Generator
Generator
(OP)
Hello forum members,
I am actually working in the far Africa and is being confronted with a strange scenario. We have on site two Cat engines Model 700, rated 635 k VA 400 V 50 Hz.One set was manufactured in 2005 and the second one in 2006.They have got identical nameplates data.
The two sets are actually being operated seperately and there is a very urgent need to parallel the two to cope with additional demand. However, the people on site are claiming that the sets are not designed to be paralleled as a Cat represenative, I presume a sales person,told them two years ago. I am opinion that there should not be a problem to parallel them as they are identical sets.The support in the country is vey poor not to say inexistent.
Any comment.
Guardiano
I am actually working in the far Africa and is being confronted with a strange scenario. We have on site two Cat engines Model 700, rated 635 k VA 400 V 50 Hz.One set was manufactured in 2005 and the second one in 2006.They have got identical nameplates data.
The two sets are actually being operated seperately and there is a very urgent need to parallel the two to cope with additional demand. However, the people on site are claiming that the sets are not designed to be paralleled as a Cat represenative, I presume a sales person,told them two years ago. I am opinion that there should not be a problem to parallel them as they are identical sets.The support in the country is vey poor not to say inexistent.
Any comment.
Guardiano






RE: Generator
You need to find the CAT tech support for your area. Far Africa does not really narrow it down.
Rafiq Bulsara
http://www.srengineersct.com
RE: Generator
I've paralleled just about every CAT generator set ever built, including most of the Olympian line. As noted above, the installed governor may not be suitable for paralleling, but there are several aftermmarket options, same with the voltage regulator.
I would recommend seeing if you can find a Woodward Governor Company rep for your area, Woodward has several solutions for paralleling gensets that are reasonable cost to retrofit. There are other possible providers, but I know Woodward has multiple options for CAT units.
Hope that helps.
RE: Generator
You are right M. Catserveng, the model nimber I gave is the one on the generator. The model number of the engine is C-18,the Ar No is 241-2422 and the DEM No is 241-2422. Both engines are identical.
Thanks again for your help.
Guardiano
RE: Generator
One thing that will prevent paralleling is governors set on isochronous mode. This is usually switchable. Run them both in droop mode and look into cross current compensation.
Bill
--------------------
"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter
RE: Generator
They can be manually paralleled in droop, but if these are new units, they were likely shipped with the CAT EMCP3 control panel, and adjusting the speed settings for load sharing doesn't work too well sometimes, so you could have problems "fine tuning" the load sharing.
These units likely did not ship with generator droop (or sometimes called cross current) CT's. So to properly parallel and share VAR's you will need to add a droop CT on each generator and adjust droop to 3-5% of rated voltage. Same issue with voltage control from the EMCP3, again "fine tuning" sometimes is difficult, but in droop mode it will likely drift a bit anyway.
I did a project with four C-18's about two years ago, they came from factory with generator droop CT's, we added Woodward GCP-30 controls for paralleling, load and VAR share. Worked pretty good.
Sometimes units going into Africa, the Middle East and Europe are packaged by FG Wilson in Ireland, and have Woodward controls installed instead of the stock CAT EMCP3 panel. If that is the case you may be able to parallel with those controls, but would need to verify part numbers and setup configuration.
Hope that helps.
RE: Generator
You need to order the panel to a reliable manufacturer who will test and commission it until your acceptance.
RE: Generator
But the bigger units aren't quite available at the big box stores.
RE: Generator
RE: Generator
Guardiano