4. Distributed Control Eliminating the Synchronizing Panel
Fig. 3 illustrates a conventional switchboard arrangement, where a synchronizing panel set is placed between generator panels, and instruments, switches, indicator lamps, andother components required to control generators are gathered on the synchronizing panel.
This arrangement was popular and widely accepted.
Fig.3
Fig.4
The consideration for operational ease would involve the arrangement as shown in Fig. 3, where aset of a manual and an automatic synchronizing panels is installed to run generators in parallel. But this arrangement had disadvantages that a large amount of wiring is inevitable between panels and a fault in a synchronizing panel may affect all generators, leading to problems in wiringcost and operational reliability.
GAC-16M, a distributed control system developed by Terasaki this time, comprises GAC-16MG's, controllers which control individual generators independently, andGAC-16MC, a management device which performs comprehensive control, as shown in Fig. 2. This system offers distributed control to generators and enables basic control tasks including synchronous closing of generators to be done by generator panels, thereby eliminating the need for synchronizing panels.
Fig. 4 illustrates a switchboard arrangement without synchronizing panels.
