Power Generation – On-Site Power Systems
The uninterrupted power supply is critical to sustain a variety of businesses and industry needs including hospitals, data centers, telecommunications, office buildings and supermarkets, among others. On-site backup (standby) power generation is specified and installed to power these installations during power failures. On-site generation is also used to provide electrical power when the grid is not available, insufficient or based on favorable business (cost) models. This course presents the fundamental concepts of engine drive on-site power generation, design, controls and protections, and key code requirements, together with related application considerations to drive a successful design project.
This course can be applied to the Electrical Engineering Certificate.
Benefits and Learning Outcomes
- Understand the operating principles, controls and protections specific to engine drive on-site power generation
- Learn the application requirements and how to address them for successful and reliable design and installation
- Become familiar with the applicable core requirements and specific considerations. Be able to expand your search in case of any specific needs
Course Outline/Topics
1. Operating Principles and Design
- Power generation model and induction theory. Operation and top-level controls
- Engine-alternator model describing power generation, conversion and basic controls (speed and voltage)
- Power generation systems. Electrical power systems downstream of the alternator
2. Mechanical Design
- Engine systems and design requirements
- Fuel system
- Building considerations
3. Engine Controls
- Engine protections and shutdowns
- Battle-Short mode
- Speed control – engine governor
4. Electrical Design
- Power system: Power connection and protections
- Low and Medium-voltage: Differences and considerations
- Alternator: Operation and controls
- Instrument transformers: Voltage and current. Measurement vs protective relaying (ANSI Class)
- DC systems: Engine controls, peripheral dc systems
5. Electrical Controls
- Critical electrical protections for power generation
- Differential protection
- Ground fault
- Over current
- Reverse power
- Under frequency
- Over / under voltage
- RTD’s ANSI numbers
- Protective relays: Overview of dedicated relays (SEL)
6. Electrical Power Output
- Power disconnect – Over Current protection: Short circuit current calculations
- Flexible power connections. Vibration and relative movement. Seismic and other considerations
- Selective coordination
- Service entrance requirements
- Power transfer: Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS) and types of transfers
- Switchgear: Types, construction and specifications. Design considerations
7. Equipment Selection and Sizing
- Alternator selection
- Temp rise method
- NEMA standard
8. Code Requirements
- Key design consideration and applicable codes
- NEC
- NEMA
- ISO
- UL
9. Applications
- Electrical loads and impact
- Resistive, inductive and power factor correction
- Motor starting
- ISO power duty cycles
- Standby power systems
- Prime power systems
10. Paralleling Systems: A Special Application Case
- Power triangle
- Controls and protections
- Power system
11. Electrical Safety
- Grounding/bonding
- Arc-Flash
- PPE
Dates and locations to be announced.
