GE Power LM6000 – Classic

Gas Power Systems Operation & Maintenance

SPD SYSTEM PACKAGE DESCRIPTION 016

Control System Description

TABLE OF CONTENTS

OVERVIEW ......................................................................................................................................................................... 2
SYSTEM DESCRIPTION .................................................................................................................................................. 2
PRO-BOOST....................................................................................................................................................................... 3
SPECIFICATIONS ............................................................................................................................................................. 4

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GE Power LM6000 – Classic
Gas Power Systems Operation & Maintenance

OVERVIEW

The Control System manages all critical operations of the LM6000 GTG. Operator interfaces
allow personnel to monitor and control the GTG. Please refer to GE drawing x-730014 in
Section 4 and vendor documentation in Section 5 of this manual to review the Turbine
Control Panel and Control System components in further detail.

SYSTEM DESCRIPTION

The overall control systems for the LM6000 GTG set include all individual turbine-generator
system monitoring and operating indicators, controls, and transmitters as well as the central
electronic control system. The TCP houses the majority of the control system equipment.
From the TCP, the operator can initiate the control system to perform automatic startup, fuel
management, load assumption, and system operation. Critical parameters are constantly
monitored and alarms or shutdowns are initiated automatically, as appropriate, for out-of-
tolerance conditions. Automatic fuel control and turbine sequencing are controlled by the
logic control system software and hardware. Refer to Figure 16.2, Control System Overview.

The Human-Machine Interface (HMI) displays turbine operations data and mimics screens. It
includes operator input and function pushbuttons. The ethernet switches are part of the unit
data highway (UDH) connecting the HMI server with the controllers and other unit control
equipment. The vibration monitoring system monitors the vibration levels at critical points
along the turbine- generator package. The fire suppression and gas detection system is
comprised of a panel that is linked to flame, temperature, and gas detection sensors inside
the turbine and generator compartments. The fire and gas system interfaces with the
turbine control system to provide the necessary engine shutdown, ventilation fan on/off
signals, and other operator messages.

The multifunction generator meter simplifies the monitoring and management of generator
electrical conditions and output. In addition to displaying generator output conditions,
control and alarm relays are programmed to activate alarms for measured output values.
The excitation controller is designed to control the excitation of the brushless generator. The
integrated generator protection system (IGPS) is a microprocessor-based digital relay system
that provides protection, control, and monitoring of the generator.

The Woodward Micronet Plus is a flexible controller that features high-speed, networked I/O.
Ethernet communications are used for I/O, controllers, and supervisory interface to operator
and maintenance stations and third party systems. A suite of software tools (Woodward
Control Assistant, Woodward GAP, Woodward Application Manager) are used for the
Micronet Plus and related controls as a common software platform for programming,
trending, and analyzing diagnostics. It provides a single source of quality, time-coherent
data at the controller and plant level for effectively managing equipment assets.

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GE Power LM6000 – Classic
Gas Power Systems Operation & Maintenance

The controller communicates with networked I/O over one or multiple real time networks.
The controller rack consists of the main processors and one or two power supplies. A real-
time, multitasking operating system is used for the main processor and I/O. Application
software is provided in a configurable control block language and is stored in non-volatile
memory.

Signal flow begins with a sensor connected to a terminal block on a board. The DIN rail-
mounted boards are arranged in vertical columns of high- and low-level wiring that can be
accessed from top and/or bottom cable entrances. The controllers are mounted in a PCI
rack and contain the main processors and the RTN bus master for communication with the
FTM’s. Boards are front-loaded, vertical, and held in position by their connectors with guides
on both sides and a faceplate that screws into the rack. Redundant power supplies are
provided for each rack.

The operator interface is commonly referred to as the HMI. It is a PC with a Microsoft®

Windows®-based operating system, client/server capability, an iFix graphics display system,
and software maintenance tools (Application/Control Assistant). System (process) alarms for
fault conditions are time tagged at frame rate in the controller(s) and transmitted to the HMI
alarm management system. System events are time tagged at frame rate alarms can be
sorted according to ID, time, and priority. A standard alarm/event log stores data for 30 days
and can be sorted in chronological order or according to the frequency of occurrence.

Data is displayed in English or Metric engineering units with a one second update rate and
one second to repaint a typical display graphic. Operator commands can be issued to
increment/ decrement a setpoint or a numerical value can be entered for a new setpoint.
Security for HMI users is important to restrict access to certain maintenance functions, such
as editors and tuning capability, and to limit certain operations. The User Accounts system is
provided to limit access or use of particular HMI features.

A composite diagnostic alarm state is provided in the database for each I/O and a separate
logic state is provided to indicate a high/low (hardware) limit fault of any analog input or the
associated communications for that signal. Diagnostic and system (process) alarms are
time-stamped in the controllers and transmitted to operator and maintenance stations.
Communication links to a plant DCS can contain both the software (system) diagnostics and
composite hardware diagnostics. Plant level control systems integrate the diagnostic data
from the individual turbine and generator controls with the overall plant. This allows
maintenance personnel to quickly identify the defective control node, switch, or station and
locate the particular device needing service.

PRO-BOOST

The Pro-Boost or SRMC (spinning reserve margin control) function is designed to provide a
boost in MW output during transmission system under-frequency conditions while the unit is
at base load.

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GE Power LM6000 – Classic
Gas Power Systems Operation & Maintenance

Pro-Boost is initiated by signals received from the utility grid’s high speed protective
monitoring system. Benefits include:

 Speed changes can be made much faster than they normally would be when using
governor droop signals (while at base load)
 Traditionally perceived light inertia disadvantage becomes a distinct advantage with
Pro-Boost

Transmission system operators strive to maintain interconnected grid frequency at 50 Hz at

all times. In the event of an unexpected loss of generation (such as a large steam turbine
generator trip), the same load remains on the system but the combined input of all the
connected generators is not enough to maintain system frequency at 50 Hz. As frequency
drops, signals are sent to increase the output of all on-line generators that are running at
reduced load (spinning reserve) in anticipation of this type of event. Spinning reserve
generators immediately increase MW output in order to collectively restore system
frequency to normal, and allow time for additional generators to be started and brought on-
line.

Inputs from the transmission grid monitoring system are received by Pro-Boost (SRMC), and
are polled at high speed for near instant recognition of required action. If the unit is at full
load when the signal is received, Pro-Boost (SRMC) will provide a rapid increase of an
additional 2 MW (maximum) to assist in grid frequency support.

The LM6000 Pro-Boost (SRMC) function operates automatically. When an under-frequency

signal is received, fuel is increased to provide an additional 2 MW (maximum) output for 12
seconds and then ramped back to nominal load over 8 seconds. The unit will remain there
for 8 minutes. If the transmission system under-frequency condition still exists after 8
minutes, the Pro-Boost SRMC will again increase output by a maximum of 2 MW for 12
seconds and then ramp back to nominal load over 8 seconds. The duration is long enough
to provide critical support during under-frequency conditions, yet not long enough to have
an adverse effect on the turbine’s hot gas path components.

SPECIFICATIONS
Please refer to the GE and supplier drawings located in Section 4 of this manual for a
complete list of the components and additional information on system specifications. Refer
also to the vendor publications in Section 5 of this manual for additional information on
vendor-supplied components. Pressures, temperatures, and alarm and shutdown set-points
can be found on the drawings.

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