How EnerMAN Technologies successfully integrated PPC function for a 350 MW solar plant
Dealing with a complex SCADA system, that requires modification/up-gradation to add new features? EnerMAN Technologies has the answer.
Large Solar PV Plants lose out on efficiency, costs and productivity, due to the inability of existing vendors to upgrade or modify the existing SCADA systems.
As a result, there is also a challenge with incorporating new features or making tweaks (minor to major) to the existing system.
Explore how we did it for a large 350 MW Solar Plant.
350 MW solar PV plant overview
EnerMAN took the challenge of integrating PPC to the existing SCADA system.
EPC was done by 2 different Companies and there were 2 different OFC ring networks terminated to the existing SCADA Panel at Master Control Room (MCR).
EnerMAN team visited the site and tested few inverters control individually from Inverter Control Room (ICR) as well as from MCR.
The first hurdle was to understand the existing network settings and without disturbing the existing SCADA, EnerMAN team succeeded in communicating to every Inverter in the plant.
EnerMAN later did a timing analysis for control function. The communication protocol of inverters were Modbus TCP and time taken to control all the inverters of one block was less than 1 sec (0.7 sec).
EnerMAN team then developed the PPC algorithm based on the flow diagram shown below.
Project implementation overview
EnerMAN had to devise a solution in the 350 MW Solar PV Plant without impacting or affecting the existing SCADA system.
User was provided with a two mode of operation: Manual & Automatic Control.
In Auto mode, Active & Reactive power parameters shall be automatically calibrated based on the Grid dynamics. In manual mode user can schedule Switching On/Off ahead of time.
The HMI was simple & intuitive that enabled Switching On/Off of Inverters Individually / Blockwise / Multiple INV-Block. The status of various Inverters were highlighted in every screen.
Project timeline
To execute the project in 2 phases with an overall timeline of 6 weeks.
- Phase 1: Included the inverter/block/feeder level control for 50-100 Inverters
- Phase 2: Included the inverter/block/feeder level control for the complete plant
Achievement
EnerMAN team could deliver the 1st phase within 16 days and was able to control the entire plant. The project was completed within the fourth week, ahead by two weeks!
Products in this article
Power plant controller
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