Systemwide power plant performance monitoring using microcomputers

Gulf State Utilities recently installed microcomputer-based monitoring systems in its power plants to compute fuel consumption, electrical generation, and unit efficiencies. The microcomputers were programmed in BASIC to perform instantaneous and total energy calculations from continuous metering. The computed electrical generation, boiler and supplier BTU fuel flows, and unit heat rates are used by plant operators to make adjustments to improve unit efficiency. The information is also automatically transmitted via a SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) system to the Energy Control Center, where it is used to meet generation requirements with the most efficient generating units, while minimizing fuel costs