Research Problem and Background:
Reclamation has been installing computer control equipment in powerplants since the early 1970s. These computer control systems are normally referred to as Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems. SCADA systems of various sizes are operational at control centers located at the Central Valley Operations Office in Sacramento, California, Hoover Powerplant, Glen Canyon Powerplant, Grand Coulee Powerplant, the Wyoming Area Office in Casper, the Eastern Colorado Area Office in Loveland (Joint Control Center with Western Area Power Administration), and the Snake River Area Office. Modification or replacement of these existing and unique systems is difficult, expensive, and time consuming. These systems generally cost up to $10 million and require 5 years to replace.

Project Objectives:
The Improved River Basin Management Control project will provide a set of supervisory control system tools or products to all Reclamation regional and project offices. The tools set has been referred to as the Reclamation Alternative Modular Supervisory Control System (RAMS). Different modules from the tool set may be used to satisfy the supervisory control requirements at all Reclamation Projects and will provide them with efficient, inexpensive, and timely supervisory control system replacements. Wide use of the RAMS tools makes it possible to take advantage of basin-wide water resource optimization research which has already been completed. This will improve both operations and efficiency at Reclamation water and power facilities and provide operators with an Improved River Basin Management Control System.

Overall Outcome or Conclusions:
The Improved River Basin Management Project has been successful in the achievement of many of the original goals. The tools resulting from the effort are now performing the basic SCADA functions at Hoover Powerplant. Similar tools are being installed in the Mid-Pacific Region and will be used to perform SCADA functions for the Central Valley Project. Reuse of tools developed for Hoover in the Mid-Pacific Region is resulting in savings of $5 to $8 million. Since Reclamation owns the software that has been developed for the tool set, there are no fees for additional use of these modules. The only costs for a new installation relate to hardware, licensing, training, and operating system costs.

A member of the Hoover Powerplant operation’s staff in front of the mapboard and one of the consoles for their new modular SCADA System. Looks like things are going well! This SCADA system is a direct result of the Improved River Management Control research effort.   menu

Publications and/or Other Deliverables
Available Software Modules :
1. Distributed Database (DDBSR)
2. Man-Machine Interface (DDBSR)
3. Communication Processor (DDBSR)
4. Configuration Module (DDBSR)
5. Remote Terminal Unit (RTU) (INTFR)
6. Universal Controls Module (INTFR)
7. Unit Simulator (INTFR)
8. Sequence of Events Module (INTFR)
9. Unit Controls Module (APPSR)
10. Resource Optimization Module (APPSR)
11. Scheduling Module (APPSR)

Available Documents:
1. Resource Optimization User’s Guide
2. A Unit Commitment System based on Dynamic Programming -
Published by Dr. John Labadie from Colorado State University.
3. Distributed Database User’s Guide.
4. RAMS Application Command/Response Standard
5. Alarm/Event Notification Standard
6. Front-End Processor User’s Guide
7. C-Language Coding Standard
8. Documentation Standard
9. RTU User’s Guide
10. RTU Universal Controller User’s Guide
11. Unit Control Application User’s Guide

Project Study Plan Listing:

DDBSR:
1. Development of the concepts that will be used to manage the Distribute Database. - Conceptual development is complete.
2. Porting of the Distributed Database to new industry standard platforms to allow easier reusability. - Versions of the Distributed Database are available in OpenVMS and UNIX. Porting to NT is planned.
3. Development of a Multi-Master scheme to provide for distribution of multiple database managers within a single SCADA system. - Basic concepts have been developed and will be tested in the Mid-Pacific Region.

APPSR:
1. Optimized Basin Generation Control for multiple powerplants with water constraints. - Development is approximately 50 percent complete. Testing is planned in the Lower Colorado Region.
2. Optimized Basin Unit Commitment of units within multiple p owerplants with water constraints. - Simple automatic unit commitment will be operational at Hoover during FY99. Development for daily scheduling tasks is 70 percent complete. Testing is planned in the Lower Colorado Region.
3. Standard software development tools to create high level applications. - A new development is planned that will improve the existing Unit Control Application module. This development is planned during FY99-FY00.

INTFR:
1. Development of concepts to provide an RTU that is fully downloadable.- RTU development is completed.
2. Conceptual development of an RTU using a less expensive, more standard hardware platform.- RTU development is completed. Investigations of IEC standards have been completed. An RTU replacement is planned; however, prototype testing will not be performed until FY00.

External Publications
Yi, J., J.W. Labadie, and S.C. Stitt. 1997. Optimal Unit Commitment Scheduling in Hydropower Systems. Proceedings of the XXVII IAHR Congress, August 1997, San Francisco, California.