Synchronisation of 3-
phase Alternators
Synchronization of Alternators by Lamp Method
1. Lamps Dark Method for Single Phase Alternators
In this method the lamps are arranged as shown in Fig. 3.2.1.
The alternator to be synchronized (which is also called
incoming alternator) consists of two lamps connected across the
switch terminals of the same phase.
The voltage for the two alternators is measured with the help of
a voltmeter. The lamps are connected in such a way that the
polarity and the frequency for the two machines can be
checked. No resultant voltage will appear across the switch
terminals if the frequency of the two alternators is exactly same
as well as their voltages are in exact phase opposition. Thus
under this case lamps will not glow. The voltages for both the
machines are having same maximum and r.m.s. values and are
in exact phase opposition thus resultant voltage is zero in local
circuit. This is represented in the Fig. 3.2.2
It can be seen that with unequal frequencies of the two alternators, the two lamps will become
alternately bright and dark. The light beat will be produced whose number is equal to the difference in
frequencies for the two machines.
The resultant voltage appearing across the lamp will be difference of the two voltages at any instant
resulting in a waveform shown in the Fig. 3.2.3. Since number of cycle completed by two machines
in any given time are not same the light beat is produced which is shown in the Fig. 3.2.3.
Whenever the two voltages are in exact phase opposition
(i.e. angle between them is 180°) then resultant voltage
ER is zero. If the switch is not closed at this instant the
voltage across lamp will go on rising and synchronization
will not be proper.
For the exact synchronization the speed of incoming
alternator is adjusted in such a way that the light beats are
produced at a very slow speed and the alternators are
synchronized during the middle of the dark period where
resultant voltage ER will be zero. The word middle is
used as the lamps will not glow even though there is
sufficient voltage across it. So it becomes difficult to
know the correct instant of zero voltage.
2. Lamps Bright Method
Since it is very difficult to judge the
correct instant of zero voltage in
Lamps dark method, this method is
introduced which is shown in the
Fig. 3.2.4.
The lamps remain maximum bright when there is no difference in voltages for the two
machines. This is more sharp and accurate method of synchronization because the lamps
are much more sensitive to changes in voltage at their maximum brightness than when
they are dark.
3. Lamps Dark Method for Three Phase Alternators When the voltages of busbar and
incoming alternators are in phase
opposition and frequencies of both
are exactly same no voltage
appears across the switch and
lamps will not glow.
For unequal frequencies, the lamps L1 L2 and
L3 will flicker at a rate equal to difference in
frequencies. If the phase sequence is correct, all
the lamps will become dark and bright
simultaneously. If this does not happen then two
terminals of the incoming machine are
interchanged to correct the phase sequence. The
frequency of the incoming machine is so
adjusted that lamp will flicker at very slow rate.
The correct instant of closing the switch is the
middle of the dark period of the lamps L1 L2 and
L3 .