A Cost-Effective Redundant Digital Excitation Control System and Test Bed Experiment for Safe Power Supply for Process Industry 4.0

Abstract

Recently, the energy demand and supply situation in the Republic of Korea (ROK) has been largely affected by the fluctuations in the energy markets around the world. Such a situation has provided a basis for requiring improvements to power plant facilities. The automatic generator voltage control systems in large-scale power plants are adopting a rapid-response static excitation method to improve the transient stability. A domestic commercially developed large-scale triple-redundant excitation system is currently operated by the 1000 MW-class nuclear power plant and its efficiency has been verified at the same site. However, such a system is too costly for smaller power plants so that a reliable and low-cost redundant digital excitation control system was developed and introduced in this study to resolve the cost problem. The system has improved its stability and reliability at the same time through double (redundant) configuration. Additionally, the system's performance was put to the test by conducting a series of control function tests after applying it to the gas turbine used in a thermal power station. This study includes the development of system hardware, simulations as well as on-site experiments and each element was validated as a result. Also, the study discusses and validates the method used for replacing the protective relays at the Kanudi power plant operating in Papua New Guinea. The replacement of 27 and 81 protective relays at the existing power plant was carried out as they did not function properly. New relays were installed after removing the power supply in the existing panel. The individual power output sections of new relays were connected in parallel with the existing properly functioning relays, as previous protective relays had only allowed monitoring without outputting the contents. Thus, the new protective system was designed to enable both existing and new relays to carry out the detection function. It was validated that the replacement was successful. The new system with the new relays is performing properly by protecting its power generator and preventing further accidents.

Drivers and Barriers in Using Industry 4.0: A Perspective of SMEs in Romania

“…Digital eco-systems can only work if all participants can trust that their data will not reach the wrong hands. This requires considerable effort from companies, substantial investment in system security and clear data protection standards [67]. Protected Servers, Backup Servers, Secure Servers [68].…”

Applied Research Towards Industry 4.0: Opportunities for SMEs

“…A post-Industry-4.0 consumer needs an ideal project and control of energy storage founded on a request prediction, by means of big data, to sturdily supply energy. Finally, a cost-effective redundant digital excitation control system and test bed experiment for safe power supply for Industry 4.0 was offered [60]. Though, such a system is too costly for smaller power plants.…”

An Optimized Algorithm and Test Bed for Improvement of Efficiency of ESS and Energy Use

“…The aquafarms mentioned above can consider using ESSs to overcome the seasonal demerits when using new and renewable energies, but such limitation can wield a negative impact on energy use and composition during the long rainy season and typhoons in summer; hence the difficulty in optimizing the utilization of ESSs and applying them where stored energy is required. There are two approaches that will be able to address such problem [3][4][5]. First is improving the main raw material with another available chemical.…”

“…Although the use of nuclear-powered energy may lead to cost reduction, it is actually not an inexpensive energy considering the cost of managing nuclear wastes and the future risk that mankind has to bear. The energy sources that could replace nuclear power are largely divided into the existing limited energies and renewable energies [1][2][3]. However, that the supply of the former is not stable due to their unequal geographic distributions that put countries such as the ROK which have few fossil energy sources in a weak position in the energy market [4][5][6].…”

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