Simulation technology helps predict power spikes
An
Emerson Process Management - Power + Water product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Apr 30, 2008
The Fawley Station simulator mirrors the plant's actual Ovation expert control system, which monitors and controls the boiler, turbine and other critical plant processes and systems.
Fawley Power Station, a two unit, 1,000MW power generation facility, plays an important role in meeting the electricity needs of approximately one million people in Hampshire, United Kingdom.
It is essential that this plant can quickly and efficiently start up and synchronise to the grid in order to cost-effectively respond to seasonal spikes in demand.
Since January 2008, the nearly 40-year-old, oil-fired plant has been relying on Emerson Process Management's Scenario simulation technology to help achieve these goals.
The Fawley Station simulator mirrors the plant's actual Ovation expert control system, which monitors and controls the boiler, turbine and other critical plant processes and systems.
Fawley's high-fidelity simulator solution features virtual controller technology in which up to five virtual controllers reside in a single PC, offering opportunities for achieving higher levels of affordability and scalability with a significantly reduced footprint.
At Fawley, 4100 simulated I/O points exist within 12 Ovation virtual controllers.
The Scenario simulation solution is a valuable training tool - both for the ongoing education of existing employees and for qualifying new employees for safe and efficient plant operation.
This training capability is particularly valuable for operators in peaking plants, which operate based on fluctuating demand.
In this environment, simulation technology can be used to train new operators, while keeping current operators sharp and helping them become familiar with new control strategies, even when the plant is not in operation.
By doing so, when MW are needed, the plant can synchronise to the grid not only more quickly, but also within the necessary parameters to avoid costly equipment damage.
"With the simulator, new operators can come up to the standards of more experienced and trained operators much sooner than would be possible if they were interacting with the control system only when the unit was operating", said David Marmot, Electrical andd Instrumentation Lead, RWE npower.
"By training operators how to start the unit faster to meet peak demand, we have the opportunity to not only enhance the plant's operational performance, but our financial performance, as well".
Well-trained operators who are prepared to handle abnormal operating situations can significantly reduce costly plant trips.
Fawley had 20 malfunctions - including critical malfunctions - pre-programmed into the simulator to train operators how to respond to emergency situations.
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