How effectively are you monitoring your power plant?
Running and monitoring your power plant should not be a guessing game. Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) Systems make it possible to supervise the operations, errors and faults of your power plant from a single location. Innovative SCADA software technologies help energy projects save time and money. Has your SCADA system optimized your power plant?
What are SCADA systems in power plants?
SCADA or Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition refers to a system that helps plant managers to supervise and control parts of their power plants. This includes the speed, temperatures, load, status of equipment and many other important parts of a power plant. The applications of SCADA systems help improve the reliability and stability of a power plant to ensure power is being generated in a safe, reliable and efficient way.
These systems are made up of controllers, hardware, software, network, and communication. SCADA systems use sensors, programmable logic controllers (PLC), remote terminal units (RTU), communication networks, master units and remote communication servers (RCS) to relay information collected to plant managers.
Latest generations of SCADA systems for power plants
The latest generation of SCADA systems are internet-based SCADA systems (fourth generation of these systems). In this generation of these systems, companies can monitor and control more parts of their power plant than ever before. The latest generation SCADA system uses cloud computing and algorithms to communicate important variables across different equipment and locations. This makes it possible to optimize and monitor your power plant remotely.
Using SCADA systems to optimize your power plant
SCADA systems help improve the performance of your power plant by using data collected to improve the efficiency of the power generating equipment and decrease the operation and maintenance costs involved in these projects. This is done by supervising the various functions of machinery and warning power plant managers of any faults before they happen. This ensures that the power plant can produce reliable energy for long periods, leading to improved profits for the company using these power plants.
Do new SCADA systems face any risks?
New SCADA systems do however face the risks of being digital and connected to the internet. The risks faced by these systems include cyber security risks where these systems could become hacked. Hackers are then able to take control of the power plant and this could lead to important performance information going missing or crucial costly equipment to be tampered with.
There are however security solutions available that protect your equipment along with your SCADA system. These safety measures are designed to ensure that the SCADA system functions in secure and safe environments and is protected from any malicious online attacks. SCADA security allows for peace of mind while running your power plant.
Today’s online innovative SCADA solutions
As a power plant staff member you know that there are many factors, variables and analytics to monitor and control to ensure that your project is operating at maximum efficiency. This is where wireless SCADA solutions assist plant managers and enable them to supervise their power plants and power equipment from anywhere using a digital network. This gives these industries direct control of their power plant no matter their time or location.
Online wireless SCADA systems also have automated functions that allow them to adapt and resolve errors such as shutting down an engine before it overheats or the engine seizes due to a detected error. This also allows SCADA systems to run safely and effectively for 24 hours a day all year round.
Modern SCADA systems solutions from USP&E Global
USP&E Global has over a decade of experience in SCADA systems and has assisted power projects in optimising their power plants worldwide. We have seen how online SCADA systems have improved the efficiency and costs of running a large-scale power station or energy project through accurate data display and analysis.
USP&E Global offers their innovative smart SCADA solution known as, SmartPower. SmartPower provides immediate actionable insights that are data-driven and graphically displayed on a digital dashboard. This dashboard allows power plant managers to monitor their power plant equipment from anywhere in real-time. SmartPower uses artificial intelligence to make data-driven predictions regarding failures and maintenance warnings.
Contact us today to find out how we can assist you in improving the operation and maintenance of your power plant or energy project!