Energy and Power Generation Position Sensors
Power Generation Position Sensors for Steam and Gas Turbine Control
Alliance Sensors Group is the industry leader in power generation position sensing, delivering engineered solutions purpose-built for the demanding environments of steam and gas turbine control. Our PG Series LVDTs and S2A signal conditioner were developed specifically to meet the reliability, accuracy, and long-term stability requirements of power generation applications. Unlike general-purpose sensors adapted for turbine use, ASG products are designed from the ground up to support critical steam valve and turbine control functions, ensuring consistent performance, minimal downtime, and dependable operation in harsh power plant conditions.
The PG Series LVDTs set the benchmark for rugged, high-reliability turbine valve position feedback. Designed as direct replacements for GE and Westinghouse steam turbine LVDTs and inductive half-bridge sensors, PG and LA Series devices incorporate enhanced features including encapsulated cores, double shaft seals, and heavy-duty terminal connections for larger wire sizes. These design improvements provide superior protection against contamination, and vibration delivering extended service life and exceptional measurement stability. Available in single, dual, and tri-redundant configurations, ASG position sensor solutions support both new installations and critical retrofit applications, ensuring seamless integration with existing turbine systems.
Valve Position Feedback for Smart Power Plants and AI Data Center Energy Infrastructure
Accurate and reliable measurement of valve positions is critical for the safe and efficient operation of modern power plants, particularly as the industry moves toward AI-driven, data-centric energy management systems. ASG’s LVDT sensors provide precise, repeatable feedback on valve travel and actuator positions, ensuring that turbine, boiler, and process controls operate with optimal efficiency. This level of dependable measurement enables real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and data analytics that are essential for next-generation AI data centers and smart power plants, helping operators reduce energy waste, improve system responsiveness, and confidently plan for the future of energy infrastructure with maximum reliability.
Smart S2A Signal Conditioner with Cybersecure Lock to Prevent Tampering
Complementing the PG Series LVDTs is ASG’s S2A LVDT signal conditioner, engineered specifically for power generation control environments. The S2A provides precise excitation, amplification, and signal conditioning for LVDTs, half-bridge sensors, and GE gas turbine buck-boost LVDTs, delivering highly stable, low-noise outputs essential for accurate turbine valve positioning. Built for continuous-duty operation in high-temperature and high-vibration environments, the S2A ensures reliable signal integrity across long cable runs and harsh power plant conditions, making it the trusted choice for mission-critical turbine control systems.
Trusted Power Plant Position Sensing Solutions with Expert Engineering Support
With decades of application expertise, ASG goes beyond supplying components by delivering complete, application-driven sensing solutions. From direct replacements for GE and Westinghouse designs to custom-engineered configurations, ASG supports every stage of the project lifecycle with expert application engineering, fast response times, and proven field performance. This combination of industry-specific design, superior product reliability, and dedicated technical support has made Alliance Sensors Group, the trusted leader in power generation position sensing, helping plants worldwide achieve safer, more reliable turbine operation and more efficient.
ASG also offers GE gas turbine LVDTs (pt# 311A5178), GE steam turbine LVRTs (pt#s 119C9638, 119C9639, and 196C8768) and Westinghouse LVDTs (pt# 738J204).
Need help deciding which sensors is right for your application? Have questions about a particular product? Speak to an experienced application engineer at H. G. Schaevitz Alliance Sensors Group by calling us at 856-727-0250 or contact us by clicking here.
Frequently Asked Questions About Power Generation Position Sensors
What are power generation position sensors used for?
Position sensors provide accurate feedback about the position or movement of critical components within power generation equipment. In steam and gas turbine applications, position sensors are commonly used to monitor turbine valve position and actuator movement.
Accurate valve-position feedback helps turbine and process control systems operate safely, efficiently, and consistently while providing operators with reliable measurement data for monitoring and control.
Why is accurate valve position feedback important in steam and gas turbines?
Precise valve-position measurement is critical to turbine control. Steam and gas turbines rely on accurate feedback to regulate the flow of steam or fuel and maintain the desired operating conditions.
Reliable position feedback helps control systems respond accurately to changes in operating conditions, supporting turbine efficiency, stability, and safe operation.
What is an LVDT?
An LVDT (Linear Variable Differential Transformer) is an electromechanical position sensor used to measure linear displacement.
LVDTs are widely used in industrial applications because they provide accurate, repeatable position measurement and can operate reliably in demanding environments. In power generation, LVDTs are commonly used for turbine valve and actuator position feedback.
Why are LVDTs well suited for power generation applications?
Power plants present challenging operating conditions, including elevated temperatures, vibration, contamination, and continuous-duty operation.
LVDTs are well suited to these environments because they provide reliable linear position measurement and can be engineered for demanding industrial applications. ASG's PG Series LVDTs incorporate features specifically intended to improve protection, durability, and long-term measurement stability in turbine applications.
What is the PG Series LVDT?
The PG Series is Alliance Sensors Group's family of rugged LVDT position sensors specifically designed for power generation applications.
PG Series LVDTs are engineered for steam and gas turbine control and are designed as direct replacements for certain GE and Westinghouse turbine LVDTs and inductive half-bridge sensors.
The PG Series incorporates features including encapsulated cores, double shaft seals, and heavy-duty terminal connections to provide additional protection in demanding power plant environments.
What applications are PG Series LVDTs designed for?
PG Series LVDTs are primarily designed for critical power generation applications such as:
- Steam turbine valve position feedback
- Gas turbine control
- Turbine actuator position measurement
- Steam valve control
- Turbine retrofit projects
- New turbine control installations
- Critical valve-position monitoring
Can PG Series LVDTs replace GE and Westinghouse turbine sensors?
Yes. ASG offers PG and LA Series devices designed as direct replacements for certain GE and Westinghouse steam turbine LVDTs and inductive half-bridge sensors.
ASG also offers specific replacement LVDTs for GE and Westinghouse equipment, including:
- GE steam turbine LVRTs, part numbers 119C9638, 119C9639, and 196C8768
- Westinghouse LVDT, part number 738J204
Engineers should verify the existing sensor part number and application requirements before selecting a replacement.
Are PG Series LVDTs available in redundant configurations?
Yes. PG Series position sensors are available in single, dual, and tri-redundant configurations.
Redundant configurations can provide additional position feedback channels for turbine control systems where monitoring and control reliability are critical.
What is the difference between single, dual, and tri-redundant LVDTs?
The primary difference is the number of independent sensing elements incorporated into the sensor configuration.
Single-channel sensors provide one position measurement. Dual- and tri-redundant configurations provide additional independent measurement channels, allowing control systems to receive multiple position signals for applications where redundancy is required.
The appropriate configuration depends on the turbine control system and the plant's specific instrumentation requirements.
What is the S2A LVDT signal conditioner?
The S2A is an LVDT signal conditioner designed specifically for power generation control environments.
It provides excitation, amplification, and signal conditioning for LVDTs, half-bridge sensors, and GE gas turbine buck-boost LVDTs.
The S2A produces a stable, low-noise output to support accurate turbine valve-position measurement and control.
Why is a signal conditioner needed with an LVDT?
An LVDT produces an electrical signal that generally requires excitation and signal conditioning before it can be used effectively by a turbine control or monitoring system.
The S2A provides the necessary excitation, amplification, and conditioning to convert the LVDT's signal into a stable output suitable for the control system.
Can the S2A be used with existing turbine position sensors?
Yes. The S2A is designed to provide signal conditioning for LVDTs, half-bridge sensors, and GE gas turbine buck-boost LVDTs.
This makes it suitable for both new installations and applications where existing turbine instrumentation is being upgraded or replaced.
Can the S2A support long cable runs in power plants?
Yes. The S2A is designed to provide signal integrity across long cable runs in demanding power plant environments.
Its low-noise signal conditioning helps maintain stable position measurement between the sensor and the turbine control system.
Is the S2A suitable for high-temperature and high-vibration environments?
The S2A is engineered for continuous-duty operation in the demanding conditions associated with power generation control environments, including high-temperature and high-vibration applications.
What is the cybersecure lock on the S2A signal conditioner?
The S2A incorporates a cybersecure lock designed to help prevent tampering with the signal conditioner.
This feature provides an additional level of protection for critical turbine control instrumentation where maintaining the integrity of sensor configuration and signal conditioning is important.
Can ASG position sensors be used for turbine retrofit projects?
Yes. ASG provides position-sensing solutions for both new installations and critical retrofit applications.
The PG and LA Series can serve as replacement solutions for certain existing GE and Westinghouse turbine sensors, allowing plants to address obsolete, aging, or replacement sensor requirements while maintaining compatibility with existing turbine systems.
Can ASG provide custom power generation position-sensing solutions?
Yes. In addition to standard replacement sensors, Alliance Sensors Group provides custom-engineered configurations for specific power generation applications.
ASG's application engineering team can evaluate the existing sensor, mechanical installation, electrical requirements, and operating environment to help develop an appropriate position-sensing solution.
How can reliable position sensing support smart power plants?
Accurate valve and actuator position feedback provides control systems with dependable real-time information about turbine operation.
This measurement data can support real-time monitoring, process optimization, predictive maintenance, and data analytics. As power generation becomes increasingly connected and data-driven, reliable sensor information can provide an important foundation for smart plant and advanced energy-management strategies.
How can turbine position sensors support AI data center energy infrastructure?
AI and data-center facilities require highly reliable electrical power and increasingly sophisticated energy infrastructure.
Accurate turbine and valve position feedback can contribute to the reliable operation and monitoring of power-generation equipment supporting these facilities. Consistent measurement data can also support advanced monitoring, analytics, and predictive-maintenance strategies designed to maximize equipment availability.
What makes ASG different from a general-purpose sensor supplier?
Alliance Sensors Group's power generation position-sensing products are engineered specifically around the requirements of turbine and power plant applications.
The PG Series, LA Series, and S2A are supported by decades of application experience in industrial measurement and turbine control. ASG also provides replacement solutions for specific GE and Westinghouse sensors and offers application engineering support for challenging or custom requirements.
How do I select the right power generation position sensor?
Selecting the correct sensor requires consideration of the existing turbine equipment and the application's mechanical and electrical requirements.
Important information can include:
- Existing sensor manufacturer and part number
- Steam or gas turbine application
- Required measurement range
- Mechanical mounting configuration
- Electrical output
- Number of required redundant channels
- Operating temperature
- Vibration and environmental conditions
- Existing signal-conditioning equipment
- Turbine control system requirements
Providing the existing sensor part number is often an excellent starting point when evaluating a replacement.
Can ASG help identify a replacement for an existing turbine LVDT?
Yes. If you have an existing GE, Westinghouse, or other turbine position sensor that needs to be replaced, ASG's application engineers can help evaluate the existing part and determine an appropriate replacement or engineered solution.
Providing the sensor's manufacturer, part number, specifications, and application information can help speed the selection process.
How can I get help selecting a power generation position sensor?
Alliance Sensors Group provides experienced application engineering support for power generation position-sensing applications.
For help selecting a PG Series LVDT, LA Series sensor, S2A signal conditioner, or replacement turbine sensor, call H. G. Schaevitz Alliance Sensors Group at 856-727-0250 to speak with an experienced application engineer.
You can also contact ASG to discuss your specific turbine position-sensing requirements.
