Standardization of digital technologies of simulator systems as a method of ensuring reliability of conditions of service of power engineering facilities (part 1)

Matters are considered of standardization of digital simulator systems for ensuring reliability of service of various power engineering facilities. Definitions are given to such terms as reliability, functioning conditions anf safety.

Industry-specific reference normative documents are presented regulating requirements to technical means for training power engineering personnel. Mandatory minimum requirements and criteria are presented to simulators of operating personnel of power generation enterprises according to the rates established. Existing regulatory technical documents and regulations on requirements to simulators of operating personnel are presented in an overview. Particular emphasis is put on creating technical specifications for certification of applied software tools of simulators of thermal power plants and networks, including compliance with requirements to identification characteristics of software tools, to functional characteristics, to data processing functions, as well as to compatibility and safety, and to user interface.

Of considerable importance is the method of evaluation of the simulator, especially with consideration of today’s information technology requirements. The current state of most of developments in Russia’s simulator-building is considered in details, including: creating electronic lectures on description of technical characteristics of power engineering facilities and processes therein, generalized models of process devices, limited mode models, partial topology models (nodal models), shells for construction of process devices, integrated analysers of electric equipment, analytic software complexes and ACS.

Based on detailed analysis of implementation of applied software tools in the field of simulator-building at power plants and network enterprises of Russia, substantiated conclusions are presented on the software products under consideration, which have positive references from customers and known for various reasons as “simulators”; these, though meeting the requirements stipulated by regulatory documents, do not feature to the full extent the properties necessary for full-fledged training, namely, full-scale applicability, compatibility with all modes and topological adequacy, which largely reduces the efficiency of their application in commercial operation.

1. Concept of assurance of reliability in power engineering – 2010, Proceedings of the Russian Federation Ministry of Energy Commission, Moscow 2011.

2. RD 34.12.302 (СО 153-34.12.302). Guidelines on construction of a complex of training and simulator systems for training of operating personnel of power units of TPPs, NPPs, enterprises of power grids, energy systems and associations 1986.

3. RD 34.12.303. Main technical requirements to integrated simulators for training of operating personnel of power units of thermal power plants 1988.

4. Acceptability standards of software tools for training of power engineering personnel – SO 153-34.0-12.305-99.

5. Technical specifications for certification of applied software tools of simulators for thermal power plants and networks. STU 115.015- 2003.

6. GOST R ISO 9127-94. Information processing systems. User documentation and cover information for consumer software packages.