Due to advances in system constituent technologies, there has been an emergence of modern top-notch power plant control systems, which are being developed. A control system operates in directing, managing, commanding, or regulating the workability of other devices using control hoops (Mohamed et al., 2019). Control systems exist in many forms, such as a heating controller that uses a thermostat that regulates a domestic boiler to massive control systems such as those in power plants essential for controlling machines or processes. In the contemporary economy, a power plant control system can be augmented by incorporating new advanced technologies. These technologies encompass widespread digitalization of high-speed controller circuits, a repertory of various multiplexed structures, or interconnecting the control system with various equipment with open interfaces (Rahayu, 2021). Power plants require a continuously modulated control system, which necessitates a feedback controller, essential for automatically controlling an operation or a process. A power plant control system is essential in regulating the behavior of the plant in a predictive and repeatable manner.
Components
Besides delivering a steady source of electrical power, the present power plant necessitates being extremely efficient, have negligible adverse impacts on the surroundings, and delivers proper operability. Achieving such requirements calls for a state-of-the-art control system with qualified and experienced plant supervisors. It also necessitates effective operations which are more innovative and more spontaneous, and easy to utilize. An effective power plant control system is also installed to consider the ongoing trends in globalization with the liberalization of the prevailing energy market (Kim & Lee, 2019). The system should also hold down the cost of operation and reduced cases of defects. Efficient power plant control systems should have the capability to equate the status of the process variable, which is being regulated, with the desired value, which is set as the target. It should also apply the variance as a regulator signal which conveys the process variable output of the power plant to a similar value as the desired value.
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Importance
The fundamentals of a control system entail measuring an error signal which then is adjusted to reach the desired outcome. If the system diverges too fast and the control system is incapable of adjusting the result, the control system is inadequate to cope with the disturbances (Ashok et al., 2020). Additionally, a power plant control system is automated to regulate how various devices function in real-time. A control system has two standard classes: open-loop or closed-loop (Bao-Cang, 2018). The mechanism action of an open-loop is in that the controlled act from the regulator is autonomous of the process variable. Subsequently, in a closed-loop control system, the regulator's control action relies on the anticipated and definite process variable.
The control system is also vital in ensuring that there is a strategic plan to progress productivity and enhance the best practices of the power plant. Furthermore, it is essential in eradicating redundant manual controls (Kole, 2016). This helps reduce human errors that would result in losses to the power plant or an entire power plant collapse. It is essential to monitor and evaluate the power plant control system to ensure that its operations are required and function effectively and efficiently. By frequently monitoring the system, the power plant maintains quality industry standards and delivers the best customer service to the consumers.
Example
An example of a contemporary power plant control system is the Hitachi Integrated Autonomic Control System (HIACS). The development of the control system was due to the urge to support excellent reliability and offer cost-effectiveness. In addition, HIACS also works to minimize the workload encompassed in plant operations and maintenance (Enomoto et al., 2020). In recent years, the control system has been broadly deployed and has achieved a five-star rating due to its reputation for excellent performance and reliability.
HIACS features include a well-digitalized system that has high-speed control circuits. The system has top-notch control circuits such as the servo control circuit, which necessities high sped arithmetic operations instigated with arithmetical circuits that function with the application of a programmable control module. HIACS has enabled power plants to implement satisfactory control measures avoiding cases of human errors. It has also permitted employees to transform and adjust controls using a maintenance tool that significantly abridges their operations.
The system also uses an open interface to achieve its interconnections. HIACS can be intersected with other systems and equipment by use of serial interface standards. This helps ease measures that aid in its monitoring and evaluation—additionally, the system as a diverse system repertory. HIACS has a rich repertory of control system products amassed to meet the various necessities of various consumers (Basu & Debnath, 2019). The control system is well built to suit the demands of the consumers with the application of advanced technology. HIACS works to be compatible with the contemporary power plants and can easily be retrofitted with the prevailing power plants.
Power plants require a control system to manage, command effectively, and regulate equipment behavior with the application of control loops. An effective control system can deliver good operability, have fewer effects on the environment, and is highly efficient. Control systems can either be in the class of open-loop or closed-loop control mechanisms. A power plant control system should be effective to reduce any cases of error that might result in significant losses to the power plant. An example of a modern power plant control system is HIACS. It has been deployed in various power stations and is excellent in terms of its performance and dependability. In addition, the control system has various features which ensure that it guarantees customer satisfaction.
References
Ashok, V., Yadav, A., & Abdelaziz, A. Y. (2020). A comprehensive review on wide-area protection, control and monitoring systems. Power Systems , 1-43. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-54275-7_1
Bao-Cang, D. (2018). Open-loop optimization and closed-loop optimization in synthesis approaches. Modern Predictive Control , 1 (2), 221-245. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781315222585-9
Basu, S., & Debnath, A. (2019). Power plant instrumentation and control handbook . Academic Press.
Enomoto, A., Yamamoto, N., Yamamura, Y., & Sugawara, Y. (2020). Process knowledge integrated assembly sequence planning for control panel. International Journal of Automation Technology , 14 (1), 6-17. https://doi.org/10.20965/ijat.2020.p0006
Kim, M., & Lee, J. I. (2019). Implication of LOCA characteristics of large PWR and SMR for future development of intelligent nuclear power plant control system. Annals of Nuclear Energy , 127 , 237-247. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anucene.2018.12.010
Kole, A. (2016). A review and study on advanced control and automation functions and future control for a modern combined cycle power plant. 2016 International Conference on Intelligent Control Power and Instrumentation (ICICPI) . https://doi.org/10.1109/icicpi.2016.7859705
Mohamed, M. E., Yanling, G., Osman, B. A., & Mohamed, A. A. (2019). Design of speed control system of DC motor based on PID tuning with fuzzy define weighting point. 2019 International Conference on Computer, Control, Electrical, and Electronics Engineering (ICCCEEE) . https://doi.org/10.1109/iccceee46830.2019.9071374
Rahayu, E. C. (2021). Understanding the structure of the operating system and the various operating system structures that have been tried. https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/edwms
