Regulation of A-C generators with suddenly applied loads

H. G. Rickover (captain, United States Navy, Bureau of Ships, Washington, D. C.): The problem of voltage regulation of a-c generators under suddenly applied loads is of considerable importance in the design of ship´s service power systems on naval vessels. On shipboard the requirements for minimum weight, size, and complexity of electric equipment make it necessary to start relatively large motors across the line to avoid the use of reduced-voltage starting equipment as much as possible. For this reason and because of the necessity of maintaining close tolerances on the system voltage disturbances, the generator voltage regulation is an important factor in the system design, and definite limitations always have been specified on the transient reactance of a-c generators built for naval service.