Distributed SCADA system for optimization of power generation

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA) the worldpsilas energy needs would be well over 50% higher in 2030 than today at an average annual rate of 1.8% per year. Modern Information Technology based Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition Systems (SCADA) assume greater significance in this context to derive maximum efficiency in power plant operations by ensuring optimal use of available resources. In this paper, we present the salient features of scalable, distributed Intelligent SCADA System developed by Centre for Development of Advanced Computing, Thiruvananthapuram and being implemented in a chain of hydel power stations along the Teesta canal in West Bengal. Besides individual plant monitoring and control, the system facilitates co-ordinated remote monitoring and control of three power stations and their associated canal water flow from a central station. The building blocks of our SCADA technology are well proven in Steel plants, Thermal power plants, Power Distribution Automation Systems, Water treatment plants and other Process industries and Transportation systems. The overall philosophy for system development and implementation is one of distributed structure with redundancy built in at all levels. Advanced Human Machine Interface on modern computer systems, Intelligent Process Controllers, Distributed Control Nodes over the field bus and the plant optimization models depict the superiority of the system. Hydel specific optimization modules are implemented to identify and predict in advance the leakage in fluid flow circuits, in order to take counter measures at the appropriate instants. The system tries to utilize optimally the water flow in the canal for maximum power generation from the plants. The implemented system architecture provides a progressive path of adaptive migration to tomorrow's advanced Automation Systems Technology. After the SCADA system implementation, Power Stations -I, II & III has achieved an increase in power generation by utilizing the water at its maximum.