18-02-2011, 09:44 AM
Control of Boiler Operation using PLC – SCADA
Abstract––This paper outlines the various stages of operation involved in the conversion of a manually operated boiler towards a fully automated boiler. Over the years the demand for high quality, greater efficiency and automated machines has increased in this globalised world. The initial phase of the paper focuses on passing the inputs to the boiler at a required temperature, so as to constantly maintain a particular temperature in the boiler. The Air preheater and Economizer helps in this process. And the paper mainly focuses on level, pressure and flow control at the various stages of the boiler plant. Thus the temperature in the boiler is constantly monitored and brought to a constant temperature as required by the power plant. The automation is further enhanced by constant monitoring using SCADA screen which is connected to the PLC by means of communication cable. By means of tag values set to various variable in SCADA the entire process is controlled as required. At the automated power plant, the boiler is controlled by Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) to put in action the required processes to be carried out at the boiler. Thus the entire cycle is carried out as a paper and at various stages each phase is detailed out. This paper has proved to be very efficient practically as the need for automation grows day by day.
Index Terms––Automation, PLC – SCADA, Boiler.
I. INTRODUCTION
Over the years the demand for high quality, greater efficiency and automated machines has increased in the industrial sector of power plants. Power plants require continuous monitoring and inspection at frequent intervals. There are possibilities of errors at measuring and various stages involved with human workers and also the lack of few features of microcontrollers. Thus this paper takes a sincere attempt to explain the advantages the companies will face by implementing automation into them.
The boiler control which is the most important part of any power plant, and its automation is the precise effort of this paper.
K. Gowri Shankar is with the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Rajiv Gandhi College of Engineering and Technology, Pondicherry University, India In order to automate a power plant and minimize human intervention, there is a need to develop a SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system that monitors the plant and helps reduce the errors caused by humans. While the SCADA is used to monitor the system, PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) is also used for the internal storage of instruction for the implementing function such as logic, sequencing, timing, counting and arithmetic to control through digital or analog input/ out put modules various types of machines processes. Systems are used to monitor and control a plant or equipment in industries such as telecommunications, water and waste control, energy, oil and gas refining and transportation.
II. DRAWBACK OF CONVENTIONAL SYSTEM
Conventional equipment systems are prone to errors due to the involvement of humans in the data collection and processing using complicated mathematical expressions. Thus what we require is a system that collects raw data, processes it and presents it in values which can be verified and compared with the standard values.
In the coding process of this implementation with micro-controller, it requires a fast and efficient processing which on the other part depends on the length and sub-routines of the coding process. Thus it provides a real challenge with systems involving
III. METHODS
All the values can be filled up by the introduction of the automation technique into the power plants. The automation technique involving the automatic control of all the processes which includes the monitoring and inspection needs provides for a very efficient system. The automation process helps the company having the power plant to reduce the amount of errors that occur , reduction in the human resources, increased efficiency, and most importantly very cost effective.
IV. CRITICAL CONTROL PARAMETERS IN BOILER
A. Level Control
Steam Drum level, De-aerator level and hot well level
B. Pressure Control
Force draft pressure, Induced draft pressure, Steam drum pressure, Deaerator pressure, Turbine inlet steam pressure, balanced draft pressure
download full report
http://iaengpublication/IMECS2008/IMECS2008_pp1281-1286.pdf
