IEEE 1249-1996

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 artiÞcial intelligence and expert system capabilities, and reduced plant life cycle cost.

This guide is directed to the practicing engineer who has some familiarity with computer-based control systems and who is designing or implementing hydroelectric unit or plant control systems, either in a new project or as a retrofit to an existing one. This guide assumes that the control system logic has already been defined; therefore, its development is not covered. For information on control sequence logic, the reader is directed to the IEEE guides for control of hydroelectric power plants listed in Clause 2. of this guide.

New IEEE Standard - Superseded. 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.