A PAIR of engineering students from Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, have presented Snowy Hydro with a control system simulator which uses advanced control technology from Rockwell Automation.
Robotics and mechatronics engineering students, Elizabeth Fullagar and Luke Cartwright, officially handed the system over to Snowy Hydro and explained its operation and design at a presentation held at Swinburne’s Hawthorn campus in December.
The package, developed in developed in conjunction with Snowy Hydro as the students’ final year project, will be used as a sophisticated training and off-line simulation tool at the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Scheme in Australia’s Southern Alps.
The hydroelectric company says the simulator accurately models its turbine controllers and has exceeded its expectations. It features perfect timing and sequencing and accurately mimics the systems on site.
The system is based on an Allen-Bradley ControlLogix controller linked to a multitude of virtual and real analogue and digital input and output signals. A motor controlled with an Allen-Bradley PowerFlex variable speed drive is used to simulate turbine rotation, while an Allen-Bradley PanelView Plus HMI displays the control system’s standard interface.
The package includes a laptop to facilitate simulator configuration as well as a set of portable enclosures to house the controller, motor/VSD and HMI packages. All the parts are linked with the ControlNet and Ethernet communications networks.
According to the company, the tool will provide unprecedented operational and training flexibility. For example, it will no longer need to take the turbines offline to run simulations.
The simulator will be used to help replace the scheme’s outdated relay logic controls and analogue gauging.