National Power's Advanced Plant Management System Integrates Commercial and Process Control Interests

摘要

When the United Kingdom Privatized its Power Industry in 1990, National Power Plc Became One of several energy suppliers to its main customer, the National Grid Co. In the new competitive marketplace, the company saw the need to change how it viewed its extensive power plant operations. For example, to meet business goals, units originally designed for base-loading would now have to be shifted up and down, sometimes rapidly, to meet peak demands. Such "two-shift" operation in the past required a high degree of manual operator intervention during transitional loading periods. Additionally, the more frequent start-ups and shutdowns would increase wear and tear on plant equipment, thereby increasing mainte-nance costs. To accommodate these changes, National Power implemented advanced process control and plant management systems at all of its plants.