Emerson's Ovation Control System Contributes To Commercial Operation Of China's First 1,000-MW Ultra-Supercritical Power Generating Units
Successful installation and startup of Emerson's Ovation® control system helps two new Yuhuan units synchronize to the power grid eight months ahead of schedule
Pittsburgh — Emerson Process Management, a business of Emerson, announced that its Ovation expert control system has been successfully implemented at Huaneng Yuhuan Power Plant Units 1 and 2. Emerson won the $7 million contract to automate the four unit, 4,000-MW, coal-fired plant in April 2005. The plant, which is owned by Huaneng Power International Inc., is the first 1,000-MW-per-unit power plant in China, as well as the country's first to use ultra-supercritical technologies.
Unit 1 of the Huaneng Yuhuan facility successfully completed the 168-hour performance test – a significant milestone for new plants coming online – on Nov. 28, 2006 – making it China's first 1,000-MW ultra-supercritical unit in commercial operation. Unit 2 synchronized to the power grid just weeks later, on Dec. 15, 2006, and completed the 168-hour performance test on Dec. 30, 2006. It is estimated that about 11 billion KWh of electricity will be generated by these two ultra-supercritical units annually. Start-up of Units 3 and 4 – Phase 2 of the project – is slated for 2008.
Emerson's Power & Water Solutions industry center designed the comprehensive control strategy, and coordinated and supervised the engineering and installation of the Ovation control system. The Ovation system, which boasts a number of industry-leading advanced technologies and is a key component of Emerson's PlantWeb digital plant architecture, monitors and controls the data acquisition system, modulating control system, sequence control system, furnace safeguard supervisory system, and electrical control system for all major plant components, including the boiler, turbine, generator and balance of plant processes.
"When selecting a control system for this ground-breaking facility, we wanted a proven solution that offered superior technology, engineering and support. As we anticipated, we found the Ovation system to be reliable, user-friendly and efficient – factors that contributed to our ability to put the plant into commercial operation eight months ahead of schedule," said Mr. Wu Hechun, a supervisor in Huaneng Power International's Instrument & Control division. "In recognition of Emerson's exceptional products and dedicated field engineers, Yuhuan Power International has honored the company with a supplier award of excellence."
Emerson's Ovation system was designed and built for the power generation industry and has been proven in thousands of installations. Ultra-supercritical plants use new advanced clean coal technology that allows operation at elevated steam temperatures and pressures. Ultra-supercritical technologies are expected to become more prevalent in China because they can boost the efficiency of coal-based electricity generation by more than 50 percent, while maintaining superior environmental performance.
Yuhuan Units 1 and 2 are currently the cleanest, most efficient and most advanced ultra-supercritical units in the world, as illustrated by the plant's thermal efficiency, which is more than 45 percent (compared with a typical subcritical plant thermal efficiency of 30-38 percent), as well as a fuel conversion rate of less than 288.5 grams/KWh (0.64 lbs./KWh).
"Over the years, Emerson has been honored to play a role in a number of pioneering power projects," said Bob Yeager, president of Emerson's Power & Water Solutions division. "We are especially pleased to be involved in this project, which in addition to meeting the growing electricity needs of China, marks a significant accomplishment for the power generation industry in general, and Yuhuan Power International in particular."
SOURCE: Emerson Process Management, Power & Water Solutions