GEK106910

April 1998
Replaces VARIGV00

GE Power
Systems
Gas Turbine

Variable Inlet Guide Vane System

I. GENERAL

Variable compressor inlet guide vanes (VIGV) are installed on the turbine to provide compressor pulsation
protection during startup and shutdown and also to be used during operation under partial load conditions. The
variable inlet guide vane actuator is a hydraulically actuated assembly having a closed feedback control loop
to control the guide vanes angle. The vanes are automatically positioned within their operating range in
response either to the control system exhaust temperature limits for normal loaded operation, or to the control
system pulsation protection limits during the start-up and shutdown sequences. On DLN units, the IGV angle
is modulated to control air flow to the combustors for DLN operation modes.

II. GUIDE VANE ACTUATION

The modulated inlet guide vane actuating system includes the following components: servo valve 90TV,
position sensors (LVDT) 96TV-1 and 96TV-2, and hydraulic dump valve VH3. These are shown on the trip oil
and IGV schematic diagrams in Volume III. When the inlet guide vane dump solenoid valve 20TV in the trip
oil circuit is energized, its drain ports are blocked thus allowing the trip oil to operate the dump valve VH3.
Actuation of the dump valve allows hydraulic oil to flow through servo valve 90TV. Control of 90TV will port
hydraulic oil through the dump valve to operate the variable inlet guide vane actuator.

For normal shutdown, inlet guide vane actuation is the reverse of the startup sequence; the compressor
bleed valves will open when the generator breaker is opened. The inlet guide vanes will ramp to the full
closed position as a function of temperature corrected speed.

In the event of a turbine trip, the compressor bleed valves will open and the inlet guide vanes will ramp
to the closed position as a function of temperature corrected speed.

III. PULSATION PROTECTION CONTROL

The inlet guide vanes are automatically positioned during a start-up and a shutdown sequence to avoid
gas turbine compressor pulsation. The pulsation limit is expressed as a function of IGV angle and
corrected speed, shown by the broken line on Figure 1. Corrected speed is a compressor design parameter
that is a func-tion of the actual running speed of the compressor and the inlet air temperature. The control
system utilizes the measured variables of turbine speed and ambient temperature to determine the IGV
angle and automati-cally modulate them to that position.

These instructions do not purport to cover all details or variations in equipment nor to provide for every possible
contingency to be met in connection with installation, operation or maintenance. Should further information be desired or
should particular problems arise which are not covered sufficiently for the purchaser's purposes the matter should be
referred to the GE Company. 1998 GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
GEK106910 Variable Inlet Guide Vane System

Full Open (Max. Angle)

Minimum Full Speed Angle

Rotating
Stall
Region

Corrected Speed % 100 Load 100

Figure 1. IGV Angle vs Corrected Speed and Load.

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Variable Inlet Guide Vane System GEK106910

IV. EXHAUST TEMPERATURE CONTROL

For applications such as a regenerative cycle or where there is a steam generator (boiler) in the gas
turbine exhaust, it is desirable to maximize the exhaust temperature. The control program for such
turbines includes an exhaust temperature control which automatically holds the IGV at a minimum angle
during part-load op-erations. A switch is provided to permit the operator to select this mode of operation.

V. OPERATION

During a normal start-up, the inlet guide vanes are held in the full-closed position (see the Control
Specifica-tions in this service manual for settings) until the proper temperature-corrected speed is
reached. At this time, the guide vanes will begin to open. A graphic representation of this action is shown
in Figure 1. The compres-sor bleed valves, which must operate in conjunction with the VIGVs to
maintain compressor surge margin during startup, will close when the generator breaker is closed.

When the VIGV temperature control mode is not activated, the guide vanes are held at the minimum full-
speed angle until the simple cycle VIGV exhaust temperature is reached. This temperature is the constant
CSKGVSSR. As the exhaust temperature rises, a value computed as the product of constant CSKGVTPG
times the difference between the actual exhaust temperature TTXM and CSKGVSSR is added to the
mini-mum angle, causing the VIGVs to open until they reach the maximum angle. This sets a minimum
load which the unit must reach before the VIGVs are allowed to open. This is necessary to avoid
combustion resonance and must not be changed.

For applications which require part load exhaust temperature control operation, the guide vanes are
switched to the ªIGV temp control Onº with a soft switch. In this mode the VIGVs remain at the
minimum full operat-ing position until the base exhaust temperature limit is reached. At this point, they
begin to open to hold the exhaust temperature at this limit until they are full open when the exhaust
temoerature control reverts to fuel modulation. In order to keep the fuel control and IGV control from
trying to act simultaneously, a fuel control bias is added to keep the fuel line slightly above the VIGV
line. This bias is the product of constant CSKGVBG times the difference between the maximum VIGV
angle (constant CSKGVMAX) and the VIGV reference CSRGV. This bias becomes zero when the
VIGVs are fully open and the fuel temperature control takes over.

The operator can activate or deactivate the VIGV temperature control mode at any time via the panel soft
switches. The control system will automatically reprogram the VIGVs to the correct position at a
controlled rate. Manual open/close soft switches are provided to allow the operator to manually position
the VIGVs between the minimum full speed angle and full Open. This control should only be used in
special circum-stances to limit the travel (amount opened). The manual control is limited to command an
angle only when less than that being called for by the automatic control system. In normal operation, the
manual control is set at full open. For applications requiring steam turbine warmup, the operator can
select a desired exhaust temperature and the IGV's will modulate to achieve the setpoint. Refer to the
control sequence program for a detailed representation of the VIGV software.

VI. FAULT PROTECTION

The guide vane protection system will trip solenoid valve 20TV, initiate a fast normal shutdown and
annunci-ate if there is low hydraulic supply pressure, or the LVDT feedback is different from command,
or IGV posi-tion trouble is indicated. Should the inlet guide vane system be tripped under and one of the
above conditions, the SPEEDTRONIC sequencing logic generates a signal which is used in the start
check circuit to prevent any attempt to restart the turbine prior to eliminating the cause for the trip.

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GEK 106910 Variable Inlet Guide Vane System

The primary IGV fault signal is generated by the ªIGV not following CSRGVº algorithm, L86GVT. This
algorithm compares the difference between the VIGV position feedback CSGV and the reference signal
CSRGV to generate alarm signal, L86GVA if the IGV is not following the reference within the value of
LK86GVA1 given in the Control Specifications Settings. The alarm signal is annunciated if the
difference persists for time LK86GVA2 specified in the Control Specifications Settings. During part
speed operation, a trip signal L86GVT is generated if the VIGV position feedback CSGV does not agree
with the speed refer-ence CSRGV within the value of LK86GVT1 and for a time of LK86GVT2 given in
the Control Specifica-tions Settings. Trip signal L86GVT will deenergize 20TV, trip the turbine and
annunciate an alarm. During full-speed operation, trip logic L4GVTX will alarm and trip the turbine if
the VIGV feedback CSGV falls below a minimum allowable full-speed value LK4IGVTX.

GE Power Systems

General Electric Company