Search

Power Grid

Thursday
23 Feb 2023

Leading the Development of the Smarter Power Plant of the Future

23 Feb 2023  by Mitsubishi Power   

Mitsubishi Power is leading the development of the smart power plant of the future by utilizing our proven technological history, validation on our own grid-connected power plant and the cybersecurity of software and platform partners.


 

It’s smart.

As a technology pioneer, Mitsubishi Power has decades of experience in applying remote monitoring, advanced digital control systems, predictive analytics and AI to provide truly intelligent solutions that support better decision-making. TOMONI® performs automated optimization of key parameters such as combustion dynamics and part load heat rate; enables shifts to condition-based maintenance; and goes beyond what is humanly possible, analyzing all of the data collected by today’s smarter power plants to create powerful actionable insights.

Advancements in digital sensing, control and communication, along with advancements in machine learning and AI, are increasingly enabling optimal connections between physical equipment, digital systems and human activities. Supported with human knowledge and intuition, Mitsubishi Power is deploying AI and other advanced analytics to make the smarter power plant a reality. You may wonder what the definition of a smart power plant is. A smart power plant will require less expert people on-site and will automate routine tasks to free up the on-site personnel to focus on the most important tasks. It will be able to take corrective action automatically on many time-critical processes and define and direct its own maintenance needs using predictive analytics and AI-based planning and scheduling tools. It will also be fully aware of fleet, grid, market and environment status and aware of its capabilities to meet the real-time needs of the grid to take advantage of real-time market opportunities.

It’s proven.

Mitsubishi Power is the only OEM validating new smart products at our own grid-connected power plant. T-Point 2 is the smartest power plant in the world with technology building blocks steadily moving us closer to autonomous operation. Tomorrow’s smarter power plants will be more intelligent, efficient and fault tolerant to deliver superior returns to their Owners.

Mitsubishi Power’s T-Point 2: The World’s Smartest Power Plant

Mitsubishi Power’s T-Point 2 is on a continuing journey to become even smarter and has been operating commercially since July 1, 2020. Many existing elements of Mitsubishi Power’s TOMONI® suite of intelligent solutions were integrated into T-Point 2, and many new solutions are being planned for future validation on T-Point 2.

Since its inception, T-Point 2 has been a proving ground for TOMONI, and a wide range of technology has been applied. In fact, its predecessor plant T-Point 1 hosted many earlier TOMONI solutions in past years. Much of that validated technology is now deployed on operating power plants, more is being refined currently at T-Point 2 and new technologies are being identified for future application. T-Point 2 has a total plant data platform for intensive data acquisition and integration. And T-Point 2 has a full connection to the Mitsubishi Power Takasago TOMONI HUB, including remote operation of the plant from the TOMONI HUB.

T-Point 2 is the first advanced-class GTCC plant with full Netmation 4S (Safety, Smartness, Scalability, Stability) DCS and equipment control systems. These provide a secure platform with a gateway for data communications and access to TOMONI edge solutions such as the AI-CPFM (automatic combustion dynamics control system), GT Cooling Air AI-Optimization and opens the door for future application of advanced O&M optimization, performance improvement solutions and flexible operation solutions.

The combination of T-Point 2 and TOMONI is achieving all its objectives, and the journey for the world’s smartest power plant continues. This is a long-term journey with great potential benefits for the entire industry. Many of the TOMONI intelligent solutions validated at T-Point 1 and 2 are already being applied to enhance asset management of existing power plants to improve their reliability, profitability and efficiency to help accelerate decarbonization and support the energy transition.

It’s secure.

We build on the world-class cybersecurity of our software and platform partners, deploying the latest upgrades of our DIASYS Netmation control system for the highest level of cybersecurity, giving you confidence in your smart power plant.

DIASYS, which stands for Digital Intelligent Automation System, is a distributed control system that is focused on achieving high reliability and flexibility that enables high operational utilization. We have installed this system at more than 2,500 locations in 60 different countries.

The latest version, DIASYS Netmation 4S, which stands for safety, smartness, scalability and stability, is a secure platform with a gateway for data communications and access to TOMONI edge solutions such as the AI-CPFM (combustion dynamics control system), AI Flow Modulation and opens the door for O&M optimization, performance improvement solutions and flexible operation solutions.

DIASYS Netmation 4S as a robust edge control, combined with the cloud-based data visualization and advanced analytics of TOMONI, is a solution that meets the needs of plant operators for remote collaboration. As with our gas turbines and other intelligent solutions, we are implementing DIASYS Netmation 4S at T-Point 2, where it is controlling the entire GTCC plant.

Netmation 4S leverages what we know as a plant manufacturer, what we’ve learned in validation testing at T-Point and what we know from working with customers. The advanced control systems are combined with an excellent human interface and are the data source that allows TOMONI analytics and web applications to access information that can quickly provide guidance on a full range of O&M issues.

A key thing about Netmation 4S is that it is built with security and safety in mind, in compliance with global cybersecurity standards such as NERC-CIP. It was the first monitoring and control system to satisfy stringent hardware and software standards as well as the safety standards of IEC 61508 (2010) for thermal power plants in Japan. These international functional safety standards are a third-party testing and certification that power plants can rely on.

Many of the safety and security features of the latest version of DIASYS Netmation are already being applied in whole or in part to upgrade existing control systems based on joint prioritization to meet customer objectives.



 

More News

Loading……