Generator Paralleling

generators units including:

Reliability: Parallel operations of multiple generators provides greater reliability than by a single generator when operating critical loads. If a unit falls over the load can be covered by other units in the system.

If the reliability of a single generator is N=98%, an N+1 system is 99.96% reliable, N+2 is 99.999% and so on.

Reducing light loading of the prime mover: Loads in most cases will never run at a constant level, and generators run most efficiently at 75-80% of full load. A parallel system allows for the system to start-up and close down parallel generators as required.

Scalability: If a generator is bought for a specific power consumption, the system is limited to the size of that generator. If the system is increased in size a second generator would need to be acquired, and care needs to be taken to balance the system. In turn the reliability of the system will decrease. Opting for a larger generator has the disadvantage of a costlier purchase, and having the generator running at a lower load which decreases efficiency. Using RFL generators allows for generators to be continually ran in parallel to increase the scalability as the system grows

Ease of maintenance: When a generator requires maintenance or refuelling the whole system does not need to be powered down, this means the system can run indefinitely off a parallel generator system.

Shipping: Having a net of smaller generators eliminates a series of problems that can occur from shipping a single larger generator. This would be especially evident in cases like military use and disaster relief where they system may only be deployed for a short period at a time.

Cost of $ per kW: Smaller generators are generally cheaper than larger generators exceeding 600Kw due to the number the of smaller generators produced compared to the larger size generators. Making a parallel configuration is more cost effective then a larger generator.

Why RFL Alternators

RFL has completed extensive testing on paralleling generators, to the extent where RFL alternators have been successfully paralleled using different prime movers on a different fuel system.

Paralleling generators has historically been done using wound-field synchronous generators. Replacing the wound-field generator with Permanent Magnet (PM) generators vastly improves the system efficiency, size and reliability.

RFL uses droop control for parallel connection of the alternators and a paralleling switch set up with a three-phase contactor and a simple circuit that detects the point when phases waveforms are synchronised.