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: A gas turbine power plant is provided with an industrial gas turbine which drives a rotating brushless exciter generator coupled to a power system through a breaker. One or more of the turbine-generator plants are operated by a hybrid digital computer control system during sequenced startup, synchronizing, load, and shutdown operations. The program system for the computer and external analog circuitry operate in a multiple gas turbine control loop arrangement. Logic macro instructions are employed in programming the computer for logic operations of the control system.

Abstract: A system and method of operating a turbine power plant utilizing a digital computer to transfer automatically between a single valve mode and sequential valve mode of operation and vice versa without disturbing the load or steam flow demand to the turbine, is disclosed. Selecting the other mode of valve operation when operating automatically in one valve mode results in the generation of physical representations corresponding to the desired flow through each of the valve means in such other mode at the operating load or flow level. The flow in the one mode and the desired flow in the other mode is used to generate a representation based on flow change for each valve means. A number of increments of valve flow change for each valve means is determined in accordance with the largest valve flow change and a predetermined limit. The size of each incremental change is determined in accordance with the respective valve flow change.

Abstract: Steam flow and pressure conditions needed in a turbine to satisfy the speed and load demand of an electric power generating system are controlled by a programmed digital computer system during start-up, synchronization and load operation. Manual backup control is provided for the computer control. Throttle valve tests are provided under digital control and transfers are made to manual backup control if predetermined task errors occur.

Abstract: A programmed digital computer control system determines the turbine steam flow changes required to satisfy the speed and load demand made on the operation of a large electric power stream turbine for which substantially constant throttle pressure steam is generated. Load control is directed to plant electric power generation and it is based on feedforward valve positioning operation with feedback multiplication calibration for plant load and/or turbine speed error. Changes in the turbine operating level are limited by dynamic constraints applied by the computer.

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.

Abstract: The electric power plant including a steam generator and a steam turbine is operated by a control system including two redundant digital computers. Switching circuitry is provided for coupling one of the computers through interface equipment to the steam generator and the turbine and a generator according to programmed computer control. A data link is established between the computers to transfer manual/automatic status and other needed data from the control computer to the standby computer. A system is provided for detecting when certain hardware and software malfunctions have occurred and for responsively transferring control to the standby computer. The standby computer is tracked to the control computer so that control computer transfer can be made reliably without disturbing the electric power generation process.

Abstract: A steam turbine control system includes an operator panel and a digital computer which operates the turbine valves through an electrohydraulic control. Turbine speed and load signals and valve position signals are coupled to the computer for use by the computer control loops in developing valve control signals. Two separate displays are provided on the operator panel, one for the speed or load reference and the other for the speed or load demand. Dedicated pushbuttons on the panel enable certain other parameters such as acceleration or load rate or valve position limit to be displayed in the reference display, while other pushbuttons can be used to address and display in the reference or demand display general control system parameters. A mechanism is provided for entering changes into the computer for the various parameters and for displaying such changes in one of the displays.

Abstract: A digital computer system is employed to produce power system control. The computer system employs an economic dispatch program, a unit selection program and a tie line interchange program to determine off line a tie line schedule and unit commitments needed to satisfy economically and safely a load forecast over a selected time interval such as 24 hours. In on line closed control loop operation, the computer system employs a load and frequency control program which uses the tie line schedule and other quantities in determining area control error. The control program develops a system error representation which reflects a smoothed present and anticipated area control error. The system error representation is distributed into individual generator plant control signals under economic dispatch program and unit selection program control and under constraint of programmed plant limits to assure that each generation move is error correcting as well as optimally economic.

Abstract: Modular operating centers for use in electric power generating plants and other industrial and commercial plants, processes and systems are constructed by using a novel prefabricated modular technique. This technique includes loading a plurality of transportable room-size building modules with control system equipment at a factory site. Typically, the control system equipment includes sophisticated and complex electrical and electronics data processing and control equipment. The control system equipment is installed and bolted down in the different building modules and the equipment in each module is inter-wired at the factory site. Temporary inter-module connections are established between the control system equipment in different ones of the building modules and such equipment, as a whole, is then thoroughly tested and adjusted under simulated use conditions. Thereafter, the loaded and tested building modules are separated and separately transported to the industrial or commercial installation site.

Abstract: Modular operating centers for use in electric power generating plants and other industrial and commercial plants, processes and systems are constructed by using a novel prefabricated modular technique. This technique includes loading a plurality of transportable room-size building modules with control system equipment at a factory site. Typically, the control system equipment includes sophisticated and complex electrical and electronics data processing and control equipment. The control system equipment is installed and bolted down in the different building modules and the equipment in each module is inter-wired at the factory site. Temporary inter-module connections are established between the control system equipment in different ones of the building modules and such equipment, as a whole, is then thoroughly tested and adjusted under simulated use conditions. Thereafter, the loaded and tested building modules are separated and separately transported to the industrial or commercial installation site.