GE DS3800HPRA MKIV, Pulse Rate Card

الوصف

The GE DS3800HPRA is a specialized Pulse Rate Card used in the GE Speedtronic Mark IV series of turbine control systems. As a legacy part, it’s no longer in production and is primarily found on the surplus and refurbished markets for the maintenance of older systems.

Function and Purpose

The primary function of the DS3800HPRA is to accurately receive, process, and condition pulse rate signals from various sensors. These signals are critical for measuring parameters such as speed, flow, and rotational counting in a turbine or generator. The card’s key roles include:

• Signal Input: It accepts signals from sensors, which generate a series of electrical pulses proportional to the measured parameter. For example, a magnetic speed pickup on a spinning shaft will generate a frequency of pulses that corresponds to the shaft’s rotational speed.
• Signal Conversion: It converts the incoming pulse signals into a format that the main Mark IV processors can understand. This involves filtering out electrical noise and ensuring the signal is clean and stable.
• Data Processing: The board contains logic to process the pulse rate data, which may involve calculations to convert the raw pulse count into a meaningful value like revolutions per minute (RPM).
• System Diagnostics: The card provides a critical interface for the control system, allowing it to monitor the pulse rate and use this information for control, protection, and monitoring functions.

Technical and Design Features

The DS3800HPRA is a robust, industrial-grade circuit board designed to operate in a demanding environment.

• Legacy Part: The “DS3800” prefix indicates that it belongs to the legacy Mark IV series, a pioneering control system for gas and steam turbines in the late 1980s.
• Jumpers: The board contains a number of jumper ports that can be adjusted to regulate the energy flow and configure the board’s operational settings.
• Components: It is populated with a variety of components, including resistors, capacitors, diodes, and a crystal oscillator. These components work together to ensure the accurate and reliable processing of pulse signals.
• Connectors: The board features a female terminal port and a male terminal port to connect to other devices.