Abstract: A system and method for optimizing the costs associated with the generation and flow of reactive power in an industrial plant connected to receive power from an electrical power utility and including a plurality of electromechanical rotating machines and electrical loads connected in a network, each machine having a reactive power characteristic and an excitation element which is controllable for adjusting the reactive power generated or absorbed by the machine.

Abstract: A training simulator for the full-scope real-time dynamic operation of a nuclear power plant utilizes apparatus that includes control consoles having manual and automatic devices for operating simulated plant components and indicating devices for monitoring physical values in the simulated plant. A general purpose digital computer configuration is connected to the control consoles to accept input data indicative of the operated condition of the console control devices and perform dynamic real-time simulation calculations for providing output data to the monitoring devices. An instructor's console, which has control and indicating devices, is connected to the computer configuration to perform functions that include initializing and "replaying" selected operational states of the simulated plant. The majority of the control components of the simulated plant, such as valves, pumps and controllers, are simulated separately from the simulated system they control.

Abstract: An economical despatching arrangement for despatching load and fuel assignments on a multi-boiler cogenerative type steam generating plant includes a logic arrangement of determining a present value of flow of each fuel to each boiler, a logic arrangement of determining a present value of the share of the steam load carried by each of the boilers, a logic arrangement for calculating an optimal next value for each of the load and fuel assignments, a logic arrangement for estimating a proportionate share value for one of the boilers and the fuel flow values for one of the fuels and a logic arrangement for implementing the optimal next values as a function of whether a manual or automatic mode of operation has been selected for the particular parameter.

Abstract: In a plant including a multiplicity of energy conversion units which together supply load upon demand to a given process through a common junction, a system is included to economically optimize the load distribution among the multiple units dynamically during the transition of process load demand from one state to another such that when the process load supply reaches the other process demand state, the energy conversion units are substantially in their economically optimum individual load generating states.

Abstract: In a steam and power cogeneration system optimization results for steam flow and power are calculated off-line recurrently based on actual demand and control is effected on a multiplane basis upon selection of a new plane of control defined by a new status and configuration of the system network, the optimization results for such particular plane being selected and control performed at the time of plane change. Pressure reducing valves are positioned initially at the time of plane change in accordance with the optimization results for the new plane. Pressure reducing valves are positioned for flow tuning about such initial valve positioning.

Abstract: In a multiturbogenerator cogeneration system mass flow balancing is used to optimize the distribution of steam between the machine while meeting the demand in steam and electrical power of the industrial plant in order to choose the less costly between cogenerated power and power purchased from the tie-line. The EVOP method of optimization is used off-line with the assist of a microcomputer to determine the optimal distribution of steam.

Abstract: Process control is disclosed, applicable in particular to fluid flow distribution, by which decoupling of the individual process variable changes, by set point setting changes, is effected through anticipation of the interaction through the process, using Gauss-Jordan elimination to find the solutions to simultaneous equations, whereby all set point settings are simultaneously adjusted by adding such anticipations.

Abstract: The present control apparatus and method for controlling a plurality of intercoupled industrial process operations each having an operation control member. The control member position correction is implemented in accordance with a predetermined characteristic so as to minimize undesired interference with the other industrial process operations.

Abstract: The present control system and method for controlling the combustion chamber pressure in a non-linear combustion process is operative in relation to one or more combustion chambers each having a flue gas damper. In the case of a plurality of such chambers, the outlet duct associated with each chamber is connected to a common exhaust stack. This operation is in relation to a desired damper position control characteristic provided by a combination of process signals in a microprocessor computer apparatus. Information in the form of the combustion and pressure levels as supplied in an anticipative feed-forward control manner by a particular combustion chamber is utilized in conjunction with a variable gain characteristic determined by the actual position of the damper operative with that combustion chamber to determine the correct damper position for that chamber.

Abstract: A control system and method are provided for an industrial process operation, wherein a controller is coupled with a process control member and has a gain that is adjustable in accordance with a predetermined relationship of the controller reference iteration interval and the controller actual execution interval.

Abstract: An industrial production or other operational system is established by connecting apparatus which implements system operation to a digital computer system using an interface system. Machine readable definitions of events, of executable jobs, and of system variables are prepared for computer entry and ultimately for configuration of the system apparatus into an entity having operational characteristics corresponding to the entered definitions.The definitions of system variables may include definitions of signals which are coupled between the system apparatus and the computer through the interface system, and such signals may be put to system monitoring or control uses or both of these uses in the structured system. Some of the definitions may be computer programs, but most are preferably definitions of the system configuration written out in a language which a systems engineer can understand and use. Generally, definitions may include designators which are names or numbers.

Abstract: An industrial production or other operational system is established by connecting apparatus which implements system operations to a digital computer system using an interface system. Machine readable definitions of events, of executable jobs, and of system variables are prepared for computer entry and ultimately for configuration of the system apparatus into an entity having operational characteristics corresponding to the entered definitions.The definitions of system variables may include definitions of signals which are coupled between the system apparatus and the computer through the interface system, and such signals may be put to system monitoring or control uses or both of these uses in the structured system. Some of the definitions may be computer programs, but most are preferably definitions of the system configuration written out in a language which a systems engineer can understand and use. Generally, definitions may include designators which are names or numbers.