ARTICLE REF – ART168
This article is going to discuss the Eagle Quantum Premier (EQP), Controller. This is one in series of articles on the DET-TRONICS EAGLE QUANTUM PREMIER fire system as used by Solar Turbines. This system came into Solar Turbines service in mid 2003 and replaced the the DET-TRONICS EAGLE QUANTUM which proceeded it. Much of the information relevant to Solar has been taken from the EQP manuals and presented here. The EQP is very versatile and is used by several turbine manufacturers and industry in general.
The Eagle Quantum Premier (EQP) system combines “fire detection and extinguishing agent release” and “hazardous gas monitoring” in one complete package.
The system consists of a Controller and a number of addressable microprocessor based field devices. The Controller coordinates system device configuration, monitoring, annunciation, and control, while the field devices communicate their status and alarm conditions to the Controller.
All field devices are tied into a communication loop that starts and ends at the Controller. Each device connected to the communication loop is assigned a unique identity by setting its address switches. All other device operation parameters are configured through Det-Tronics “Safety System Software”. These selections define the type of device and how it is to operate. This system configuration data is then downloaded into the Controller. The software application program used to communicate with the Premier is called the Safety System Software or “S-cubed” (S3).
During normal operation, the Controller continuously checks the system for fault conditions and executes user defined programmed logic that coordinates the control of the field devices. The Solar logic is loaded into the controller which controls what is done in the event of a thermal detect, fire detect, gas detect etc. The logic is compatible with the older Eagle Quantum system which used different hardware. This makes upgrading straight forward. The field devices are continuously monitoring for device based fault and alarm conditions and the information from these devices is constantly updating the Controller..
When a fault condition occurs, the Controller displays the fault condition on the Vacuum Fluorescent Text Display, activates the appropriate fault LED(s), activates the Trouble signal using the Controller’s internal enunciator, and de-energizes the Controller’s Trouble relay.
All fault and alarm conditions are latched on the Controller. To reset the Controller, conditions indicated on the text display must currently be in the OFF state.
Pushing the reset button then initiates a Controller reset. Active alarms will not be reset.
CONTROLLER LOGS
The controller has an internal alarm and event log. The logs can be accessed via the S3 software configuration ports (Configuration Port or Port 3) using a RS-232 serial cable and a Windows computer.
Routine 170 in the Solar Enclosure PLC Logic program is responsible for sending ten user parameters to the Premier for configuration.
Type of flame detectors
Flame detector voting count
Number of DCIO modules
Number of ARMs – (Eagle Quantum)
Number of IDSs – (Eagle Quantum)
Number of SAMs – (Eagle Quantum)
Number and zones for fire detectors
Number of PIR Eclipse gas detectors per zone
Gas detector voting count
Notice the duplicate DCIO – SAM for gates below. The user logic was written to accommodate the new DCIO module as well as the ARM, IDC and SAM modules from the previous Eagle Quantum fire system. Because of this flexibility, the Premier can be dropped-in as a direct replacement for the Eagle Quantum Local Control Unit.
PUSHBUTTONS
The Controller has seven pushbuttons (located on the front panel) for user interface. These pushbuttons allow the operator to interact with the Controller to respond to alarms and system status conditions, access system status reports, and configure Controller time and date settings.
The following paragraphs describe the function of each pushbutton. Refer to Figure below for Controller pushbutton locations.
Cancel cancels the selected command, and returns the menu to the last option list displayed.
NOTE Pressing and holding Cancel and Enter initiates a lamp test.
Enter chooses the menu item selected, and advances the menu to the next options list. (See “Controller Menu Options“ in this section for additional information.)
NOTE
Pressing Enter while alarms are actively scrolling returns the display to the Main Menu.
Next allows the operator to scroll through options listed within each menu. Each time the NEXT pushbutton is pushed, the current options list indexes up one list item. (See “Controller Menu Options” in this section for additional information)
Previous allows the operator to scroll through options listed within each menu. Each time the PREVIOUS pushbutton is pushed, the current options list indexes down one list item. (See “Controller Menu Options” in this section for additional information)
Reset resets all controller latched outputs.
Acknowledge silences the internal beeper.
Silence turns on the Silence LED and sets Silence status in user logic.
CONTROLLER STATUS INDICATORS
System status is visually displayed on the Controller in two ways — through the use of a Text Display (see Figure below), and through colored LED’s. The following paragraphs describe these indicators and the function of each.
TEXT DISPLAY
The Controller uses a text based display to show current system status, active Alarms and Faults. When an alarm or trouble condition occurs, the display scrolls a detailed message of the condition, including address, tag number and condition (alarm, trouble, supervisory etc.). If multiple alarms or trouble conditions exist, the display scrolls through all active status conditions until they are acknowledged or reset using controller pushbuttons.
CONTROLLER MENU OPTIONS
The Controller is designed to display system status and device related information. The following paragraphs describe how to move around within the controller’s menu structure to access this information and perform minor system settings (see Figure 4-3).
NOTE
During normal operation (no alarms or trouble conditions occurring), the display scrolls current system time and date.
Main Menu displays a list of options to access information types available for display through the Controller. This list also includes access to options used to set system date and time, and diagnostics options.
The following are the LED status lights for the Controller communications.
The photo below shows the older controller with ControlNet and the new with Ethernet communications.
Below you can see a typical list of all the input and outputs to the Controller.
End of article.