Power generation
Stone Power Technologies
Builds gas turbine power-generation systems.
Turbine control panel
Replacing a gas turbine's mechanical controls with a programmable controller and a separate hardwired trip circuit.
- Application
- gas turbine generator set
- Scope
- one turbine control panel
- Platform
- AutomationDirect Do-more BRX
- Supply
- 120VAC, single phase
- Enclosure
- Type 4, for trailer mounting
Stone Power was replacing a gas turbine's mechanical fuel controls with a programmable controller (PLC). The team brought the operating requirements, a list of input and output signals, and a protection-circuit diagram. We designed and built the panel around an AutomationDirect BRX controller.
Stone Power kept the PLC program and turbine equipment in its scope. Our work covered the cabinet, electrical design, and connections to that equipment.
Keeping the trip circuit hardwired
The PLC handles normal turbine control. Separate speed and exhaust-temperature instruments provide contacts for the hardwired protection circuit, alongside the emergency stop.
Those contacts feed a Dold safety relay. The controller's valve commands pass through the protection contacts, so the circuit is designed to close the gas stop valves and open the vent valve on a trip without a shutdown command from the PLC. Control and protection each have their own 24VDC supply.
From a protection diagram to a finished panel
We turned Stone Power's diagram into detailed circuit and field-wiring drawings, including branch protection, power distribution, and the valve interfaces.
The cabinet houses the BRX controller and expansion modules, four magnetic-pickup signal conditioners for the speed signals, and mechanical relays for the valve circuits. The speed and exhaust-temperature instruments mount in the door. The starter motor and ignition power stay outside the cabinet; the panel provides command contacts for that equipment.
We built the assembly in a Type 4 enclosure for trailer mounting. The finished panel came with as-built circuit diagrams, a cabinet layout, terminal connections, and a field wiring list showing how it connects to Stone Power's turbine equipment.
“We came to Blitzpanel with a mission critical, program pacing design, and they delivered faster than anyone else, on time, and with superb quality. They were incredibly communicative, professional and a joy to work with. We will be loyal customers as we scale our systems significantly in number and size.”
