Commander Advisor - BASE Module

The startup or shutdown is broken down into steps in a gant chart format and allows the operator to follow individual steps for a great start everytime.  Advisor uses engineered cooling curves, component limitations, optimized prediction algorithms, etc to generate the continously variable plans.  The operator sees tasks that are not happening or running over the allotted amount of time and sees what corrective issues need to happen.  Using this module will pinpoint all the startup and shutdown deviation issues encountered that prevent a perfect start.    Every start or stop is saved for later review, metric analysis, or training.  The operator is given all needed ramping rates, start and hold times, and MW setpoints for every phase of the startup or shutdown.

Commander Automator

An add-on to the Advisor module, this solution gives the most consistent starts and stops by controlling the more difficult items during a start or stop.  This might include hold points, ramp rates, MW set points, steam bypass valves, hoggers, etc.  Automator gives the operator the option of starting in Manual or Automatic as well.  Commander will perform thousands of calculations in real time to execute the plan submitted by the trader.

Commander Trader

Trader is an add-on to the Automator or Advisor module and allows the trader to study various startup or shutdown profiles for the next hour, day-ahead, or next week trade.  Furthermore, the startup or shutdown will adhere and optimize to the local market rules and give all necessary tag values for the market manager.  The trader initiates the desired startup or shutdown profile and the plant approves it with a click of a button.  The trader will also get the expected fuel burn, startup time to handover load, and up to date startup curves to input into the market manager. 

Benefits for plant operators

While an automated start up means that plant operators can trust that the required schedule will be efficiently executed, it also frees up the operator to concentrate on executing manual controls and fine tuning the process. 

Commander has the facility to view the start up as a MW trend, showing the planned MW profile and the evolving generated MW or the detailed procedure presented as a Gant chart. Additional tools provide access to the current values of all the variables of the process, such as operating temperatures, pressures and flow as well as calculated values used within Commander. Although the system is automated, it is also important for operators that they can manually intervene at any time in the start up procedure, as for example, when they need to manually work around temporary equipment issues such as having fewer vacuum pumps available.

For new plant operators who are not experienced or operators coming on to a new shift, Commander ensures that the start ups are consistent and efficient, thus preventing human error and exposing the new operator to best practice from day one.

Another nice feature of Commander allows for automatic profile transition execution between 1-on-1 to 2-on-1 starts or 2-on-1 to 1-on-1 shutdowns.  Commander will automatically come up with the correct blending of the steam turbine and CT based on the predicted plant thermal condition based on the forecasted weather.

Benefits for traders

When using Commander, traders in the marketing department are able to create an optimal start up schedule, giving the best commercial value when evaluating fuel and electricity prices. As both the trader and operator can see the same start up profile, the solution provides a constant communication link between the two parties which increases operational effectiveness and ultimately enhances the enterprise’s capability to react to commercial market opportunities.

Being able to perform consistent and reliable start ups impacts a plant’s level of availability which forms part of a virtuous cycle, resulting in increased selection for operational duty by the Grid regulator.