HTS Homepage: HTS Projects

PLC Control Systems

Hydro Turbine Control
· Replacement of GE Series Six PLC with state of the art GE 90-30 PLC for the New York State Dam facility. New PLC duplicated all functions of Series Six, however, head level control and automatic start routines were reworked and made more reliable and accurate.

· Replacement of GE Series Six PLC with GE 9030 PLC for the Lower LaChute Hydro facility. New PLC had expanded capabilities such as head level control, auto synchronizing and was SCADA ready.

· Replaced head level control system with a new GE9030 PLC controller for the Mechanic Falls Hydro facility. New PLC also controlled newly installed fish bypass gate and was SCADA ready.

· Developed, and commissioned PLC based plant automation control system for five hydro turbines. The system is unique in that this facility shares water 50/50 with another hydro facility. The automation system starts and stops turbines to match the water flow of the other facility.

· Allen - Bradley SLC 500 series PLC programming, startup and commissioning service for governor replacement in West Lafayette, Indiana.

· PLC programming for Leffel turbine control system in Clinton, MA. This PLC is a hot back-up system and communicates via MODBUS with several other devices (Exciter, Vibration, Multi-Function Protective Relays, AB Panelview stations).

· Replaced Divel Biss Controller with Allen-Bradley SLC 5/04 PLC for the Pontook Hydro Facility. New PLC provided head level control, automatic start, automatic synchronizing, and a 10,000 foot fiber optic connection to remote I/O rack at Bypass Gate Structure.

Process Control
· Developed Allen Bradley PLC program to control prototype which supersaturates water with oxygen up to levels of 120ppm.

· Developed PLC program for the control of salt water injection pumps for an off shore well drilling platform located in the Gulf of Java off of hte coast of Indonesia.

· Troubleshot GE Series One controller that controlled headgates for the Saranac Hydro Plant.

· Provided PLC program for gate hoist controller. The gates were existing but hoist was a new installation. The new PLC complemented existing PLC control system which controlled other existing gates.

· PLC based automation for dam bypass gate control system. Gates open and close based upon date and time of day for bypass breach.

· Technical services to modify vendor supplied PLC program, such that it met or exceeded capabilities required under contract.

· Replaced GE series One controller with newer GE 9030 Series PLC for the operation of cable drum hoists for the operation of Tainter gate.

· New PLC had added protection and was more reliable than the existing system. Also supplied Rivert inclinometer transducers for measurement of tainter gate skew.

Control System Services
· Re-commissioned 12 MW hydroelectric plant auxiliary systems.

· Upgrade of control cabinet via installation of Emergency Stop circuitry, new panel meters, speed monitoring, wicket gate “spun” alarm, etc.

· Provide control system troubleshooting and component upgrades to maintain aging control system for hydro facility in Potsdam, NY.

· Supplied and installed soft start motors which open and close motor operated miter gates for the New York State Canal system.

· Provide ongoing control systems troubleshooting and electrical maintenance for hydro facility in Stillwater, NY.

· Control system troubleshooting and repair of defective headwater level signal, and various unknown plant shutdowns.

· Technical services to correct malfunctioning electronic valve controller unit for the city of New York.

· Provide Management Information System with data calculations and data acquisition for river flow monitoring computer system, and development of new river flow sharing program.

· Supply, install and calibrate turbine speed pickup monitoring system for hydroelectric turbine-generators.

· Engineered and developed a river flow sharing computer program utilizing Intellution software.

· Troubleshoot and repair of faulty variable speed DC drive for cruise ship’s bow thruster system.

· Upgrade of control cabinet via installation of Emergency Stop circuitry, new panel meters, speed monitoring, wicket gate “spun” alarm, etc.

· Troubleshot and repaired two faulty gate position switches that were damaged by lightning.

Switchgear and High Voltage Component Services
· Engineering review of PT circuits and PT loading for ferroresonance and premature failure of PTs. Designed retrofitted system to eliminate ferroresonance from reoccurring.

· Project Site Engineering for upgrade of Commonwealth Edison Switchyards in the city of Chicago. Engineering involved designing breaker trip schemes, along with protective relay coordination.

· Commissioning services for upgrade of Commonwealth Edison Switchyards in the city of Chicago.

· 52 Breaker and Protective relay testing for power producers.

· Provide expert safety review of equipment ABB supplied. The equipment was involved in personal accident.

· Facility upgrade such that all California Energy plants located on the Island of Leyte in the Phillippines were protected from transmission system Third Harmonics.

Installation and Commissioning Services
· Training services for two Polyjet valves and associated hydraulic power units.

· Provide one year maintenance warranty for subcontractor’s hydraulic power unit. Subcontractor had gone out of business and could not support contracted warranty.

· Startup and commissioning for HPUs (2) which operate diverter valve (2) for a combined cycle steam plant in Denver City, Texas.

· Startup and commissioning for HPUs (2) which operate diverter valve (2) for a combined cycle steam plant in Takoradi, Ghana, Africa.

· Startup and commissioning for HPUs (4) which operate diverter valve (4) for a combined cycle steam plant in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

· Commissioning services for water gate hydraulic power units.

· Start up and commissioning services for 3 hydraulic power units and their 39 associated gates for the Boston Harbor Project in Quincy, Massachusetts.

· Start up and commissioning services for waste water treatment facility and associated Limitorque operators for the Boston Harbor Project in Quincy, Massachusetts.

· Startup, commissioning and training for sluice gate and Limitorque operator in Framingham, Massachusetts.

· Startup, commissioning and training for sluice gate and Limitorque operator in Syracuse, New York.

· Inspection services for a water gate installation in British Columbia.

· Installation and troubleshooting services for hydraulic power unit in Herkimer, New York.

· Startup services for three roller gates and associated HPU in Spokane, Washington.

· Startup and commissioning services for four gates and two HPU’s in Decker, Montana. Also installed field piping changes for as requested by owner.

· Inspection and engineering evaluation services for PLC controller and gate hoist systems at Carraizo Dam Reservoir near San Juan, Puerto Rico.

· Startup and commissioning services for cable drum hoist and roller gate at Cedar Falls Reservoir in Washington State.

· Start up and commissioning services for cable drum hoist of tainter gate, near Fargo, North Dakota.

· Commissioning services for Crest gates (6), Miter gates (2), Sluice gates (8), and Hydraulic Power Unit for two facilities in Oklahoma City, OK.

· Commissioning Services for Crest gates (3) and Sluice gates (2) for new constructed dam in Oklahoma City, OK.

· Commissioning and start-up services for hydraulic power unit that operates fixed wheel gates that isolate water flow into aqueducts for the city of Los Angeles.