SPECIFICATIONS
Part No.: DS200FCGDH1BTMGE
Manufacturer: General Electric
Country of Manufacture: United States of America (USA)
Size: 8.26 cm high x 4.19 cm wide x 12.1 cm deep
Technology: Surface-mount
Temperature Operating: -30 to 65oC
Product Type: Gate Distribution and Status Card
Availability: In Stock
Series: LCI
Functional Description
DS200FCGDH1BTMGE is a Gate Distribution and Status Card developed by GE. It is a part of LCI innovation series. The Gate Distribution and Status Card (FCGD) is an interface board designed specifically for managing a 6-pulse phase-controlled non-reversing bridge. Its primary function is to receive SCR firing information from the DSPC – the VME processor board and to return feedback and diagnostic information via the VME backplane. This communication enables precise control and monitoring of SCRs within the bridge, ensuring effective operation and robust diagnostics.
Features
- Decode and distribute cell gating signals for each bridge leg. This ensures that each SCR receives the appropriate gating signal, maintaining the correct phase control necessary for the bridge's operation. Additionally, the board receives multiplexed cell status signals from each bridge leg, allowing it to monitor the status of individual cells and facilitating detailed diagnostics and troubleshooting.
- Italso plays a crucial role in handling bridge feedback signals. It receives and scales various feedback parameters, including voltage, frequency, and current, and sends this information back to the DSPC board. This feedback loop provides comprehensive status information that is essential for effective system monitoring and control.
- Overall, the card enhances control precision and system reliability. Its ability to manage SCR firing with high accuracy ensures the efficient operation of the 6-pulse phase-controlled bridge. The board's robust diagnostic capabilities allow for proactive maintenance, minimizing potential downtime. By integrating voltage, frequency, and current status signals into the feedback loop, it supports comprehensive monitoring of the bridge's operational parameters, which is crucial for maintaining system stability and performance. This makes the FCGD a key component in industrial power systems, electric drives, power converters, renewable energy systems, and high-performance computing applications, where precise power management and reliability are critical.
System Heartbeat
- The system heartbeat is a crucial periodic signal generated by an electronic component to indicate that it is functioning correctly. On the Gate Distribution and Status Card (FCGD), the system heartbeat register is specifically designed to support this function. When the VME host CPU writes to this register for the first time, it initiates the board-level heartbeat, which then starts counting at the same rate as the system clock. This process is visually confirmed by the illumination of a green LED on the front of the board, labeled "IMOK" (I am okay), signaling that the board is operating normally.
- The heartbeat mechanism serves as a continuous health check for the board. The value in the heartbeat register is monitored, and if it exceeds a predefined design limit (e.g., 8 milliseconds), it indicates a potential issue. In such a case, the system takes immediate corrective action by turning off both the IMOK light and the gating signals, effectively halting the board's operation to prevent further errors or damage.
- To restore normal functionality, a hard reset of the system is required. This reset process clears the condition that caused the heartbeat register to exceed its limit and reinitializes the board's operation. The heartbeat mechanism thus ensures that any failure or malfunction is quickly identified and mitigated, maintaining the overall reliability and stability of the system.
Cell Status Feedback
- Equipped with a sophisticated cell status feedback system, which plays a crucial role in monitoring and maintaining the health and performance of the bridge system. This feedback is obtained through fiber-optic connections from three Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) boards. These high-speed, reliable connections ensure that data is transmitted with minimal delay and is resistant to electromagnetic interference, which is essential for maintaining the integrity of the signals in industrial environments.
- The feedback signals comprise two main sets of leg cell status signals. These signals provide detailed information about the operational status of each cell within the bridge legs, enabling to monitor performance parameters and detect any anomalies or malfunctions. In addition to the leg cell status signals, the feedback also includes power supply status signals. These signals are critical for ensuring that the power supply is functioning correctly and that the cells are receiving the appropriate power levels required for optimal performance.
- All this information is combined into a single 16-bit value, which efficiently encapsulates the status of both the leg cells and the power supply. This 16-bit value is then stored in a cell status register. The register acts as a repository for the real-time status information, making it readily accessible for further processing and analysis by the system.
- The consolidated cell status feedback enables the system to quickly assess the health of the bridge components. By continuously monitoring the feedback signals, the FCGD can promptly identify and respond to issues such as cell failures, power supply anomalies, or other operational irregularities. This proactive approach helps in minimizing downtime and maintaining the overall reliability and efficiency of the system.
- Moreover, the detailed status feedback allows for more precise control and management of the bridge system. By having accurate, real-time information on the status of each cell and the power supply, the system can make informed decisions on adjustments or interventions required to maintain optimal performance. This ensures that the bridge operates within its designed parameters, providing consistent and reliable performance across various operating conditions.
The WOC team is always available to help you with your LCI requirements. For more information, please contact WOC.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is DS200FCGDH1BTMGE?
It is a gate distribution and status card developed by GE under the LCI series.
What are the fiber-optic firing signal transmitters?
The fiber-optic firing signal transmitters are components controlled by the Gate Distribution and Status Card (FCGD) that send firing signals to the Silicon-Controlled Rectifiers (SCRs) in a bridge system. These transmitters ensure precise and reliable control of the SCRs by using fiber-optic technology to transmit signals.
How are the fiber-optic firing signal transmitters controlled?
The transmitters are controlled by a firing mask register. This register contains six entries, each corresponding to one of the six cell strings in a bridge. The firing mask register determines which transmitters are active at any given time.
How many fiber-optic transmitters can the FCGD control simultaneously?
It can turn on up to six fiber-optic transmitters at one time, corresponding to the six cell strings in the bridge. This allows for comprehensive control over the firing signals sent to the SCRs.
How is the firing mask register updated?
The contents of the firing mask register can be written directly by the host CPU over the VME bus connection. This means the host CPU has full control over which fiber-optic transmitters are activated by updating the entries in the firing mask register.
Why is fiber-optic technology used for firing signals?
Fiber-optic technology is used because it provides several advantages, including high-speed data transmission, immunity to electromagnetic interference, and the ability to transmit signals over long distances without significant loss. These benefits ensure reliable and accurate control of the SCRs.