Woodward Adds Gen-Set, Switchgear Control Products: Integrated gen-set controls, protective relays, digital synchronizer added line

Diesel Progress North American Edition, Nov, 2001 by Mike Osenga

Woodward's Industrial Controls business has significantly expanded the range of control products it offers to generator set packagers and switchgear manufacturers worldwide. There are seven new products in the extended line, all a result of a global product sales agreement Woodward signed earlier this year with Leonhard-Reglerbau, Stuttgart, Germany.

The new products in the line include three series of integrated gen-set controls, nine multifunction protective relay models and a digital synchronizer line. According to Paul Johnson, marketing manager for the Ft. Collins, Cob., business, the additional lines cover the full spectrum of generator applications from isolated power units to multi-unit utility parallel equipment. The new products are also designed to network with Woodward speed controls, actuators and similar on-engine products.

The first of the integrated gen-set controls is the GCP Series 10 designed for isolated power units. The new model GCP-l1 panel is designed as a complete engine and generator control, as well as control logic for one power circuit breaker. The GCP-l1 can provide engine start-stop control, and protects the engine from a variety of faults including speed.

The front panel displays generator and engine data, alarm and control LEDs, as well as a user keypad and a block diagram of the system. A serial interface allows the unit to be connected to an external modem.

All of the models of the GCP line are standard systems, but Johnson said that the units can be specified for major users or specific market or geographic requirements.

The GCP-12 panel is targeted for emergency and standby power applications and includes many of the features of the GCP-11, plus automatic mains failure operation and control logic for two power circuit breakers. In addition to the engine protection features, the GCP-12 is designed to monitor both the generator and utility for voltage and frequency.

The GCP Series 20 is also designed for emergency and standby power applications, but also controls the speed governor and voltage regulator to provide no-break transfer to and from the utility. The GCP-20 protects for voltage, current, frequency, active and reverse power, load imbalance and overload faults. The engine is monitored for speed, temperature and pressure.

The GCP-21 incorporates control and synchronizing logic for one circuit breaker and is applicable for isolated and mains parallel operation in standby, CHP and peak shaving uses, Woodward said. Additional protection features include phase shift and reduced power faults. The GCP-22 model adds control logic for two circuit breakers and provides mains failure detection and transfer switch control as well as no-break transfer and soft load functions.

The most powerful of the GCP line are the GCP-31 and GCP-32 models. Both are similar in function to the GCP-21 and GCP-22, but also include load sharing and kVAR sharing capabilities for multiple unit operation. These two models also incorporate a synchroscope on the front panel. Options include additional inputs and outputs, remote control, remote power set, and analog speed/voltage bias capabilities. A real-time clock and event recorder are also available.

The seven multifunction relay models in the MFR-1 line are designed to provide monitoring and protection for a wide range of power generation and distribution applications. Each of the models protects for the designated faults, monitors and displays the generator or utility a.c signals. This includes an ANSI 74 alarm relay and 3 output relays, and Woodward said the units can be configured via an RS-232 interface.

The base model in the line is the MFR-13/GP which is designed to provide generator protection for over- and under-voltage, over- and under-frequency voltage asymmetry plus reverse power, reduced power, overland, load imbalance, loss of excitation, cos phi, and independent overcurrent time protection. The MFR-13/GPX model adds a synch-check function and incorporates five additional relay outputs.

The MFR-15/SY adds synchronization control across one circuit breaker, active power and cos phi control, as well as external setpoint control and three configurable analog options. The MFR-15/SYN model adds load and VAR sharing across multiple units.

The model MFR-12/CP provides generator protection for independent overcurrent time, inverse time current, and calculated ground faults. The MFR-11/MP provides utility protection for over- and under-voltage, over- and under-frequency and voltage asymmetry faults. The MFR-ll/G59 includes the utility protection features of the MFR-ll/MP and adds protection for phase/vector shift and df/dt faults.

Also available from Woodward is the MFR-2/PSV multifunction relay which provides comprehensive generator and mains protection, as well as synchronization control logic for two circuit breakers.

As an important component in generator protection scheme, the ESDR4T relay provides current differential protection across a generator or a generator/transformer block.