ABB Control Solution To Improve Power Plant Efficiency In Mexico

Symphony Plus control automation improves plant efficiency, reliability and availability

ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, will supply a Symphony Plus automation solution for the 320-megawatt (MW) Topolobampo fuel-fired power plant in the state of Sinaloa, in western Mexico.

Mexico’s economy has performed well in recent years, chiefly because of its thriving manufacturing sector. Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE), the plant operating state-owned electrical utility, is investing in new combined cycle power plant infrastructure.

The Topolobampo plant conversion is in line with company's desire to both lower emissions from its power generating plants, increase efficiency and reduce operating costs.

The plant is being converted into a dual-fired cycle power plant that will mostly operate with natural gas, instead of heavy fuel oil.

Prior the plant conversion ABB has supplied it´s control system Procontrol P14 which will be removed and replaced with Symphony Plus Rack and Operations hardware and control software.

Based on the positive experience with ABB´s control systems CFE has decided to trust further in a long term relationship with ABB for its flagship automation platform

ABB's scope of supply includes a Symphony Plus distributed control system (DCS) comprising controls, protection and supervision for the plant, human-machine interface (HMI), engineering work stations (EWS), video walls and Optimax plant performance monitoring.

Additionally the scope includes control and protection for an existing ABB gas-insulated substation (GIS); soot blower controls and auxiliary systems; and additional process instrumentation, including transmitters, position switches and analyzers.

“ABB is a trusted and long-term CFE supplier, and plays a key role in this region with our strong local presence and extensive capabilities in power systems, including state-of-the-art control automation," said Massimo Danieli, Managing Director of ABB’s Power Generation business, part of the company’s Power Systems division. "ABB will provide CFE with a fast, cost-effective control solution.”

Symphony Plus is ABB’s flagship automation platform for the power generation and water industries. It is one of the most widely-used DCS in these industries, and one of the most reliable and efficient control automation systems available today. Symphony Plus enables plants and personnel to perform efficiently and balance objectives like asset availability, operational reliability and production efficiency with business goals like asset life extension, carbon reduction and regulatory compliance. S+ Operations is an intuitive, easy-to-use human machine interface (HMI) that leads operators to greater awareness, faster response and better decisions.

There are more than 6,500 Symphony installations in operation all over the world, including more than 4,500 in power and water applications.

About ABB
ABB is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility, industry, and transport and infrastructure customers to improve performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in roughly 100 countries and employs about 145,000 people. For more information, visit www.abb.com.