much exactly is tolerated)…
I KNOW RIGHT?! This completely blew my mind. It’s like reaching for your other hand and the grabbing a hold of it and not letting go. Then no matter which way you pull the other goes with it.. but it’s with electricity
I have watched numerous videos about synchronizing generators but this is the only one i found that explains how they stay in synch! Wonderful job my friend, great demonstration and explination about this process. Thank you!
never even thought of AC as a rotating battery, can't say immediatelly how good of an analogy it is, but i can say with certainty it is amusing and catchy!
I've watched videos of the start up of a few power generators and they always glossed over syncing the generator to the grid before connecting it. Thanks for the great practical demo.
Our Little University has a power generation lab, except we synchronised with the actual mains grid of the university. I clearly remember there being no safety briefing and all of these 415VAC live exposed terminals being everywhere.
I wondered the same being a Industrial Electrican. When I rebuilt Generators and motors to a summer I was told by engineer. I figured it be done with software these days. Yet no its just 3 light bulbs. Whoever first used this technique was genious and yet simple. Its just polarity.
I was told years ago by an LG&E (Louisville Gas & Electric) employee that it used to be procedure to shut down power briefly in order to switch generators. This was before it was known that phasing was possible. Seems an employee who liked to have a drink forgot to shut off the first generator before engaging the second one. The transfer was seamless much to the surprise of the engineers. By shear luck he phased them perfectly and didn’t destroy the equipment! This was the first time this happened successfully and thus the engineers knew it was possible. So now we don’t have nightly blackouts.
Wow, what a fantastic demonstration of the grid system in miniature, looks like a very costly experiment, but it's truly amazing how you made it and use of the neon bulbs is a very cool idea for showing off the phasing difference in frequency. I use a neon bulb on my house mains as a power indicator bulb, for when I'm running off a generator when we lose power. I run a 2 phase single cylinder Diesel which runs at 1800 RPMs using a cap and anti-flicker points to boost the power on the non power strokes. I didn't invent it it is just mind blowing they had this technology back in the 70s when this was made! The camshaft tells the points to open allowing the cap to discharge into the field windings upon a dead stroke thus increasing its output power of electric and keeping it as even as possible. BUT love the experiment it's very cool and informative from an engineering standpoint. Thank you.
I was told years ago by an LG&E (Louisville Gas & Electric) employee that it used to be procedure to shut down power briefly in order to switch generators. This was before it was known that phasing was possible. Seems an employee who liked to have a drink forgot to shut off the first generator before engaging the second one. The transfer was seamless much to the surprise of the engineers. By shear luck he phased them perfectly and didn’t destroy the equipment! This was the first time this happened successfully and thus the engineers knew it was possible. So now we don’t have nightly blackouts.
I used to work for a generator company and sync generators but by using electronic synchronization. I am now an instructor in the Middle East and this is a good example to show my trainees 👍
I am studying power engineering and my textbook made zero sense, this makes perfect sense. This also applies as I am currently trying to become employed at a generating station which produces electricity from hogfuel and a steam turbine. Great video thanks!!!
Wow this is an extremely well put together and explained tutorial and the setup done very logical and neatly, I like it! I was looking quite a while for a neat video like this! A circuit diagram would be a nice addition!
This is EXACTLY what I wanted to know! When I was in the Army, we had a pair of generators mounted on one trailer. One had twice the capacity of the other, so they were in a 1/3 - 2/3 ratio. We would service one while the other carried the bare minimum base load, then start it up, sync them with a mysterious "magic box" that had a neon sync lamp in the panel, and then shut down the other one for servicing. At least one of them was running 24/7 for an entire year! That was a lot of fuel, but we had reliable power. I never understood until now how that magic box worked. I can see having something like a 1,000W lithium + solar system providing baseload to a camper, then syncing a 2,000 - 3,000W gas generator for when you had heavier short-term loads or needed to quickly charge the house battery bank.
One day I hope these quick charge batteries you speak of become a reality. Unless I'm mistaken, and please elucidate if I am, all commercially available batteries take ~10hrs to charge, safely. As of now, it's essentially the 80-20 rule. You can charge to 80% in 120min (20%) but the last 20% to full, or floating, will take the remaining 80% of time (480min/8hrs). Charging only to 80% will work and still yield usable results, of course, but you'd just eat thru yr batteries lifetime cycles, which don't care about voltage, you'd just burn thru them faster by needing to recharge faster. I'd love to be wrong, if there's a better way, or something I'm missing, share the secret handshake!
Good video. Here is a way to make the demonstration better. Put one light between phase A of both alternators. Another between phase A of one and phase B of the other. Put the third light between phase A of one and phase C of the other. That way the blinking will rotate to show the speed as either faster or slower. When the A phase light is extinguished and the other two are the same intensity the breaker may be closed. This is how the old power plants used to do it before the invention of the synchroscope. The equal indication of the two dim lights will provide a better indication of synchronization as the "A" light will be extinguished over more degrees of rotational difference.
That’s exactly how the lights in this demonstration are wired. LEDs are not a great choice though, they don’t dim well as voltage is reduced. Incandescent lamps are preferable. Most plants only use two lamps rather than 3. They are connected to the A and C phases.
these aren't LEDs. LEDs are polarized and operate at a certain voltage. exceed that voltage, the LED burns out. instead, they use neon indicator bulbs. the same as you would find in the switch of a power bar or similar
Yeah, I'd like to see what happens then. Does the slower generator just violently sync up (potentially oscillating in speed), or do they both stop, or what?
@@polymetric2614 Check out this video: ua-cam.com/video/fJyWngDco3g/v-deo.html It is a real (very small) generator connected to the grid. It is taken off line, for a fraction of a second, and allowed to get out of sync with the grid and then put back on line. >Does the (cut) generator just violently sync up. Generator vs the grid, yes it violently syncs up to the grid. In this demo the engine is damaged in the process.
Depending on how many degrees out of synchronism and the difference in speed of the two machines it would range from a severe jolt (torque reaction) up to breaking the shaft of one or both generators. Most generating systems have a “sync check” relay that prevents the breaker from closing unless within a very close phase angle.
Proctor’s Gamble I was told years ago by an LG&E (Louisville Gas & Electric) employee that it used to be procedure to shut down power briefly in order to switch generators. This was before it was known that phasing was possible. Seems an employee who liked to have a drink forgot to shut off the first generator before engaging the second one. The transfer was seamless much to the surprise of the engineers. By shear luck he phased them perfectly and didn’t destroy the equipment! This was the first time this happened successfully and thus the engineers knew it was possible. So now we don’t have nightly blackouts.
This is great! I’m studying for the PE Power exam and wanted to get a better feel of how Generators come online to a grid with lightbulbs. Thank you for the video.
Wow that's a really cool demonstration. Heard a story about someone who was working on syncing a hydro plant, and he got a brain fart I guess and applied power wen the light was ON instead of off, so it was 180 degrees out of phase. Immediately snapped the shaft of the turbine, we're talking over a foot thick of steel here. Also required a change of underwear, and probably a full rebuild of the plant. Chances are it also required updating a resume. :P
I was told years ago by an LG&E (Louisville Gas & Electric) employee that it used to be procedure to shut down power briefly in order to switch generators. This was before it was known that phasing was possible. Seems an employee who liked to have a drink forgot to shut off the first generator before engaging the second one. The transfer was seamless much to the surprise of the engineers. By shear luck he phased them perfectly and didn’t destroy the equipment! This was the first time this happened successfully and thus the engineers knew it was possible. So now we don’t have nightly blackouts.
Synchronized many units over the years to the grid. This is a very simplification of the actual process, you must increase load or the reverse power rely will trip the unit off line.
Thank you for this video. I recently visited a hydro electric dam and wondered how they sync the phase of all the generators. I think this answers that.
When I started at this sugar factory 40 years ago we had 2 light bulbs to sync a 750kw and a 1000 kw steam generators. When both bulbs were lite, you pulled the manual breaker in. In the 80s, we upgraded to a syncroscope. An arrow attached to a motor shaft with the windings wired between the 2 generators. If incoming was faster, it turned left, and too slow it turned right. At 12:00 arrow up, you close the breaker. We also upgraded to sync transfer. start on grid power, bring up generator 1. Snyc the generator to grid power, then transfer up to 2000 amps at a time from grid to in house steam generator power. The last generator is still in place for backup power Today. The generators are GE 1917 - 750 KW and GE 1000 KW 1936- Wyoming Sugar company.
I recall doing this many times during my Electrical Engineering Technology program back in the 90s. We used the LabVolt modular equipment which was much simpler to setup.
I am old enough to remember when there were no PLCs I remember each town had it's own power plant and the voltage and hz would be all over the place. Lights would dim or brighten. When the factory would start their motors the voltage would drop to about 60 volts and slowly climb back and when they shut off the motors the lights would get super bright and sometimes pop I had the first UPS and people asked me why Then my whole town had every electronic device blow out when there was a surge The difference in voltage was huge In Rural NY I saw 100 volts, up in Maine it was 130 volts Seeing how old some of the poles and lines are, over 100 years old, it is amazing they still work.
We had a neon light in the middle of the dash on the boat.(50ft chris craft cabin cruiser, two flathead straight eights for power,) and when under way, you would adjust the throttles to where the light stayed on as steady as you could get. When you got the engines synced, you knew also by the sound of the exhaust as it would be a slow “waaah,waaah,waaah”, as you were going across the bay. 1600 rpm and you were haulin’ butt. Back in the day when high test, 104 octane, was twenty cents a gallon. With two, 250 gallon tanks, it was a $100 to fill’er up!
Seeing the phases in or out of sync on a scope would have been a nice touch. In reality, this is done with AC generators, not a VFD. I have seen a 4" shaft that was sheared off of a wind turbine due to the phases being out of sync. It's a real thing!
Thanks for the educational demo. You misused the term "short circuit." If you close the breaker when the alternators are not in synchronization there will be a high circulating current trying to pull them together. Usually this will trip the alternator circuit breaker and can damage the alternators--not to mention making a very loud noise in a power plant.
I got the answer to my question as to how the 2 gens maintain sync once engaged to each other. Reminds me of power factor. A phase change between voltage and current (lead/lag). There must be equipment to show if any generator(s) are fighting another to maintain perfect phase for sync? If one gen is getting lazy, the hard working one will try to speed it up, thus wasting energy that could be going to the grid? Now I got to find a vid explaining how 2 consumer portable gen sets can be hooked together to maintain proper sync to increase power output. Nice.
A friend was telling me how to get the right RPM on my generator to have 60 cycle and was saying something about a light bulb between the generator and my AC power I thought he was pulling my leg but I guess he's onto something
The first time I knew about this form of synchronization was about fifteen years ago when I was asked to synchronise two catapelar generators of 750kva to give a total power of 1.5MW they had a v12 engine 48v DC starter motors complete with synchronise panel. When synchronise you can hear both generators governors revving up the motors in unison on load. On my first sync it took me over fifteen minutes to engage the breaker when the bulbs extinguished (cold feet) after that I have built six sync panels for different units and would advice anyone trying it out to use two 220v bulbs in series in case your connection are out of sync (phase) with each other were you will get a potential of 380v on your bulbs
@@Calliber50 Yep, moreover brightness increases exponentially with voltage, therefore comparing 2 bright ones will give much more precise voltage & timing comparison than trying to see very little glow or nothing.
Using a simple graph of the two sine waves from each generator would make the discussion easier to follow and understandable. The lights are between one phase out of three. The lights turn on or off based on the Volt-gen1 - Volt-gen2....when they are in synch there is no difference in voltage, that is the sine waves are at the same phase angle.....
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This is why the Texas grid had cascading failure. The generators were starting to slow down because of too much draw and safety shutoffs disconnected loads.
Very interesting! Makes me want to make a demo example using synchronous alternators (i.e. generators) with engines powering so to show the adjustments of the carb screws and possibly the governor to adjust the frequency. For adjusting voltage I'm guessing a variable inductor like from an older transformer based welder core rewound so used as an inductor would be the easiest to use compared to a high current variable capacitor or banks of capacitors switched to adjust. Might be able to just custom wind a variable inductor though using a high magnetic permeability material like a ferrite rod maybe or I guess just rewind a transformer with equal windings on each side with that type material in between so to affect. Instead of using a syncroscope, is neat seeing how to gauge using only neon lamps. Interesting. Definitely different than adjusting the inverter, I guess H-bridge switching to achieve voltage, phase, frequency and phase angle sync.
I just realized with the AVR design synchronous alternators... that can be used to adjust the rotor voltage so to adjust the output of the alternator. Didn't think about that for voltage control. So now that I think about for the older models without an AVR... I'm guessing some sort of thyristor can be used maybe unless is a DC design which not I think about being a magnet... then must be a DC design so some sort of DC regulator circuit can be used for less losses seems versus say like a potentiometer design.
If I understand correctly, the generator staying in sync relies on mechanical forces imposed on the generator armature by the magnetic properties of the current going through the coils in the generator. Is that basically it?
In an old diesel Generation plant, when you run out of diesel or your fuel gets shut off the unit will still run if connected to the grid. Your generator becomes a big motor. Yep, we would tie to the grid the old fashioned way, light bulb and a big hand switch at 2400v. Nothing fancy.
Stupid question. Two gasoline driven engines drive two three phase motors. Each engine has its own fuel regulator. If the two motors fall into sync and a substantial electrical connection is made - wire capable of carrying the full load of both generators combined - will they stay in sync ? Does the fuel supply, carburetor , also need to be connected ?
So if there are many multiple generators all wanting to spin at slightly different speeds, but are being held in synch by the electrical connection between them all, seems that a lot of energy is wasted between them all in an effort just to keep synchronized.
If they are out of sync there is a potential between the lines you connect them when potential is 0 (light is off). They self regulate because if they fall out of sync the generator that is under a bigger load will cause it's prime mover to slow down.
I guess it depends on the generator design, but I always though you just energize the field coil with the power you want to sync with, then the output automatically matches. Very interesting demonstration though. Thanks.
great explanation! One question though: does it mean, that in case one induction motor is rolling two identical alternators on the same belt drive, they remain in sync? I guess they will produce the same voltage and frequency, but - as their initial rotor position is different - the current flow direction changes will not be necessary in sync...
there is also a spinning dial indicator they use, similar to the lights. and flip the breaker when the dial is at the 12 o clock position. The lights are a more simple solution tho.
A great video, very detailed and easy to understand. We are currently researching ways to synchronize our AC permanent magnet generators for the purpose of charging batteries. Your video clarified many of the questions I sought to understand. Thank you! If you have a chance to look at our project on our channel, please let us know if you have any ideas on how we can improve the system. We are working towards maximum efficiency.
Love the series of videos on gen sync. Do you think it is at all possible to use a NC relay in place of the phasing lights to automatically close the contacts on the contactor?
My eventual goal is to put an actual auto-sync relay on each generator, in addition to the overcurrent relay (ANSI 50/51) and the loss of excitation relay (ANSI 40) we'll have on each generator station. We could build our own auto-sync circuit, but my preference is to use industry-standard components whenever possible.
The ANSI standard for such a device is a 25 relay, known as a sync-check relay. It does not allow the incoming generator’s breaker to close unless the voltages phase sequence and phase angles all are within the correct values.
He actually controls the unit already connected to the grid. In reality one will always control the unit that has to be connected to the grid of course...
Excellent explanation! How would this work for a residential generator? Would it use digital circuitry to accomplish the same thing? I wouldn't think it would "correct" the grid, like the motors do to each other, but just regulate it's own frequency and voltage, along with the anti islanding circuitry. I have grid tie solar, and I'm on time of use, and I've wondered about being able to supplement my own production during peak time with a gasoline generator if needed on a hot cloudy day. Do they make a grid tie gasoline, diesel, or propane generator?
Single phase generators like residential generators cannot be paralleled with three phase sources like the utility. The reason is single phase systems have a phase angle difference of 180 degrees per phase. Three phase systems have a phase angle difference of 120 degrees per phase. Generators that operate in parallel with the utility grid are considered to be interconnected to an “infinite” bus. The frequency and voltage is determined by the utility source. The generator can not change that. The only adjustments a generator can make while operating in parallel with the utility is to change its real power output (Watts) and its power factor by changing the reactive power output (VARS)
This is very awesome. I don't know if you are still paying attention to comments, but could you theoretically couple 2 or more portable generators (gasoline or propane) together to combine their power output using this set up? (As long as the alternators are the same number of phases of course)
Yes, but there is more to paralleling generators than this simple demonstration. You don't want generator A to be dragging generator B along for the ride(while in sync), and then try to power refrigerator Z with the combined system.
@@dave4882 I would have to imagine that you would need to have manual throttle control over at least one generator, and monitor the amperage of each generator output, adjusting throttle to get them as close to each other as possible.
@@Kingkoopa00 You are correct. Measuring generator current is interesting though, because you can actually feed current back into the slower generator. I've never heard of a meter that can measure this, that is not a super expensive professional(power company) grade meter. Most meters measure AC current, and do not give a direction since ac does both directions. (I hope this is clear enough) Back feeding current can be a BAD thing. If you are home building a secondary generator, look into an induction generator. Few people know about these, but less problems with syncing. They can be used as a primary generator, but more difficult than self exciting generators.
@@dave4882 I wonder if you could run a line tying the 2 generators directly to each other, like phase to like phase, and monitor the current on that. If one generator is feeding the other, there will be voltage and current on that line. You could put a very high resistance, high power resistor on it to limit the current if unbalanced. If its perfectly matched, there should be zero volts (perfectly inline phases) and no current, but if one is feeding the other, there will be a slight AC voltage on that wire due to one of the generator phases "chasing" the other. Also, Induction generators are nice, but they are very small compared to full size non-inverter generators. And wouldn't be able to run the large loads a home may need during the peak of summer.
@@Kingkoopa00 thats effectively what the lights are doing in this demonstration. Notice that they dont light up once the breaker is closed even when he deliberately runs thsm out of phase. The main conductors keeps rhe voltage at zero, although the one motor is being pulled along. The company i work for has a 1 megawatt induction generator in use to get rid of extra steam they make. So you can get them large. Or build your own if you like. They are simple. You can even use a 3 phase motor and run it as a single phase generator with a few capacitors.
They'll pick up load, as a percentage of their combined capacity, based on their individual capacities. For example, say you have a 2KVA and a 1KVA generator, which have been paralleled. If the load is 1.5KVA, the 2KVA unit will pick up 1KVA of load, and the 1KVA unit will pick up .5KVA.
In all of my 60 plus years of electrical and electronics I have often wondered how in the world different AC generating stations kept their multi-phase generators in sync within an electrical distribution grid. Your video explained it in less than 2 minutes. Such a simple and beautiful methodology. I have subscribed to your channel and look forward to learning more from your videos. Thanks for sharing with all of us.
not like this. the precision of frequency in western europe is 0,001 Hz.
@@David-cy5zu There seems to be a common misconception in Europe that the US is a third world country, and that we're all backwards and inferior. Not so, friend. We rather like it here. Once this Covid issue passes, you're welcome to come visit. I'll take you out to celebrate some of our unique freedoms that we so cherish.
@@PatrickKQ4HBD In the case of AC power that might be partially correct, but as a consiquence of history, by being an early adopter of the technology. At a time when material science haden't provided the insulating materials to safely use more that 120V AC in the home. This requires bigger more expencive cables to do the same work as for 220V.
When a guy comes from Africa and dominates the space and automotive sectors, starting with only a few hundred million bucks, it's not the best look for the country's industrial and commercial proficiency. Should i not mention Intel. Doh!
@@timboatfield @Tim Boatfield
Alternating current power transmission.
Cheap reusable rockets.
Space-based high speed internet with truly global coverage.
The semiconductor industry.
99% of the world's personal computers. I could go on for days.
All of these things have one thing in common: country of origin. Such a country that has the right business conditions to grow such a list must be an amazing place to live, and probably attracts the best and brightest from around the world.
@@PatrickKQ4HBD High on pride, short of facts.
I'm sure you could go on for days. 99% of the worlds computeres?! I thought you were talking about China! Yuu are living in a theme park in your own head, but it's not reality.
I always wondered how, if at all, the utility companies connect themselves to the grid and run in "parallel". This is an awesome scale-model demonstration that makes it clear! Thanks for posting this!
I was told years ago by an LG&E (Louisville Gas & Electric) employee that it used to be procedure to shut down power briefly in order to switch generators. This was before it was known that phasing was possible. Seems an employee who liked to have a drink forgot to shut off the first generator before engaging the second one. The transfer was seamless much to the surprise of the engineers. By shear luck he phased them perfectly and didn’t destroy the equipment! This was the first time this happened successfully and thus the engineers knew it was possible. So now we don’t have nightly blackouts.
Bill - I'm a PE who's been associated the electrical power industry since the 1960s. The three lamps were used previously to the synchroscope in order to show relative rotation. This was also true on shipboard AC systems.
This is quite amazing.
I am an electrician and I have often wondered how they did this.
Not just achieving synchronisation, but also maintaining it.
The "maintaining it" part always held the most intrigue for me.
How on earth would they prevent one generator from drifting out of sync ?
My oh my. What a beautiful circumstance that the generators regulate each other and keep themselves in sync!
I feel like I have just learned a year's worth of knowledge in this single video.
*_INVALUABLE !_*
>
Think of synchronism as a chain connecting the shaft of each generator. They operate in lock step.
The only way they can get out of sync is if the excitation of people be generator (DC voltage to the field winding) is reduced to the point where the generator can slip out of synchronism. That is a very rare occurrence.
Once in sync with other generators, adjustment of the speed control or throttle does not vary the speed of the generator. It then controls the torque applied to the generator shaft which varies the power (Watts) that the generator produces. Adjustment of the excitation voltage to the generator field varies the voltage and current produced by the generator which is known as reactive power (VAR).
it's like a single generator where the load and mechanical force applied to the shaft will dictate the frequency...regulators regulate the power applied to the shaft according to the load...ex: if the load increases it will cause the frequency to drop and since it should never go below 60hz (n.a) regulators read inputs from frequency sensitive sensors and send output signals to correct the problem. in hydroelectric dams it is done buy opening valves to let more water in (more force) to spin the turbines. these regulators operate using finely tuned algorithms because the tolerance for frequency dips or overshoot is extremely small. breakers will cause power outage if the frequency dips or overshoots by 1hz for example (not sure how much exactly is tolerated)…
I KNOW RIGHT?! This completely blew my mind. It’s like reaching for your other hand and the grabbing a hold of it and not letting go. Then no matter which way you pull the other goes with it.. but it’s with electricity
I have watched numerous videos about synchronizing generators but this is the only one i found that explains how they stay in synch! Wonderful job my friend, great demonstration and explination about this process. Thank you!
this is explained so clearly and fluently, im a sparky of 15 years and only just discovered this, well done!!!
This made my day. One of the coolest demonstrations of AC I have seen 🙂
never even thought of AC as a rotating battery, can't say immediatelly how good of an analogy it is, but i can say with certainty it is amusing and catchy!
I am 30 years old man who is writing his first degree in Electrical power Engineering and i find this amazing the way you Present this topic.
I've watched videos of the start up of a few power generators and they always glossed over syncing the generator to the grid before connecting it. Thanks for the great practical demo.
Our Little University has a power generation lab, except we synchronised with the actual mains grid of the university. I clearly remember there being no safety briefing and all of these 415VAC live exposed terminals being everywhere.
I wondered the same being a Industrial Electrican. When I rebuilt Generators and motors to a summer I was told by engineer. I figured it be done with software these days. Yet no its just 3 light bulbs. Whoever first used this technique was genious and yet simple. Its just polarity.
I was told years ago by an LG&E (Louisville Gas & Electric) employee that it used to be procedure to shut down power briefly in order to switch generators. This was before it was known that phasing was possible. Seems an employee who liked to have a drink forgot to shut off the first generator before engaging the second one. The transfer was seamless much to the surprise of the engineers. By shear luck he phased them perfectly and didn’t destroy the equipment! This was the first time this happened successfully and thus the engineers knew it was possible. So now we don’t have nightly blackouts.
Wow, what a fantastic demonstration of the grid system in miniature, looks like a very costly experiment, but it's truly amazing how you made it and use of the neon bulbs is a very cool idea for showing off the phasing difference in frequency. I use a neon bulb on my house mains as a power indicator bulb, for when I'm running off a generator when we lose power. I run a 2 phase single cylinder Diesel which runs at 1800 RPMs using a cap and anti-flicker points to boost the power on the non power strokes. I didn't invent it it is just mind blowing they had this technology back in the 70s when this was made! The camshaft tells the points to open allowing the cap to discharge into the field windings upon a dead stroke thus increasing its output power of electric and keeping it as even as possible. BUT love the experiment it's very cool and informative from an engineering standpoint. Thank you.
I was told years ago by an LG&E (Louisville Gas & Electric) employee that it used to be procedure to shut down power briefly in order to switch generators. This was before it was known that phasing was possible. Seems an employee who liked to have a drink forgot to shut off the first generator before engaging the second one. The transfer was seamless much to the surprise of the engineers. By shear luck he phased them perfectly and didn’t destroy the equipment! This was the first time this happened successfully and thus the engineers knew it was possible. So now we don’t have nightly blackouts.
I used to work for a generator company and sync generators but by using electronic synchronization. I am now an instructor in the Middle East and this is a good example to show my trainees 👍
learning all this in fourth year right now. missed my demo this morning. thanks!
I knew that the generators had to be synchronized but didn’t know how they kept each other in time. Very interesting.
I am studying power engineering and my textbook made zero sense, this makes perfect sense. This also applies as I am currently trying to become employed at a generating station which produces electricity from hogfuel and a steam turbine. Great video thanks!!!
Excellent demonstration. I was expecting a control circuit to keep the generator speeds the same. But the entire grid is the control circuit!
Wow this is an extremely well put together and explained tutorial and the setup done very logical and neatly, I like it! I was looking quite a while for a neat video like this! A circuit diagram would be a nice addition!
This is EXACTLY what I wanted to know! When I was in the Army, we had a pair of generators mounted on one trailer. One had twice the capacity of the other, so they were in a 1/3 - 2/3 ratio. We would service one while the other carried the bare minimum base load, then start it up, sync them with a mysterious "magic box" that had a neon sync lamp in the panel, and then shut down the other one for servicing. At least one of them was running 24/7 for an entire year! That was a lot of fuel, but we had reliable power. I never understood until now how that magic box worked.
I can see having something like a 1,000W lithium + solar system providing baseload to a camper, then syncing a 2,000 - 3,000W gas generator for when you had heavier short-term loads or needed to quickly charge the house battery bank.
One day I hope these quick charge batteries you speak of become a reality.
Unless I'm mistaken, and please elucidate if I am, all commercially available batteries take ~10hrs to charge, safely.
As of now, it's essentially the 80-20 rule. You can charge to 80% in 120min (20%) but the last 20% to full, or floating, will take the remaining 80% of time (480min/8hrs).
Charging only to 80% will work and still yield usable results, of course, but you'd just eat thru yr batteries lifetime cycles, which don't care about voltage, you'd just burn thru them faster by needing to recharge faster.
I'd love to be wrong, if there's a better way, or something I'm missing, share the secret handshake!
Good video. Here is a way to make the demonstration better. Put one light between phase A of both alternators. Another between phase A of one and phase B of the other. Put the third light between phase A of one and phase C of the other. That way the blinking will rotate to show the speed as either faster or slower. When the A phase light is extinguished and the other two are the same intensity the breaker may be closed. This is how the old power plants used to do it before the invention of the synchroscope. The equal indication of the two dim lights will provide a better indication of synchronization as the "A" light will be extinguished over more degrees of rotational difference.
That’s exactly how the lights in this demonstration are wired. LEDs are not a great choice though, they don’t dim well as voltage is reduced. Incandescent lamps are preferable. Most plants only use two lamps rather than 3. They are connected to the A and C phases.
Very creative of you using LEDs as an indicator like Synchroscope bulbs.
these aren't LEDs. LEDs are polarized and operate at a certain voltage. exceed that voltage, the LED burns out. instead, they use neon indicator bulbs. the same as you would find in the switch of a power bar or similar
3:47 they are self-synchronizing! frickin' awesome!!!
That is the best explanation of grid synchronization I’ve seen!
Flip the switch while the 3 lights were on. That would make for an interesting video.
Yeah, I'd like to see what happens then. Does the slower generator just violently sync up (potentially oscillating in speed), or do they both stop, or what?
@@polymetric2614 Check out this video: ua-cam.com/video/fJyWngDco3g/v-deo.html It is a real (very small) generator connected to the grid. It is taken off line, for a fraction of a second, and allowed to get out of sync with the grid and then put back on line.
>Does the (cut) generator just violently sync up.
Generator vs the grid, yes it violently syncs up to the grid. In this demo the engine is damaged in the process.
Depending on how many degrees out of synchronism and the difference in speed of the two machines it would range from a severe jolt (torque reaction) up to breaking the shaft of one or both generators.
Most generating systems have a “sync check” relay that prevents the breaker from closing unless within a very close phase angle.
@@billmoran3812 Yes that's what we want to see, shafts breaking and sparks flying
@@kenalford2538 that’s just stupid.
Proctor’s Gamble
I was told years ago by an LG&E (Louisville Gas & Electric) employee that it used to be procedure to shut down power briefly in order to switch generators. This was before it was known that phasing was possible. Seems an employee who liked to have a drink forgot to shut off the first generator before engaging the second one. The transfer was seamless much to the surprise of the engineers. By shear luck he phased them perfectly and didn’t destroy the equipment! This was the first time this happened successfully and thus the engineers knew it was possible. So now we don’t have nightly blackouts.
This is great! I’m studying for the PE Power exam and wanted to get a better feel of how Generators come online to a grid with lightbulbs. Thank you for the video.
Wow that's a really cool demonstration. Heard a story about someone who was working on syncing a hydro plant, and he got a brain fart I guess and applied power wen the light was ON instead of off, so it was 180 degrees out of phase. Immediately snapped the shaft of the turbine, we're talking over a foot thick of steel here. Also required a change of underwear, and probably a full rebuild of the plant. Chances are it also required updating a resume. :P
I was told years ago by an LG&E (Louisville Gas & Electric) employee that it used to be procedure to shut down power briefly in order to switch generators. This was before it was known that phasing was possible. Seems an employee who liked to have a drink forgot to shut off the first generator before engaging the second one. The transfer was seamless much to the surprise of the engineers. By shear luck he phased them perfectly and didn’t destroy the equipment! This was the first time this happened successfully and thus the engineers knew it was possible. So now we don’t have nightly blackouts.
Excellent video! I love your demonstration setup - well done!
Synchronized many units over the years to the grid. This is a very simplification of the actual process, you must increase load or the reverse power rely will trip the unit off line.
Thank you for this video. I recently visited a hydro electric dam and wondered how they sync the phase of all the generators. I think this answers that.
When I started at this sugar factory 40 years ago we had 2 light bulbs to sync a 750kw and a 1000 kw steam generators. When both bulbs were lite, you pulled the manual breaker in. In the 80s, we upgraded to a syncroscope. An arrow attached to a motor shaft with the windings wired between the 2 generators. If incoming was faster, it turned left, and too slow it turned right. At 12:00 arrow up, you close the breaker. We also upgraded to sync transfer. start on grid power, bring up generator 1. Snyc the generator to grid power, then transfer up to 2000 amps at a time from grid to in house steam generator power. The last generator is still in place for backup power Today. The generators are GE 1917 - 750 KW and GE 1000 KW 1936- Wyoming Sugar company.
And this is why we need home surge protectors 😛
I educated guessed that the lights would have to be off! Best personal discovery of 2021 so far =)
Yesss! This video solves the question I had about load balancing for years. Thanks for the crystal clear demo.
Your video and set up is amazing. May i know if I can get your set up circuit for me to follow it and assemble it as well? Thank you so much
I would as well
great video! very easy to understand when demonstrated like this!
What a brilliant explanatory video! Congrats!!!
I recall doing this many times during my Electrical Engineering Technology program back in the 90s. We used the LabVolt modular equipment which was much simpler to setup.
This is basically DJ Beat-matching with the electrical grid!
thats exactly what I tought. maybe they should hook up a DJ controller and hire a DJ for sync :D
@@JanJanson84 With three phase power, you get a nice 180 BPM.
I am old enough to remember when there were no PLCs
I remember each town had it's own power plant and the voltage and hz would be all over the place.
Lights would dim or brighten.
When the factory would start their motors the voltage would drop to about 60 volts and slowly climb back and when they shut off the motors the lights would get super bright and sometimes pop
I had the first UPS and people asked me why
Then my whole town had every electronic device blow out when there was a surge
The difference in voltage was huge
In Rural NY I saw 100 volts, up in Maine it was 130 volts
Seeing how old some of the poles and lines are, over 100 years old, it is amazing they still work.
Cool video demonstrating how power stations sync up.
Great explanation as always!
Awesome explanation! Simple, beautifully done.
Alright thanks! I've been wanting to build my own mini power plant to make money and have been running into the question of synchronization! Thanks!
If you try to supply power to an electrical grid without a contractual agreement, you'll soon have the police knocking on your door.
@@c31979839 Oh yeah I know
We had a neon light in the middle of the dash on the boat.(50ft chris craft cabin cruiser, two flathead straight eights for power,) and when under way, you would adjust the throttles to where the light stayed on as steady as you could get. When you got the engines synced, you knew also by the sound of the exhaust as it would be a slow “waaah,waaah,waaah”, as you were going across the bay. 1600 rpm and you were haulin’ butt. Back in the day when high test, 104 octane, was twenty cents a gallon. With two, 250 gallon tanks, it was a $100 to fill’er up!
Fantastic video - explained so well
Seeing the phases in or out of sync on a scope would have been a nice touch. In reality, this is done with AC generators, not a VFD. I have seen a 4" shaft that was sheared off of a wind turbine due to the phases being out of sync. It's a real thing!
Thanks for the educational demo. You misused the term "short circuit." If you close the breaker when the alternators are not in synchronization there will be a high circulating current trying to pull them together. Usually this will trip the alternator circuit breaker and can damage the alternators--not to mention making a very loud noise in a power plant.
Very nice demonstration. Harmonic frequencies must play an important role
I'm not 100%, but I think they must be at 1:1. IOW, 2:1 or 3:1 wouldn't work at all.
I got the answer to my question as to how the 2 gens maintain sync once engaged to each other. Reminds me of power factor. A phase change between voltage and current (lead/lag). There must be equipment to show if any generator(s) are fighting another to maintain perfect phase for sync? If one gen is getting lazy, the hard working one will try to speed it up, thus wasting energy that could be going to the grid? Now I got to find a vid explaining how 2 consumer portable gen sets can be hooked together to maintain proper sync to increase power output. Nice.
A friend was telling me how to get the right RPM on my generator to have 60 cycle and was saying something about a light bulb between the generator and my AC power I thought he was pulling my leg but I guess he's onto something
What would the advantage of running a generator back into the grid have? Burn off fuel surplus and save on electric bill?
*Absolut GEIL! Danke für dieses Video.*
Really great video, and a fantastic explanation
The first time I knew about this form of synchronization was about fifteen years ago when I was asked to synchronise two catapelar generators of 750kva to give a total power of 1.5MW they had a v12 engine 48v DC starter motors complete with synchronise panel. When synchronise you can hear both generators governors revving up the motors in unison on load. On my first sync it took me over fifteen minutes to engage the breaker when the bulbs extinguished (cold feet) after that I have built six sync panels for different units and would advice anyone trying it out to use two 220v bulbs in series in case your connection are out of sync (phase) with each other were you will get a potential of 380v on your bulbs
Except that real sync Lights work with one off (L1-L1 comparison) and 2 on (L2-L3 and L3-L2 comparison).
Built a few dozen.
I think this is an acceptable scale-model demonstration that simplifies a few things to make the point well enough, but you are quite correct
Ah, so you won't accidentally sync up a generator with burn out light bulbs. Smart.
@@Calliber50 Yep, moreover brightness increases exponentially with voltage, therefore comparing 2 bright ones will give much more precise voltage & timing comparison than trying to see very little glow or nothing.
very informative and explained in a very clear way,.thank you very much and to BTCInstrumentation.
Using a simple graph of the two sine waves from each generator would make the discussion easier to follow and understandable. The lights are between one phase out of three. The lights turn on or off based on the Volt-gen1 - Volt-gen2....when they are in synch there is no difference in voltage, that is the sine waves are at the same phase angle.....
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This is why the Texas grid had cascading failure. The generators were starting to slow down because of too much draw and safety shutoffs disconnected loads.
Have you done a video with two dissimilar power sources? I’m wondering about how it works when you sync an inverter with a generator?
Very interesting! Makes me want to make a demo example using synchronous alternators (i.e. generators) with engines powering so to show the adjustments of the carb screws and possibly the governor to adjust the frequency. For adjusting voltage I'm guessing a variable inductor like from an older transformer based welder core rewound so used as an inductor would be the easiest to use compared to a high current variable capacitor or banks of capacitors switched to adjust. Might be able to just custom wind a variable inductor though using a high magnetic permeability material like a ferrite rod maybe or I guess just rewind a transformer with equal windings on each side with that type material in between so to affect. Instead of using a syncroscope, is neat seeing how to gauge using only neon lamps. Interesting. Definitely different than adjusting the inverter, I guess H-bridge switching to achieve voltage, phase, frequency and phase angle sync.
I just realized with the AVR design synchronous alternators... that can be used to adjust the rotor voltage so to adjust the output of the alternator. Didn't think about that for voltage control. So now that I think about for the older models without an AVR... I'm guessing some sort of thyristor can be used maybe unless is a DC design which not I think about being a magnet... then must be a DC design so some sort of DC regulator circuit can be used for less losses seems versus say like a potentiometer design.
Thank you for this video, is there a video that shows the build of the generator plates and the coupling together?
If I understand correctly, the generator staying in sync relies on mechanical forces imposed on the generator armature by the magnetic properties of the current going through the coils in the generator. Is that basically it?
That’s so sick, love it
Excellent demonstration!
Yes. Exceptional
In an old diesel Generation plant, when you run out of diesel or your fuel gets shut off the unit will still run if connected to the grid. Your generator becomes a big motor.
Yep, we would tie to the grid the old fashioned way, light bulb and a big hand switch at 2400v. Nothing fancy.
What kind of light bulb works at 2,400V???
Stupid question.
Two gasoline driven engines drive two three phase motors.
Each engine has its own fuel regulator.
If the two motors fall into sync and a substantial electrical connection is made - wire capable of carrying the full load of both generators combined - will they stay in sync ?
Does the fuel supply, carburetor , also need to be connected ?
So if there are many multiple generators all wanting to spin at slightly different speeds, but are being held in synch by the electrical connection between them all, seems that a lot of energy is wasted between them all in an effort just to keep synchronized.
Fantastic demo. Thank you.
Amazing setup,awesome demo.
Thanks 🙏
Is there a link for the circuit diagram of this project?
Thats very good explained! Like it!
Perfect explanation sir thaank you very much sir
I assume that this electro mechanical coupling wastes power as heat in the transmission lines etc between two stations when they are out of sync.
If they are out of sync there is a potential between the lines you connect them when potential is 0 (light is off). They self regulate because if they fall out of sync the generator that is under a bigger load will cause it's prime mover to slow down.
Could you please share the schematic for the rig you have setup?
I guess it depends on the generator design, but I always though you just energize the field coil with the power you want to sync with, then the output automatically matches.
Very interesting demonstration though. Thanks.
What is the model number of the generators you used?
Thanks, I work at Eskom and this is very useful! 🤣
So how do I do this with electronic inverters?
Way cool. Now I'd like to see how increasing the drive of the 'local' generator affects voltage and current flow with the 'grid' generator.
Would have insignificant effects. The larger effect would be when your small generator is out of phase enough, your wires would melt.
Can i synco ac 230 volt grid supply with my solar pannel output of 230 volts
what a great explanation
I am impressed. this is good to know. thank you
great explanation! One question though: does it mean, that in case one induction motor is rolling two identical alternators on the same belt drive, they remain in sync? I guess they will produce the same voltage and frequency, but - as their initial rotor position is different - the current flow direction changes will not be necessary in sync...
As long as the alternators are in parallel their speed will be "exactly" the same.
Well this gave me an idea, i could make a perfectly imperfect comparator from 2 generats
Are you willing to share a schematic of the setup?
there is also a spinning dial indicator they use, similar to the lights. and flip the breaker when the dial is at the 12 o clock position. The lights are a more simple solution tho.
Super nice explanation :-) You should use something to cover the rotating belts.
A great video, very detailed and easy to understand. We are currently researching ways to synchronize our AC permanent magnet generators for the purpose of charging batteries. Your video clarified many of the questions I sought to understand. Thank you! If you have a chance to look at our project on our channel, please let us know if you have any ideas on how we can improve the system. We are working towards maximum efficiency.
Love the series of videos on gen sync. Do you think it is at all possible to use a NC relay in place of the phasing lights to automatically close the contacts on the contactor?
My eventual goal is to put an actual auto-sync relay on each generator, in addition to the overcurrent relay (ANSI 50/51) and the loss of excitation relay (ANSI 40) we'll have on each generator station. We could build our own auto-sync circuit, but my preference is to use industry-standard components whenever possible.
BTCInstrumentation A PLC and some voltage/phase relays + frequency/voltage transducers will do a good job with the VFD's you already have.
The ANSI standard for such a device is a 25 relay, known as a sync-check relay. It does not allow the incoming generator’s breaker to close unless the voltages phase sequence and phase angles all are within the correct values.
What kind of generator did you used?
Modified car alternators. 😊
gOOD VIDEO, REALLY INTERESTING. tHANKS.
Great explanation! New sub
He actually controls the unit already connected to the grid. In reality one will always control the unit that has to be connected to the grid of course...
Excellent explanation! How would this work for a residential generator? Would it use digital circuitry to accomplish the same thing? I wouldn't think it would "correct" the grid, like the motors do to each other, but just regulate it's own frequency and voltage, along with the anti islanding circuitry. I have grid tie solar, and I'm on time of use, and I've wondered about being able to supplement my own production during peak time with a gasoline generator if needed on a hot cloudy day. Do they make a grid tie gasoline, diesel, or propane generator?
Single phase generators like residential generators cannot be paralleled with three phase sources like the utility. The reason is single phase systems have a phase angle difference of 180 degrees per phase. Three phase systems have a phase angle difference of 120 degrees per phase.
Generators that operate in parallel with the utility grid are considered to be interconnected to an “infinite” bus. The frequency and voltage is determined by the utility source. The generator can not change that.
The only adjustments a generator can make while operating in parallel with the utility is to change its real power output (Watts) and its power factor by changing the reactive power output (VARS)
This is very awesome. I don't know if you are still paying attention to comments, but could you theoretically couple 2 or more portable generators (gasoline or propane) together to combine their power output using this set up? (As long as the alternators are the same number of phases of course)
Yes, but there is more to paralleling generators than this simple demonstration. You don't want generator A to be dragging generator B along for the ride(while in sync), and then try to power refrigerator Z with the combined system.
@@dave4882 I would have to imagine that you would need to have manual throttle control over at least one generator, and monitor the amperage of each generator output, adjusting throttle to get them as close to each other as possible.
@@Kingkoopa00 You are correct. Measuring generator current is interesting though, because you can actually feed current back into the slower generator. I've never heard of a meter that can measure this, that is not a super expensive professional(power company) grade meter. Most meters measure AC current, and do not give a direction since ac does both directions. (I hope this is clear enough) Back feeding current can be a BAD thing. If you are home building a secondary generator, look into an induction generator. Few people know about these, but less problems with syncing. They can be used as a primary generator, but more difficult than self exciting generators.
@@dave4882 I wonder if you could run a line tying the 2 generators directly to each other, like phase to like phase, and monitor the current on that. If one generator is feeding the other, there will be voltage and current on that line. You could put a very high resistance, high power resistor on it to limit the current if unbalanced. If its perfectly matched, there should be zero volts (perfectly inline phases) and no current, but if one is feeding the other, there will be a slight AC voltage on that wire due to one of the generator phases "chasing" the other.
Also, Induction generators are nice, but they are very small compared to full size non-inverter generators. And wouldn't be able to run the large loads a home may need during the peak of summer.
@@Kingkoopa00 thats effectively what the lights are doing in this demonstration. Notice that they dont light up once the breaker is closed even when he deliberately runs thsm out of phase. The main conductors keeps rhe voltage at zero, although the one motor is being pulled along.
The company i work for has a 1 megawatt induction generator in use to get rid of extra steam they make. So you can get them large. Or build your own if you like. They are simple. You can even use a 3 phase motor and run it as a single phase generator with a few capacitors.
what happens if using alternators of different KVA
They'll pick up load, as a percentage of their combined capacity, based on their individual capacities.
For example, say you have a 2KVA and a 1KVA generator, which have been paralleled.
If the load is 1.5KVA, the 2KVA unit will pick up 1KVA of load, and the 1KVA unit will pick up .5KVA.
How are you providing power to the exciter ?
We have custom 24 volt DC power supplies energizing the rotating field winding on each alternator.
Isn't there a tool that do this automatically?