Enercon's Evolution in gen-set control - Controls

Diesel Progress North American Edition, May, 2003 by Mike Osenga

Enercon Engineering Inc. has made its first foray into "off-the shelf" standardized power generation controls with the introduction of its new Evolution system. The introduction of the Evolution control, which is applicable on systems with generated voltages from 120/208 V through 15 kV, parallels Enercon's ongoing custom controls and switchgear businesses, and presages the East Peoria, III., launch of an Evolution SCADA system later this year.

The Evolution is typical of the new generation of control systems emerging in the electrical power generation markets as the analog-based systems from the 1980s continue to be replaced and remote communications becomes increasingly desirable.

According to Andy Ulavege, Enercon's marketing manager, the Evolution control design is a multiple mode generator control architecture that allows for a change of operating modes without adding significant components.

"In today's climate of changing utility rate structures, "Ulavege said, "the Evolution system provides the owner with solutions to operate generators m the most efficient mode based on their specific fuel costs and other operational considerations."

This is also the first time that Enercon has designed a control that not only can be used in the company's own switchgear, but also is available for use in other switchgear and control systems for both new installations and retrofits.

"The system can work with just about any governor or voltage regulator capable of parallel operation," Ulavege said, "in applications from standby to baseload paralleling with the utility." Attention was also paid to the physical size of the control console, he said, to fit into a smaller space and thus reducing the switchgear footprint.

"One of the other keys to the Evolution is that if an installation changes its type of operation, the controls can change with it, essentially through software changes and minor adjustments to the governor and/or voltage regulator," Ulavege said. "We think that flexibility is extremely important."

Six operational modes are available. The automatic standby mode controls utility and generator breakers providing automatic transfer operations. In baseload mode, the system loads the generator to the desired kW output level and maintains output regardless of system voltage fluctuations or the connected load level.

Other modes include automatic standby with load demand control and prime power with load demand control. In zero power transfer mode operation the system provides closed transition of power from the utility source to the generator and return, with all separations occurring at zero power flow across the breaker being controlled.

In the import/export mode, the controls provide a controlled power flow, import or export, across the utility incoming point and maintains this level with the generator output modulating in response to load changes.

The control has a touch-screen interface that includes individual screens for the main system, synchronizing, metering, generator protective relay functions, annunciation, data logging with date/time stamping and gateway.

Among the other features Enercon lists for the new Evolution system, which is in production, is gateway capability that allows monitoring from RTDs, thermocouples or an analog transducer. The gateway capabilities also include optional engine start/stop controls for units without factory controls, as well as Ethernet, web-based internet and other communications.

Evolution includes engine starting logic, as well as digital metering, and a digital timer and power settings for precision setup. Communication with the engine provided electronics both storage and display is also an option. *

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