System and method for synchronizing multiple generators with an electrical power distribution system
Systems and method for synchronizing power generators with a power grid are provided. One system among various implementations includes a plurality of synchronization modules, wherein each synchronization module corresponds to one power generator. The synchronization modules are configured to output a control signal to adjust a frequency of the respective power generator to correspond with the frequency of the existing power grid. The system also includes a central controller in communication with the plurality of synchronization modules. The central controller is configured to determine a propagation delay with respect to each synchronization module. The propagation delay is a measure of time for a signal to propagate from the respective synchronization module to the central controller. The central controller is further configured to send a control signal to each synchronization module to control when each synchronization module connects the respective power generator to the existing power grid.
1. A system comprising:
a plurality of power generators configured to be connected to transmission lines of an existing power grid;
a plurality of synchronization modules, each synchronization module corresponding to one of the plurality of power generators and outputs a control signal to adjust at least one of a frequency and phase angle of a voltage waveform of a respective power generator; and
a controller in communication with the plurality of synchronization modules, the controller including a status request module configured to transmit a request to each of the plurality of synchronization modules to obtain status of each of the plurality of synchronization modules, the status of each of the plurality of synchronization modules including a frequency of a voltage waveform and phase angle difference between the voltage waveform of the respective power generator and a voltage waveform of the existing power grid;
wherein the controller time synchronizes a phase of the voltage waveform of the respective power generator to a phase of the voltage waveform of the existing power grid based on a received voltage waveform from a synchronization module of a respective power generator and determination of a calculated delay of the received voltage waveform from the synchronization module with a transmission of a timing signal to the synchronization module.
2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a communication network, wherein the controller communicates with the plurality of synchronization modules via the communication network.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the communication network is configured to communicate with the plurality of synchronization modules via the existing power grid.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein each synchronization module is associated with a meter module configured to sense electrical parameters of an electrical power distribution system associated with the existing power grid.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein each synchronization module is further configured to compute a frequency of a voltage waveform of the respective power generator using zero-crossing times of the voltage waveform.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is incorporated in one of the synchronization modules.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller time synchronizes the plurality of synchronization modules using Precise Time Protocol.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller further includes a control signal distribution module configured to send a control signal to each synchronization module to control when each synchronization module connects the respective power generator to the existing power grid.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the voltage waveform of a respective power generator is received from at least one of the plurality of synchronization modules with a timestamp.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the timestamp is determined from a GPS signal.
11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the timestamp is determined from an IRIG-B signal generating device coupled to each synchronization module.
12. The system of claim 2 , wherein the communication network is configured to communicate with the plurality of synchronization modules via at least one of Ethernet lines, telephone lines, satellite transmission, cellular transmission and WiFi transmission.
13. The system of claim 1 , wherein a time clock of the controller and a time clock of each of the plurality of synchronization modules are synchronized using Precise Time Protocol.
14. The system of claim 4 , wherein the meter module is configured to be coupled to the existing grid and the synchronization module is configured to be coupled to the generator.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the meter module is configured to determine power usage at the point of coupling to the existing power grid.
16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the meter module and synchronization module are incorporated into a single device.
17. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of a digital electrical power and energy meter, a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC), a Remote Terminal Unit, a protective relay and/or a fault recorder is incorporated into at least one of the plurality of synchronization modules.
18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the single device further includes a display configured to display at least one of an instantaneous phase, a frequency and/or phase angle difference values.
19. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured as a plug-n-play card disposed in a housing of one of the plurality of synchronization modules.
20. A controller in communication with a plurality of synchronization modules, each synchronization module corresponding to one of a plurality of power generators connected to transmission lines of an existing power grid, the controller comprising:
a status request module configured to transmit a request to each of the plurality of synchronization modules to obtain status of each of the plurality of synchronization modules, the status of each of the plurality of synchronization modules including a frequency of a voltage waveform and phase angle difference between the voltage waveform of a respective power generator and a voltage waveform of the existing power grid;
wherein the controller time synchronizes a phase of the voltage waveform of the respective power generator to a phase of the voltage waveform of the existing power grid based on a received voltage waveform from a synchronization module of a respective power generator and determination of a calculated delay of the received voltage waveform from the synchronization module with a transmission of a timing signal to the synchronization module.
21. The controller of claim 20 , wherein the controller time synchronizes the plurality of synchronization modules using Precise Time Protocol.
22. The controller of claim 20 , further comprising a control signal distribution module configured to send a control signal to each synchronization module to control when each synchronization module connects the respective power generator to the existing power grid.
23. The controller of claim 20 , wherein the voltage waveform of a respective power generator is received from at least one of the plurality of synchronization modules with a timestamp.
24. The controller of claim 23 , wherein the timestamp is determined from a GPS signal.
25. The controller of claim 23 , wherein the timestamp is determined from an IRIG-B signal generating device coupled to each synchronization module.
26. The controller of claim 20 , wherein the controller communicates with the plurality of synchronization modules via at least one of Ethernet lines, telephone lines, satellite transmission, cellular transmission and/or WiFi transmission.
27. The controller of claim 20 , wherein a time clock of the controller and a time clock of each of the plurality of synchronization modules are synchronized using Precise Time Protocol.
28. The controller of claim 20 , wherein the controller communicates with the plurality of synchronization modules via the transmission lines of the existing power grid.