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Content archived on 2022-12-27

EXPERIMENTAL AUTOMATION SYSTEM IN A MINI HYDROELECTRIC PLANT

Objective

To demonstrate the cost reductions and improvements in the operation of a small hydro plant with the introduction of microprocessor monitoring and control.
OBJECTIVES :
The main objectives achieved with DUCAS system (Digital User Configurable Automation System) :
- Software configurable and re-usable in several plants.
- Software hardware-independent
- Hardware based on standard bus with high performance.
- Low costs and easily portable development system.
- Regular work of control system and plant's components can be easily checked.
- Monitoring and supervisioning system available on PC.
ON-LINE PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS :
Here below are described some problems and solutions which were faced by the system application on Cavaticcio power plant (automation and level control system).
Some problems that were not checked in the simulation phase are arisen during the setting-up phase of the control system.
These problems regarded the intrinsic delay in the dynamic characteristic of the auxiliary parts (pumps, valves,..).
It has been possible to connect ON-LINE, in the automation logic, some new blocks that simulates the delay.
Start and stoplogic sequences have been adapted to particular plant.
System allowed a fast modify of logic blocks and an efficient control test of times introduced in the sequences.
Canal level dynamic, only known in first approximation, imposed several PID parameters adjust. With development system was possible to calibrate PID parameters ON-LINE and verify level control system performance.
Parameters calibration can be done without to stop the group; so, it is possible to see the calibration effect immediately.
For control optimization the DUCAS can record some process variables.
The samples variables can be stored in ASCII file and processed with commercial tools to obtain trends, tables, etc.
LICENSE :
System can be sold by RIVA-HYDROART that usually provides the most suitable hardware and software configuration and primary assistance.
Customers can buy PC's development system with monitoring and supervisioning functions.
It is also possible to make customized contracts and receive upgradeversions of firmare and software.
The project incorporates provision of automated monitoring and control of a small-scale hydroelectric scheme using microprocessor based electronics monitoring and control systems. Features include : 1. start and stop logic
2. protection and alarm logic
3. data acquisition and transmission for remote operation
4. level regulation
5. speed control
6. voltage control
The system will be demonstrated on a 970 kW hydroelectric scheme, which has been instrumented and provided with suitable transducers for the inputs to the microprocessor unit.
The Unit Cost is 46. 53 lire/kWh.

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Topic(s)

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Call for proposal

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Funding Scheme

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DEM - Demonstration contracts

Coordinator

Riva Calzoni SpA
EU contribution
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Address
Via Emilia Ponente 72
40133 Bologna
Italy

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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

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