Experiences with a digital real time simulator for testing a combined startup and excitation control unit

The functional and dynamic performance test of the control equipment is an important part of the work schedule for an installation. The integration and testing of the control cubicles in a system test field improves the quality and eliminates errors which occurred during design and implementation. A hardware-in-the-loop test summarizes the original control cubicles and a simulation which serves the measurement interface. It also tests the developed hardware and software in a full dynamic mode. The high power devices which are not available during testing are simulated in real time. Deals with the test results of a combined startup and excitation control unit for the Buggenum gas and steam power station (Netherlands). The results are compared to the experiences which have been made during the commissioning of the tested control equipment. One of the results was that the tested control equipment was easy to bring into operation and that the commissioning could be done quicker in general