Emerson Awarded Brunner Island Power Plant Upgrade Contract
New high-fidelity simulators included in contract will facilitate operator training and validation of new control systems
Pittsburgh, PA — Emerson Process Management has announced that it has won a contract to upgrade the combustion and turbine control systems at PPL Generation, LLC's 1,473-megawatt Brunner Island plant, located near Harrisburg, Pa.
Under the contract, the Ovation® expert control system from Emerson's Power & Water Solutions industry center will replace existing WDPF® combustion controls at each of the plant's three coal-fired, steam-electric generation units. In addition, Emerson will install Ovation turbine controls at two units: at Unit 1, to upgrade the existing WDPF system, and at Unit 2, to replace the old mechanical hydraulic system. Ovation, a key component of Emerson's PlantWeb® digital plant architecture, delivers sustainable performance improvements to the power generation industry.
PPL Generation will utilize an Emerson high-fidelity simulator to test and validate the Ovation control logic prior to installation at each unit. The simulator will also serve as a training tool, enabling operators to fine-tune their skills and familiarize themselves with the new controls before startup.
"The new simulator is a valuable element of this comprehensive project," said Charles Sweeney, senior instrument and controls engineer at the Brunner Island plant, who points out that this award-winning facility is recognized as one of the safest in the industry. "By verifying the new Ovation control strategies prior to actual installation and facilitating operator training, Emerson's simulator is helping to pave the way for a seamless conversion from WDPF to Ovation."
The high-fidelity simulator to be used by PPL Generation is one of the customized simulation solutions offered as part of the Ovation Simulation Suite. The suite, encompassing a number of modeling technologies and simulator types, enables Emerson to work with customers to design a simulator that meets their specific needs.
Since the introduction of simulator technology more than 30 years ago, Emerson has installed simulators in many types of plants with various types of equipment. The company's methodology relies on accuracy and attention to detail, using the following well-defined and validated procedures: plant walk down, model design, simulator assembly, validation, and factory and site acceptance tests.
"Emerson works hand-in-hand with our customers to provide a simulation solution that best fits their needs," said Bob Yeager, president of Emerson's Power & Water Solutions division. "This project is a good example of how our leading-edge technologies, along with the technical expertise of our people, came together to provide the control and simulation solution that PPL Generation required."
SOURCE: Emerson Process Management