GENERATOR ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT

1) EXCITERS AND EXCITATION EQUIPMENT

The excitation system will normally be supplied with the generator.

ELECTRONIC EXCITERS: Modern excitation systems are solid state and, in recent years, most have digital control systems.

2) GENERATOR NEUTRAL GROUNDING

The generator neutral is never connected directly to ground. The method used to limit the phase to ground fault current to a value equal to or less than the three-phase fault current is determined by the way the generator is connected to the power system. If the generator is connected directly to the power system, a resistor or inductor connected between the neutral of the generator and ground will be used to limit the ground fault current. If the generator is connected to the power system through a transformer in a unit configuration, the neutral of the generator may be connected to ground through a distribution transformer with a resistor connected across the secondary of the transformer. The phase-to-ground fault current can be limited to 5 to 10 A using this method.

3) ISOLATED PHASE BUS

The generator is usually connected to the step-up transformer through an isolated phase bus. This separated phase greatly limits the possibility of a phase-to-phase fault at the terminals of the generator.