Generator Pitch and Associated Concerns When Paralleling Generators

Though a basic design element, generator pitch is a term often unfamiliar to users due to the extent of standardization within regions of the world. Because of standardization, pitch requirements may be omitted from generator specifications. Familiarization with generator pitch can therefore come as a crash course after equipment data sheets arrive for a generator of foreign construction. This paper will describe generator pitch along with other generator design criteria that affect output harmonics. For situations where it is impossible to achieve harmonic compatibility of sources, installation recommendations are provided that address control of harmonic driven circulating currents.