Category: GE

Controllers

Now, excitation shares the same controller with Mark VIe

application-based turbine and plant controls. These single

board controllers offer flexible, compact packaging and more

computing power for advanced control features to enhance

grid dynamics and generator performance. In addition, the

stand-alone controllers can be easily upgraded for better life

cycle support of the equipment.

I/O Interface

The controllers communicate to the I/O interface through a

100 MB Ethernet I/O network that can be extended for

remote I/O modules. The large, inflexible I/O cables of the

EX2100 are eliminated. Since there are less electronics in an

EX2100e, a smaller spare parts inventory is needed. Similarly,

less active electronics increases the mean-time-between

failure (MTBF) and improves system reliability.

Controllers, I/O interface, and the bridge(s) are mounted

inside the EX2100e cabinet. Only an optional touchscreen

panel remains on the door for local control and display of

generator parameters along with alarm history and alarm/fault help.

EX2100e and EX2100 Excitation Controls Comparison

The EX2100e Excitation system is GE Energy’s advanced

platform for generator excitation controls.  The EX2100e

builds on the EX2100 experience of over 700 units in gas,

steam, and hydro applications (for new units and upgrades) in

addition to GE’s 50 years of experience with over 6.000

excitation systems in 70 countries.

The EX2100e has enhanced technology, including a new

controller from the Mark* VIe control line and the current

ControlST* software suite.  In addition, the EX2100e offers a

35A brushless dual redundant regulator option for cost

effective reliability.

Controllers

Now, excitation shares the same controller with Mark VIe

application-based turbine and plant controls. These single

board controllers offer flexible, compact packaging and more

computing power for advanced control features to enhance

grid dynamics and generator performance. In addition, the

stand-alone controllers can be easily upgraded for better life

cycle support of the equipment.

Dedicated Excitation Retrofit Experts

GE Vernova provides a full range of services and support

capabilities for the EX2100e excitation systems:

• Hardware, software and integration engineering

• Application expertise to support custom solutions

• Installation design and documentation packages

• Single point system responsibility – PPT, cable, bus,

networks, enclosures

• Comprehensive PSS and Modeling services

and documentation

• Project management, installation and

commissioning services

• Nuclear grade retrofit packages and DCN support

Life Cycle Support

GE Vernova offers System Service Agreements (SSAs) and

Multi-Year Agreements (MYAs) designed to reduce the risk

and cost of maintaining your system. Subscribers benefit from

our expertise and a true partnership in the maintenance and

servicing of control systems. Service Agreement costs are

predictable, simplifying annual maintenance budgets, and

provide a proactive approach to maintenance that reduces

the risk of forced outages.

Life Cycle Support

GE Vernova offers System Service Agreements (SSAs) and

Multi-Year Agreements (MYAs) designed to reduce the risk

and cost of maintaining your system. Subscribers benefit from

our expertise and a true partnership in the maintenance and

servicing of control systems. Service Agreement costs are

predictable, simplifying annual maintenance budgets, and

provide a proactive approach to maintenance that reduces

the risk of forced outages.

Dedicated Excitation Retrofit Experts

GE Vernova provides a full range of services and support

capabilities for the EX2100e excitation systems:

• Hardware, software and integration engineering

• Application expertise to support custom solutions

• Installation design and documentation packages

• Single point system responsibility – PPT, cable, bus,

networks, enclosures

• Comprehensive PSS and Modeling services

and documentation

• Project management, installation and

commissioning services

• Nuclear grade retrofit packages and DCN support

Cybersecurity

Upgrading to GE Vernova’s suite of security products allows

you to take advantage of our comprehensive cybersecurity

solutions, helping reduce your risk and ensure maximum

uptime. With over 10 years of industrial network protection

experience and hundreds of installations worldwide, our

cybersecurity solutions provide defense-in-depth protection

and have undergone strict cybersecurity best practices

demonstrating to customers that systems are developed

and implemented securely. The SecurityST platform and

GE Vernova’s Validated Patching Program are designed to

support the plant operation’s compliance to cybersecurity

standards and guidelines including NERC CIP, NEI 08-09 and

ISA99/IEC 62443.

Software

The ControlST software suite is comprised of several

high performance tools for ease of use by operators and

maintenance personnel. These include the WorkstationST*

software for management of HMI and Historian functions, the

ToolboxST application for configuration and diagnostics, and

a CIMPLICITY graphics user interface. Seamless integration

provides direct connectivity from parameters on operator

screens to their corresponding alarm history, trends, logic

diagrams, watch windows, and browsers.

Software tools include system diagrams with signal flow,

sequencing, and regulator control within the excitation

control. The diagrams display variables and their values in

engineering units and in real time. Parameters shown in the

diagrams can be modified.

The flexible communication architecture enables connectivity

to other plant control systems through standard protocols

and interfaces.

Intuitive features – powerful ToolboxST software, with

modern drag-and-drop type editors, industry leading

trender with video type forward-reverse-freeze capability,

and code-compare tools.

Comprehensive software libraries – drawing upon years

of OEM experience to ensure safety-related software

updates are delivered as well as built-in generator simulator for training.

I/O expandability – flexible and modular architecture allows

for future growth of capabilities and applications.

Additional capabilities available

Additional options are available with the EX2100e DFE

migration, including a power system stabilizer to meet

system grid connect requirements. Other added features and

protective functions include:

• Autotracking regulators

• PT failure throw-over

• Temperature biasing

• Volts per hertz limit

• Over excitation limit

• Under reactive ampere limit

• Under excitation limit

Benefits of EX2100e Technology

Improved performance – through a precise control and

protection system that maintains unit stability and enhances

operational flexibility.

Maintenance efficiency improvements – a simplified

architecture that shares technology with turbine and plant

controls for improved lifecycle management support and

reduced obsolescence.

Increased operational productivity − user-friendly HMI

graphics, alarm/event management, and trending leading to

improved operator recognition and resolution of system faults.

Enhanced data capture and analysis tools support regulatory

requirements.

Improved flexibility − wide range of configurations for mixed

generator fleets with redundancy options to fit application

and budget demands.

Improved reliability – available TMR controller redundancy

provides 2-out-of-3 voting to improve reliability and eliminate

single-point communication failures within the control.

To process application software, two independent Universal Controller Stand-alone Board

Version B (UCSB) controllers, with separate PCMs and an output selector module (SCM

or TCM), provide the dc output current for the exciter field (or SCTcontrol winding).

The active power bridge receives the gating commands from the active control (M1 or

M2), and supports the full-field voltage and current needs of the exciter field while the

backup power bridge’s gating circuit is inhibited. The operator has full control to select

which of the dual power bridges is active or inactive. Bi-directional, bumpless transfer

between active and inactive bridges is standard. The active master can also self-diagnose

a failure or missed operation and activate the backup control and power bridge without

operator intervention.

The control includes M1 (Master

One) and M2 (Master Two), with two IGBT bridges that can accept separate or shared ac

input power. The control configuration can also share a common dc output circuit to the

exciter field through the transfer module. M1 and M2 are independent controls, each with

automatic and manual regulator functions. Either M1 or M2 can control bridge firing, as

determined by the operator.

DualControl (Power Bridge Warm Backup)

The EX2100e Regulator system is available in a warm backup (WBU) configuration,

which includes dual exciter control I/O and protection. The control includes M1 (Master

One) and M2 (Master Two), with two IGBT bridges that can accept separate or shared ac

input power. The control configuration can also share a common dc output circuit to the

exciter field through the transfer module. M1 and M2 are independent controls, each with

automatic and manual regulator functions. Either M1 or M2 can control bridge firing, as

determined by the operator. In the WBU configuration, M1 controls bridge #1. and M2

controls bridge #2.

To process application software, two independent Universal Controller Stand-alone Board

Version B (UCSB) controllers, with separate PCMs and an output selector module (SCM

or TCM), provide the dc output current for the exciter field (or SCTcontrol winding).