Microturbine employs Ethernet ring to eliminate points of failure

Phoenix Contact has teamed up with Capstone Turbine to develop PowerSync controllers for microturbines. The new design is aimed at making the Capstone microturbines easier to use for both end-user customers as well as Capstone’s distribution partners.

The new controllers, based on Phoenix Contact’s AXC 3050 programmable logic controller (PLC), boost the reliability and availability of the Capstone microturbines by utilizing a self-healing Ethernet ring to eliminate single points of failure in the control network.

The PowerSync controllers include algorithms to maximize overall system efficiency and adjust the operation of individual microturbines in order to align with their predictive schedule service dates. And that makes microturbines intuitive and easy to use.

Additionally, these controllers provide seamless transfer capabilities, ensuring that end-users’ loads don’t lead to any interruption in operation in the event of a utility power outage. Finally, the controllers can also be customized according to the requirements of site-specific equipment.