Application of distributed control systems and integrating automated process control systems of power equipment

Main factors that must be taken into account in constructing modern distributed microprocessor systems for control of thermal power plants are analyzed. The list of these factors includes the nature of a plant being automated and its spatial arragement, specific features of the basic computerized automation system, advisability of organizing exchange of digital information with peripheral equipment (sensors and actuators), routing of cable lines, power supply, and organizing redundancy in hardware and networks. Problems concerned with integration of local automatic control systems supplied complete with process equipment into a united automated process control system and uniting process control systems of heat-generating, mechanical, and electrical equipment are considered. Examples illustrating implementation of distributed process control systems constructed on the basis of the Teleperm XP-R and SPPA-T3000 computerized automation systems manufactured by Siemens are given.     

Development of and experience using the Del’Tek computerized automation system for furnishing thermal power facilities with automated process control systems

Basic principles of constructing the Russian Del’Tek computerized automation system intended for development of modern process control systems for thermal power engineering facilities are considered. Informational-computation systems and full-scale process control systems built around the Del’Tek computerized automation system, as well as test results and experience gained from their operation, are described.     

Means for constructing distributed process control systems on the basis of the SARGON computerized automation suite

The main characteristics of distributed control facilities available in the modern version of the SARGON computerized automation suite are described, and possible implementations of distributed full-scale automated process control systems of thermal power installations are presented taking concrete projects accomplished by ZAO NVT-Avtomatika as examples.     

Development of information-and-control systems as a basis for modernizing the automated process control systems of operating power equipment

The main drawbacks inherent in the hardware of outdated control systems of power stations are discussed. It is shown that economically efficient and reliable operation of the process equipment will be impossible if certain part of these control systems is used further. It is pointed out that full retrofitting of outdated control systems on operating equipment in one go with replacing all technical facilities and cable connections by a modern computerized automation system involves certain difficulties if such work is carried out under the conditions of limited financial resources or a limited period of time destined for doing the works. A version of control system modernization is suggested that involves replacement of the most severely worn and outdated equipment (indicating and recording instruments, and local controllers) and retaining the existing cable routes and layout of board facilities. The modernization implies development of informationand-control systems constructed on the basis of a unified computerized automation system. Software and hardware products that have positively proven themselves in thermal power engineering are proposed for developing such an automation system. It is demonstrated that the proposed system has a considerable potential for its functional development and can become a basis for constructing a fully functional automated process control system.     

Field experience gained from the use of microprocessor automated process control systems for large modernized power units

We describe the results obtained from long-term operation of 11 large power units at eight power stations after their previous traditional monitoring and control systems had been modernized with the use of Teleperm XP-R (TPTS-51 and OM-650) computerized automation system. The modernized automated process control systems were analyzed on the basis of a special questionnaire in which various aspects of estimating the modernization results were addressed: from adequacy of the adopted fundamental solutions to problems encountered during operation of the installed computerized automation systems. Experience gained from operation of the hardware used in the controller and upper control levels and from operation of application software, including process protections, automatic closed-loop control systems, step control programs, video frame subsystems, and calculation tasks. Appraisals given to the above-mentioned problems by power station specialists are analyzed.     

Computer-aided designing of automatic process control systems for thermal power stations

The structure of modern microprocessor systems for automated control of technological processes at cogeneration stations is considered. Methods for computer-aided designing of the lower (sensors and actuators) and upper (cabinets of computerized automation equipment) levels of an automated process control system are proposed. The composition of project documents, the structures of a project database and database of a computer-aided design system, and the way they interact with one another in the course of developing the project of an automated process control system are described. Elements of the interface between a design engineer and computer program are shown.     

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.     

Automation of power unit boiler equipment during the introduction of full-scale automated control systems. Part II

We describe the fundamental ways for solving problems relating to the design of devices for constructing automated boiler control systems that are used at the Yekaterinburg Branch of ZAO KVARTS Engineering Co. in developing full-scale automated process control systems for the power units of thermal power stations built around the Kosmotronika computerized automation system.     

Experience gained from mastering the operation of the Kirishi district power station unit 6 modernized using the combined-cycle technology

This article is devoted to the retrofitting of one of the 300-MW power units at the Kirishi district power station carried out using the combined-cycle technology in order to increase the power unit capacity and make it more efficient. The main and auxiliary equipment of the retrofitted power unit are described. The problems revealed and solved in the course of adjustment works are mentioned. Problems concerned with organizing the startup modes of combined-cycle power units fitted with three-loop heat-recovery boilers and a double-bypass startup circuit arrangement are touched. The design and actually achieved technical and economic indicators of the main equipment and the power unit as a whole are presented. A tangible economic effect is noted from a comparison of the key indicators before and after the retrofitting. It is shown that the retrofitted power unit has good environmental indicators and a very high level of automation.     

Specific features connected with working-out projects of automated process control systems for cogeneration stations during retrofitting of operating plants

Matters concerned with optimizing design solutions taken during replacement of control and monitoring systems of cogeneration stations constructed using traditional components by modern microprocessor automated process control systems are considered. A comparative analysis of the composition of control board devices is carried out, and recommendations for placing the equipment of distributed control systems are given. Methods for carrying out stage-wise introduction of automated process control systems constructed on the basis of computerized automation suites with standard field buses are shown.     

The development and commissioning of an automated process control system at the sochi thermal power station

An automated process control system is developed and commissioned at Russia’s first thermal power station equipped with combined-cycle plants built around small-capacity gas turbine units. The automated process control system is made as a unified direct digital control system constructed using the SIMATIC PCS7 PS software system and local control systems integrated into it.     

Solving the problems concerned with modernization of power unit monitoring and control systems using the distributed facilities and technologies available in the sargon computerized automation system. Part 1: Tools of PTC “sargon” for distributed systems

The first part of this article describes the tools intended to construct distributed automated process control systems for the main thermal power equipment of power stations that are available in the SARGON computerized automation system.     

Controlling the startup modes of cogeneration steam turbines operating as part of combined-cycle power plants

The results obtained from investigations of combined-cycle power plants produced by the Ural Turbine Works aimed at achieving high maneuverability, reliability and longevity of cogeneration steam turbines taking into consideration the possibilities of modern automated process control systems are presented. The dynamic models for simulating the heating of a steam turbine cylinder??s parts with the use of limited computation capacities are developed.     

供热机组自动发电控制方式的实现

为了提高电网的运行水平,各电网纷纷要求所属(管辖)电厂单机容量在300 MW及以上机组和具备条件的单机容量200 MW及以上机组进行电网自动发电控制运行.文章简要介绍了供热机组实现AGC控制方式的基本步骤与方法,并结合AGC控制方式的整个实现过程讨论了供热机组AGC控制方式实现过程中可能遇到的问题和解决办法.     

Studies of the thermal circuit of an advanced integrated gasification combined-cycle power plant

The results obtained from a study of the thermal circuit of a combined-cycle plant with coal gasification are presented, and a new-generation gas-turbine unit furnished with different fuel supply systems and using different methods for incorporating an air separation plant into the process circuit is described. Data on the composition of producer gas and calculated values of the combined-cycle power plant efficiency are given.     

Development and introduction of comprehensive distributed integrated automated process control systems of power facilities

The development rates and growing capacities of technical facilities intended for fitting power-generating equipment with automated control systems are addressed. Attention is turned to the use of a number of local control systems supplied together with the main equipment and their integration into the power unit automated process control system as a topical task concerned with development of modern automated process control systems. Technical and organizational difficulties of such integration are shown, and possible ways for overcoming them are pointed out. Experience gained at Interavtomatika with development of comprehensive systems for control of heat-generating, mechanical, and electrical equipment at enterprises of the Russian power industry is presented.     

Specific features and problems relating to the present stage of technology used to construct automated process control systems for thermal power stations

The main problems relating to technology for development of automated process control systems for power units at thermal power stations implemented on the basis of computerized automation suites with a network structure are analyzed. The results from studies carried out at the Ivanovo State Power Engineering University’s Department of Control Systems are generalized with the purpose of improving the technology of end-to end designing and developing the functional structure of automated process control systems for thermal power stations.     

Automated chemical monitoring in new projects of nuclear power plant units

The development of automated chemical monitoring systems in nuclear power plant units for the past 30 years is briefly described. The modern level of facilities used to support the operation of automated chemical monitoring systems in Russia and abroad is shown. Hardware solutions suggested by the All-Russia Institute for Nuclear Power Plant Operation (which is the General Designer of automated process control systems for power units used in the AES-2006 and VVER-TOI Projects) are presented, including the structure of additional equipment for monitoring water chemistry (taking the Novovoronezh 2 nuclear power plant as an example). It is shown that the solutions proposed with respect to receiving and processing of input measurement signals and subsequent construction of standard control loops are unified in nature. Simultaneous receipt of information from different sources for ensuring that water chemistry is monitored in sufficient scope and with required promptness is one of the problems that have been solved successfully. It is pointed out that improved quality of automated chemical monitoring can be supported by organizing full engineering follow-up of the automated chemical monitoring system’s equipment throughout its entire service life.