Backfitting power plant control systems

Journal Article · Fri Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1995 · Power (New York)

OSTI ID:128746

Swanekamp, R

This article describes how both nuclear and fossil-fuel-based producers are striving to revamp antiquated controls with advanced, digital-based systems. New technology promises to maximize availability, minimize emissions, and optimize processes. But success means that outdated ways of thinking, like old hardware, must be tossed aside. For the aging steam plant, backfitting digital instrumentation and control (I and C) systems promises: faster plant startup and shutdown by programming control sequences; higher availability by detecting and pinpointing root causes of impending malfunctions; higher thermal efficiency by moving variable setpoints closer to the operating limits; improved emissions profile by precisely controlling the combustion and downstream cleanup processes; lower maintenance costs by eliminating antiquated pneumatic, electromechanical, or electronic/analog devices; and lower operating costs by reducing staff requirements--today`s designers are even striving for single-operator control of coal-fired powerplants. Nuclear plants are in particular need of control system updates. With only a few exceptions, virtually all I and C equipment in US nuclear powerplants is based on obsolete analog devices. While digital equipment offers enormous potential benefits for these plants, backfitting the new technology is especially time- and capital-intensive because of regulatory/licensing hurdles.

• OSTI ID: 128746
• Journal Information: Power (New York), Journal Name: Power (New York) Journal Issue: 9 Vol. 139; ISSN POWEAD; ISSN 0032-5929
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
COMPUTERIZED CONTROL SYSTEMS
ON-LINE MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
REAL TIME SYSTEMS
REMOTE MULTIPLEXING SYSTEMS
THERMAL POWER PLANTS