RIVERMASTER
- The RIVERMASTER is Control Electronics main control product. The RIVERMASTER has been designed to be an electronic governor replacement for aging mechanical and analogue governors of hydro electric power stations. It also has been adapted to include not only the governing functions but many of the auxiliary power station functions such as hydraulic power unit controls, main inlet valves as well as start up and shutdown sequencing.
Features
- Large graphical colour screen
- All digital inputs are isolated with opto-couplers
- All digital outputs are isolated with relays or transistor switches
- All analogue inputs are isolated with analogue isolator modules
- Built in test facilities for commissioning and future maintenance
- Feed forward control
- Remote setpoints for speed, power, level and droop
- Isochronous operation with selectable auto detection of a small network
- Gate limiter
- Dual speed inputs and separate bus frequency input
- Creep detection when using proximity probes
- Remote / Local operation
- Lockout facility for maintenance
- Hydraulic Pump control
- Selectable brake operation
- Password protected security
- Historic alarms display
- Two independent Modbus ports
- Program uploads and downloads from a P.C.
- PLC overspeed protection
- Independent safety circuit
- Bumpless transfer between operating modes
- Lock out facility from front panel
Advantages
ReliableThe RIVERMASTER governor is designed and built by Control Electronics Ltd and has now been installed in 34 stations with over 800 000 hours of trouble free running.
Fail safeProtection of the turbine is of paramount importance and as such the RIVERMASTER governor includes an independent protection circuit which is hardwired and shuts down the machine by removing power to the proportional servo valve and shutdown valve. These return to the failsafe position in the event of a PLC failure or an over speed event. Overspeed is detected by two separate and independent speed sensors.
ResponsiveThe RIVERMASTER governor is very responsive, with a PLC cycle time of less than 1 mS. This enables Proportional, Integral and derivative (PID) control algorithms to run at high speed ensuring that the governor can respond quickly to frequency changes and maintain control. Different PID values are used through different stages of control which ensures greater accuracy and response times.
Remote ControlThe RIVERMASTER governor is accessible from its Ethernet port via Modbus/TCP. All variables required for remote access are made available so the remote SCADA has the required visibility and control to operate the turbine without a local operator.
Local tuningA Local colour touchscreen is part of the RIVERMASTER governor giving greater information to the user. It also incorporates all the tuning and configurable values (password protected) where they can be changed and tuned as required without access into the PLC giving greater control of the operation of the governor to the end user.
CustomisedDue to the RIVERMASTER governor being based on a PLC it is easily customised at minimum time and cost to include additional aspects of operation, including isochronous operation, synchronous condensing or even pump mode resulting in a final governor that is based on the end user requirements.
Ease to repairThe RIVERMASTER governor is of modular design, with Power Supply, CPU, Input and Output modules all being easily replaced without replacing the whole system. Additionally, all other components such as the speed transmitters and frequency transmitters are easily replaced. This minimizes potential machine downtime. All Analogue and Digital Inputs are isolated as well as digital outputs. This also ensures that the modules are protected and in the event of a failure only a lower cost component needs to be replaced rather than the whole module.