Cogeneration

[nightfox1925]

Can anybody provide any useful link on operation of STGs or CGTGs in parallel with a Utility Source? I am trying to get information on how the generators are being controlled in parallel with the Grid and what basic control and monitoring parameters required.

GO PLACIDLY, AMIDST THE NOISE AND HASTE-Desiderata

 

[Marmite]

There are lots of technical papers available on Basler's website, not specifically related to Cogen but interesting all the same.

http://www.basler.com/html/dwntech.htm#PowerGen

Regards
Marmite

 

[catserveng]

You can try the Woodward site,

http://www.woodward.com/power/default.cfm

 

[jtkirb]

Engines in parallel with the utility will not vary in speed, so you need a loading control to monitor power output to bias the speed controller up or down to maintain a specified power output.

Woodward is the leader in this area (at least for smaller generators).

Connecting to a utility has quite a few headaches and load control is one of the least problematic.

jtkirb

 

[EEJaime]

Different utilities require different protective relaying packages so it would behoove you to check with the utility in question. Many utilities really, really, do not like to parallel. We have a 12 Mw co-gen plant that has been operating for almost 15 years now at a local hospital and the local utility hates us. They are under a grandfathered contract that sells power back to the utility when the loads are less than the generated power and the utility has to buy it back at a "deferred facilities" rate which saves the hospital a ton of money on their annual energy costs.

It is also helpfull for the system payback if you have a good use for the heat energy developed by the co-gen plant. Much of the hospital's steam load, and chilled water load is fed from the co-gen plant in our case.

I don't know your location, but in our area, (Southern California) , an extremely knowledgeable source for the switchgear and controls is Russelectric.

 

[mikhe]

Most genset manufacturers can do this very effectively. Some things to consider are do you want base load or peak lopping, do you want it to run island mode when grid fail, do you want auto re-sync on grid returns. Do you need non critical loads to be removed during grid outage. Do you want to export or prevent export. All these things are standard (although costly) in all industrial genset providers. i.e cummins, cat , jenbacher.