scope:

Foreword 

The application, design concepts, and implementation of computer-based control systems for hydroelectric power plant automation is addressed. Functional capabilities, performance requirements, interface requirements, hardware considerations, and operator training are discussed. Recommendations for system testing and acceptance are provided, and case studies of actual computer-based control applications are presented.

Automation of hydroelectric generating plants has been a known technology for many years. Due to the relative simplicity of the control logic for hydroelectric power plants, the application of computer-based control has lagged, compared to other types of generating stations, such as fossil. Now that computer-based control can be implemented for comparable costs as relay-based logic and can incorporate additional features, it is being applied in hydroelectric power stations worldwide, both in new installations and in the rehabilitation of older plants.

The guide is directed to the practicing engineer who has some familiarity with computer-based control systems. The authors have attempted to make the document a comprehensive guide to the application of such systems to hydroelectric plants. It begins with a discussion of computer-based control system functional capabilities, pursues data acquisition, alarm processing, report generation, and operator training, as well as various system architecture and network bus configurations. System performance and testing are discussed, and finally, four case studies of actual computer-based hydroelectric control applications are presented.

Scope

This guide addresses the application, design concepts, and implementation of computer-based control systems for hydroelectric plant automation. It addresses functional capabilities, performance requirements, interface requirements, hardware considerations, and operator training. It includes recommendations for system testing and acceptance. Finally, case studies of actual computer-based automatic control applications are presented.

The automation of control and data logging functions has relieved the plant operator of these tasks, allowing the operator more time to concentrate on other duties. In many cases, the plant's operating costs can be significantly reduced by automation (primarily via staff reduction) while still maintaining a high level of unit control reliability.

Automatic control systems for hydroelectric units based on electromechanical relay logic have been in general use for a number of years and, in fact, were considered standard practice for the industry. Within the last decade, microprocessor-based controllers have become available that are suitable for operation in a power plant environment. These computer-based systems have been applied for data logging, alarm monitoring, and unit and plant control. Advantages of computer-based control include use of graphical user interfaces, the incorporation of sequence of events and trending into the control system, the incorporation of arti˝cial intelligence and expert system capabilities, and reduced plant life cycle cost.