Elmec Engineering Ltd. has successfully completed the design,installation and commissioning of the Control System for a 14 MW 12.5 kV Standby Power Plant located in the Delano Municipal Utilities Facility, Delano, Minnesota. The Generator is powered by a Rolls Royce Spey Mk 1900 Industrial Gas Turbine engine coupled to a Cooper Bessemer RT45 2-stage Power Turbine. The installation is unique in that it included an aircraft JFS 100 gas turbine starter and an aircraft HP liquid fuel system. Fuel Valve control was accomplished by an Elmec designed stepper motor control system. This unit is Delano's first Turbine Generator to complement their existing fleet of 7 Diesel Gen-sets, and brings their effective peak capacity to 22 Mega-Watts.  

RR Spey Mk 1900 Gas turbine with JFS 100 Aircraft starter

This Generator will be used as a Standby unit, in conjunction with their diesel units, and for Peaking service to the Main Utility Grid. The city has been growing quickly and were in need of greater generating capacity. They elected to install a Gas Turbine Generator to meet their present and near future requirements.

The Main processor is a GE Fanuc 90-30 PLC, and is configured on it's own LAN to allow multiple control and monitoring locations. The HMI screens were programmed using the GE Automation Cimplicity View software. Elmec Engineering introduced further enhancements to allow remote monitoring and programming upgrades from 2000 miles away, saving the client money on field commissioning costs. 

The Spey engine and Power Turbine were supplied by S&S Turbine Services in Fort St John, BC, Canada. The gas turbine was originally fitted for Natural Gas fuel, however delivery of the NG to site was an expensive option. In liquid fuel service it has been fired on both #1 and #2 diesel. For further information on the services offered by S&S Turbine Services, contact Robin Sipe rsipe@solarwinds.com or visit the company website www.ssturbine.com 

Many Utilities are exploring the use of totally overhauled used equipment upgraded with modern controls to provide economical standby power for their Jurisdictions. The Simple Cycle efficiency is greater than 33% and the installed cost is less than 50% of a same rated new system. The Delano installation was packaged in a former location as a 10MW Unit when coupled to a RR Avon mark 1533 Gas Turbine. Upgrading to the Spey Mk 1900 Turbine package boosted the rated output from 10MW to the rated capacity of the Generator ( 14MW at .94 Power Factor) 

The tests performed in late July, and then September, 2002 have confirmed that even in the heat of the summer the output has reached 11.6 MW. 

Elmec Engineering is currently working at upgrading the control system to include automating the existing diesel engines in the plant. 

For further information regarding this control system installation, or any of the upgrade services Contact: Steve Gyabronka, P.Eng, President, or Leo Vanderbyl, Project Manager                 

Elmec Engineering Ltd.
Phone: (604) 985-4721 Fax: (604)985-3687 E-Mail: elmec@ivancouver.com