Professional Development Seminar Series

Generac Industrial Power has one of the best GPS seminars currently available. The course descriptions below outline everything you will be learning if you sign up for this professional development seminar.

GPS – 100 Generator Sizing
Presents methods and calculations for proper sizing of engine-generators. Explores the alternator and engine responses to different types of loads. Presents different techniques to optimize enginegenerator performance.

GPS – 110 Generator Switching
Discusses performance criteria used to select transfer switches to connect engine-generator power into loads. Explores different grounding considerations and techniques for different applications, plus the selection of overcurrent protection and transfer switch controls.

GPS – 120 Paralleling Concepts & Implementation
Introduces generator paralleling and basic concepts of paralleling engine-generators to form larger power systems. Emphasizes paralleling controls for load sharing (real and reactive power), synchronization and protection of paralleled systems. Discusses control integration, elimination of serial reliability paths and the advantages of parallel power systems over traditional single engine-generator solutions.

GPS – 130 Understanding Generator Reliability
Explores strategies for value engineering projects through utilization of best available technologies and innovations without sacrificing overall power system reliability. Provides guidelines for selection of the system best suited to meet the project’s cost, reliability and performance criteria. Establishes measures for determination of reliability and provides tools to establish reliability criteria for overall engine generator power system.

GPS – 140 National Electrical® Code (NEC®)
Presents reasons for standby power generation from the Electrical Code perspective. Explains the various articles and requirements covering standby power generation.

GPS – 150 Generator UL Listing & NFPA Standards
Introduces Underwriters Laboratories’(UL) standards and the impact of those standards for standby power generation; including the engine-generator set and transfer switch. Discusses specific NFPA standards and application/installation details for health care, life safety, and fire pumps.

GPS – 160 Generator Provisioning & Installation
Examines engine-generator configurations and the selection of optional items such as block heaters, base tanks, enclosures, etc. Explores standard configurations versus custom options that may be required based on site-specific criteria. Introduces good design practice guidelines for the installation of engine-generator sets based on site and application specific details. Emphasizes cooling system selection, unit placement, piping requirements, etc.

GPS – 200 Genset Fuel (NG vs. Diesel)
Explores various aspects of generator fuel and the growth of natural gas generators in standby power applications. The discussion includes engine operational technologies, reliability of natural gas and onsite diesel, impacts of demand response programs on fuel choice, and total cost of ownership comparisons.


GPS – 170 Engines & Alternators
Introduces engines and engine technologies used in design and implementation of standby power generation. Discusses fuel types, selection, design criteria for standby generator engine selection and testing required to prototype and validate a product. Outlines terminology and performance expectations of the engine-generator alternator. Identifies construction methods, temperature rise criteria and the fault capacities of alternators.

GPS – 180 Controls
Discusses the impact of engine-generator controls and the evolution of those controls from simple analog designs to fully integrated digital platforms. Reviews integrated paralleling control technology and fully explore all paralleling functions.

GPS – 190 Writing Performance-Based Generator Specifications
Presents techniques for effective performance-based specifications for engine-generator sets, generator accessories and transfer switches without manufacturer specific language. Provides tools for writing specifications and general guidelines applicable to typical standby power generation applications.

GPS – 300 Generator Sizing (Part 1)
Discusses various elements of generator sizing associated with powering an entire building while also exploring the impact motor starting has on generator size. Participants will learn how to use measurement and billing history data, size based on NEC® requirements, impacts of load sequencing,and the difference between instantaneous voltage dip and 90% sustained.

GPS – 305 Generator Sizing (Part 2)
Explores isolating loads onto a generator where the unique characteristics of the load become very important. Loads of particular interest are non-linear harmonic producing loads, uninterruptable power supplies (UPS), variable frequency drive (VFD), soft starters, and older technology electromechanical starters (wye / delta). For each of these loads, participants will learn the resulting load transient and harmonic issues and their impact on generator sizing.

GPS – 310 Generator Switching (Part 1)
Loads that are backed-up with generator power must be switched to and from the normal utility source. The switching device is typically an automatic transfer switch (ATS) that can be implemented with various technologies and design configurations. This module provides a detailed overview various ATS features and configurations: open transition, service entrance rated, bypass isolation, closed transition, and grid paralleling. The goal is informed decisions during equipment selection and specification.

GPS – 315 Generator Switching (Part 2)
Automatic transfer switch (ATS) equipment can be specified in many various hardware configurations, operational modes, and performance criteria. This module will explore the application relevance of breaker vs. contactor, 2 vs. 3 position contactor mechanisms, 3 vs. 4 pole configurations, and 4-pole vs. overlapping neutral devices. Application fit of in-phase vs. delay-in-neutral operation with the impact of switching speed will be examined. ATS short circuit performance and other National Electric Code requirements are discussed in detail.

GPS – 340 National Electrical Code® (Part 1)
Part 1 of our exploration of the National Electrical Code, investigates the code with a generator overview focus.  The course examines ten questions that cover various topics:  defining the generator and its cabling, generator sizing, start-up and transfer, transient limitations, alarming and instrumentation, signage, emergency shutdown, and output breakers. 
 
GPS – 345 National Electrical Code® (Part 2)
Part 2 of our exploration of the National Electrical Code, scrutinizes the code with a focus on application and integration. The course examines ten questions that cover various topics:  disconnect at point of entry, cabling, separation of circuits, selective coordination, grounding, fire pumps, transfer switches and docking stations.

GPS – 380 Controls (Single Generator)
Genset controls define the capability of the engine & alternator to meet the application specific needs and provide a simple customer interfacing experience. The engine must have controls that manage engine speed, fuel inlet, and emissions. The alternator must have voltage control. The entire system must be designed for maximum reliability while providing monitoring, data logging, remote communication, protection, and predictive maintenance.

GPS – 385 Controls (Parallel Generation)
When generators are paralleled together another layer of control needs to be added to the generator system. These additional controls manage synchronizing, load-sharing, protection, and load sequencing. These functions may be standalone as implemented in tradition paralleling gear or built into the generator for integrated paralleling solutions. No matter the implementation, the paralleling control functions should be designed to remove single point system failures for maximum system reliability.

GPS – 410 Genset Natural Gas Piping Design
Discusses the various aspects of generator gas piping design that is needed to establish adequate gas flow with both minimum pressure drop and stable pressure. Participants will learn the guidelines for sizing the gas service, the correct size selection and type pressure regulators along with gas piping recommendations to minimize pressure drops and regulator drop.