SFC Control Circuit

Have you a considered a portable generator or UPS to supply the necessary startup power for a black start.

How often do you expect to need to do this and what level of power do you need?

The GT is an AEG Kanis Frame 9. The SFC should be rated at 2.9MW and 1.3KV. The SFC will be using input from the grid via a 6.6KV/1.3KV transformer under normal conditions (i.e. there is power available from the grid). Our management has asked us to provide a robust solution to use the same setup when the grid is unable to provide power (i.e. blackstart). I'm not sure how to go about it, frankly speaking, because thats a lot of power for a portable unit, unless we get a separate 3 MW deisel generator.

Appreciate any input.

In a similar case like this (but with sections of the power grid isolated in island mode) we would have a deal set up with a near by generator hire company(s) for generators available ready to pickup in the event of an emergency. It's cheaper than purchasing a few and linking them up in parallel and all you would need to provide is a transformer (and the protection and synchronising for paralleling them together).

Although there is likely to be a delay in getting and setting up the the generators (hours, possibly a day if far away) if the risk of a black start is low (which I think it is in this case) then it is the most cost effective solution I can think of. As an example, the 2.5MVA mobile generator connection unit we designed and built had the footprint of a 20 foot container and supported multiple parallel-connected 415V generators from 250KVA right up to 2MVA.

In the end its all down to cost vs benefit and risk analysis on which solution is going to be best for you in the long run.