LARSEN & TOUBRO LIMITED

TYPICAL SCHEME FOR

AUTO LOAD SHARING OF
2 DG SETS

R.Seshadri
Larsen & Toubro Limited
Mysore works

Rev.1: P K Sharma
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1.0 Introduction :

Following sections describe a typical scheme for auto Load sharing of 3 nos.
DG sets connected in parallel to a common bus in a plant. The load sharing
scheme described can be envisaged for a building / hospital /hotel complex or
any industry. The plant equipments are :

a) One no. incomer transformer + breaker

b) three nos. DG sets + breakers
c) Plant Load Feeders

The SLD is as per fig.1 shown below:

Under normal conditions the plant will be operating from the local SEB
supply. When the SEB supply fails, the three DG sets will be synchronized to
the plant bus and they will start feeding the plant load.

When the three DGs are in parallel, and are feeding the same load, any of the
following events can happen – if the load sharing scheme is not in place :
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a) Cascaded Tripping : One of the DGs , can get over loaded and trip –
causing the remaining DGs to get over loaded and trip . This happens
due to mis-match in DG makes, age, and size. The most efficient /
largest DG will try and swallow the entire plant load – will get over
loaded in the process- will trip on over load and cause cascaded tripping
of remaining DGs.

b) Hunting of DGs : It should be noted that the plant load may not remain
constant – it would normally be fluctuating. The operator may stabilize
the DGs ( by setting the kW & kVAR outputs) at one level of plant
load – if the load changes, the operator is required to stabilize the DGs
again.
As can be seen this is a continuous process – the operator will be busy
handling the DG controls with every fluctuation in plant load. If the
fluctuations are frequent, then the DGs may under go hunting – rapid
rise/ fall in speed till the operator arrives at correct out put settings. If
the operator does not respond quickly , there can be reverse power into
DGs and may result in heavy damage to DGs.

c) Heavy circulating current (reactive current) within the DGs : If the

power output levels are not same, then one DG will feed current into
the next DG – resulting in a situation where there is a heavy circulating
current among DGs. The plant load can be zero – but one can see full
laod currents flowing in the ammeters of the DGs. This condition will
reduce the life of the DG sets.

d) Poor power factor : One or more generators may run on a poor PF,
depending upon the ratio of its kw output to kVAR output.

Consequent to the above, it is important to install an Automatic Load

Sharing scheme , whenever more than one DG is run in parallel with another
DG on the same bus. This will control the power out put of of each DG such
that the % loading with respect to its rating.(ie) all DGs will share the plant
load equally . For example, all DGs will run 60% if the plant load is 60% of
the total capacity of all DGs. If the plant load goes to 70% of the total
capacity, each DG will start delivering 70% of its rated power. This change in
the output levels of the DGs are achieved automatically by providing control
signals to the exciter ( for kVAR sharing) and to governor ( for kW sharing).
Since the percentage loading is maintained same, there will be no hunting ,
there will be no over load ( unless the plant load goes beyond the cumulative
capacities of all three DGs , which is rare), there will be no circulating current
and there will be no cascaded tripping.
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2.0 Scope of work envisaged in the scheme are :

a) On line measurement of power output of each DG set for a given plant

load
b) Monitoring of over power condition of each DG set
c) Providing control pulses (on line) for the governor & exciter of each
DG as required to ensure that all DGs run at same percentage loading
with respect o their ratings.
d) Cut in / cut out logic for the DG sets – this will determine the optimum
number of DG sets to be run , to feed a given plant load.
e) Interlocks required for safe operation of the plant
f) Auto / Manual facility

Following sections give a more detailed idea on how the proposed system
achieves the above scope of work.

3.0 Components of the system ;

The system is supplied in a floor mounting panel as per he GA diagram shown

in fig. 2. The system consists of following components :

Front panel mounted components :

a) 3 nos. Load sharing Relays , for active power kW ( one per DG)
b) 3 nos. Load sharing Relays, for reactive power kVAR ( one per DG)
c) 1 no. Auto / Manual Switch
d) 9 nos. PBs – for inc / dec signals of Voltage & frequency of each DG
set
e) 2 nos. comprehensive measuring instrument QUASAR

Back Panel Instruments :

a) 10 nos. plug in auxiliary relays

b) 1 no. DC MCB for switching the Auxiliary supply
c) Fuses as may be required
d) Terminals as may be required
e) One no. mini PLC
f) 5 nos. aux. contactors
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4.0 Load sharing process (Auto Mode) :

The heart of the system is the Auto load sharing relay (LSR) type RRS. This
relay has the following features (please refer fig.3).

a) RRS continuously measures the power out put of each DG. If set in kW
mode , it will measure active power. If set in kVAR mode, it will
measure reactive power.

b) RRS gives three relay out put contacts. One is increase pulse . The
second is decrease pulse. The third is over power contact. If RRS is
used as kW controller, the inc / dec pulses are given to the governor
controls of DG set. If RRS is used as kVAR controller, the inc / dec
pulses are given to the exciter controls of the DG set. The over power
contact is used as a over power monitor / protection.

c) RRS gives a DC voltage output , proportional to the measured power.

This DC voltage is made available at terminals 14 & 15, and it will be
equal to 3 V if the measured power is equal to the rated power (100% )
of the DG. The rated power can be set on the front panel of the RRS
relay.

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Please see fig. 4 which shows typical connection of two RRS relays, one for
each DG. Both RRS relays are for kW control. Please note that the DC
voltage out put terminals of each RRS (14 & 15) are connected as a DC bus.
Under this condition, the status of the RRS out puts will be as shown in the
table in fig .4. Points to be noted are :

- RRS will give increase pulse if internal DC current is from A to B

- RRS will give decrease pulses if internal DC current is from B to A
- RRS will not give any pulse if there is no current (ie) when both RRS
voltages are equal.
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 In other words, each RRS will give inc / dec pulses so as to bring its DC
voltage equal equal to the DC voltage of other – which inturn will happen
only if each RRS is measuring same percentage of power output from their
respective DGs. This is the process by which the RRS relays ensure proper
load sharing.

Load sharing can be enabled / disabled by means of a contact at terminals at

terminals 21/22 of RRS. This will help in Auto/Manual mode selection.

5.0 Frequency Control: The system also ensures that load sharing is performed
at 50 Hz( + or – 0.5Hz), when the frequency control is enabled. The master
DG will run at 50 HZ and the slaves DGs will follow the the master, to
maintain the speed of the system at 50Hz equivalent.

6.0 Load sharing process - Manual Mode :

In this case all RRS relays are totally disabled. The relays will not give any
pulse out puts. The operator has to maintain the output levels of each DG by
means of front panel inc/dec push buttons.

7.0 Control Circuit wiring diagram :

The above sections explain the general guidelines, control actions and
hardware required for auto load sharing scheme. There can be minor
variations, additional requirements based on the specific needs of an actual
installation. On receipt of an order, L&T will be pleased to provide all
customers an elaborate control circuit wiring diagram for implementing the
entire scheme.

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