Fitting Russian power units with automated control systems: Development trends, problems, and prospects

The main lines in the development of systems for automated control of Russian power equipment, namely, improvement of technical means and enhancing the level to which technological processes are automated, are discussed. Ways for solving problems concerned with construction of modern automated process control systems, such as use of intellectual field devices, methods for implementing the controller level in a distributed configuration, and integration of local automatic control systems are analyzed. Positive experience gained with achieving a high level of fitting new combined-cycle power plants with automatic control systems and with modernizing the monitoring and control systems of existing traditional equipment is presented. Factors that in some cases do not allow a real technological effect to be obtained from the use of microprocessor process control systems in retrofitted power units are pointed out.