Real-time monitoring, optimization and control of a hydroelectric generation complex

The authors describe the design, implementation, field installation, and testing of the new control system developed for the COLBUN/MACHICURA hydrogeneration complex in Chile. This control system features state-of-the-art production planning functions (reservoir inflow forecasting and generation scheduling), generation control functions (regulation adjustment and generator setpoint control), and hydraulic monitoring and control functions, plus a complete set of SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) functions. All the optimization algorithms have been formulated based on a unified methodology using linear programming, which provides a high level of effectiveness and cohesiveness among all the applications functions