Application of Functional Analysis Techniques and Supervision of Thermal Power Plants

Supervision consists of commanding a process and supervising its working [1]. To achieve this goal, the supervisory system of a process must collect, supervise and record important sources of data linked to the process, to detect the possible loss of functions and alert the human operator. The main objective of a supervisory system is to give the means to the human operator to control and to command a highly automated process [2]. So, the supervision of industrial processes includes a set of tasks aimed at controlling a process and supervising its operation. An automatic supervisory system is a traditional supervisory system, that is to say, a system which provides a hierarchical list of alarms generated by a simple comparison with regard to thresholds [3]. The information synthesis system manages the presentation of information via any support (synoptic, console, panel, etc.) to the human operator. Today, the supervision of production systems is more and more complex to perform, not only because of the number of variables always more numerous to monitor but also because of the numerous interrelations existing between them, very difficult to interpret when the process is highly automated [4]. The challenge of the future years is based on the design of support systems which let an active part to the supervisory operators by supplying tools and information allowing them to understand the running of production equipment. Indeed, the traditional supervisory systems present many already known problems. First, whereas sometimes the operator is saturated by an information overload, some other times the information under load does not permit them to update their mental model of the supervised process [5]. Moreover, the supervisory operator has a tendency to wait for the alarm to act, instead of trying to foresee or anticipate abnormal states of the system. So, to avoid these perverse effects and to make operator’s work more active, the design of future supervisory systems has to be human centred in order to optimize Man-Machine interactions [6]. It seems in fact important to supply the means to this operator to perform his own evaluation of the process state. To reach this objective, Functional Analysis seems to be a promising research method. In fact, allowing the running of the production equipment to be


Presentation of supervisory control and data acquisition system
The SCADA term (supervisory control and data acquisition) refers to a system that collects data coming from different sensors of an industrial or other process [8] [9] [10], these sensors can beings installed in the same site or distant (several Km), the introverted data are treated by an unit called processor power station (CPU, PCU, PC...), results are sent in real time to the Men / Machine interfacing that can be a computer with its peripherals (See Figure 1). The SCADA system of the TPP of Radès (in Tunisia) orders and classifies all data for [11] [12]:  Instantaneous impression.  Visualization on screen using data tables and tabular diagrams.  Registration of instantaneous exchanges of numeric and analogical data.  Instantaneous calculation for example corrections of gas debits, direct middle specific consumption, middle values.  Storage of the analogical information of the process.  Calculation of outputs and losses of the process.  Surveillance of the SOE signals (entrances rapid contact 1ms)  Interfacing interactive Men / Machine for the surveillance of the system and the conduct of processes (tabular, curves view of alarm). The objective of the SCADA system of the TPP of Radès is to collect data instantaneously (ON LINE) of their sites and to transform them in numeric data. This centralized supervision allows operators, since the room of control of the TPP, to control facilities in their domain of exploitation and the different types of incidents.

Functional analysis of a SCADA system
There are many methods that have been used to enhance participation in Information System planning and requirements analysis [13]. We present the application of SADT and SA-RT methods on a SCADA system. The SADT method represents attempts to apply the concept of focus groups specifically to information systems planning, eliciting data from groups of stakeholders or organizational teams. SADT is characterized by the use of predetermined roles for group/team members and the use of graphically structured diagrams. It enables capturing of proposed system's functions and data flows among the functions [14]. SADT, which was designed by Ross in the 1970s [15], was originally destined for software engineering but rapidly other areas of application were found, such as aeronautic, production management, etc. For SADT diagrams or function boxes, we will consider two events to be representing the activation states of the activities. The first event represents the instant when the activity is triggered off, and the second event represents the ending instant. Figure 3 presents the Actigram and Datagram of the SADT model. The boxes called ICOM's input-control-output-mechanisms are hierarchically decomposed. At the top of the hierarchy, the overall purpose of the system is shown, which is then decomposed into components-subactivities. The decomposition process continues until there is sufficient detail to serve the purpose of the model builder. Figures 4 and 5 present respectively the A-0 and the A0 levels of the SADT model of a SCADA system [16] [17].  SADT is a standard tool used in designing computer integrated manufacturing systems, including flexible manufacturing systems. Although SADT does not need any specific supporting tools, several computer programs implementing SADT methodology have been developed. One of them is Design: IDEF, which implements IDEF0 method. SADT: IDEF0 represents activity oriented modeling approach. Among the graphical methods most commonly used in industry, two of the leading methods are SA-RT and Statecharts. SA-RT is a short name for Structured Analysis Methods with extensions for Real Time [18]. The model is represented as a hierarchical set of diagrams that includes data and control transformations (processes). Control transformations are specified using State Transition diagrams, and events are represented using Control Flows. The other graphical and state based paradigm for specification of real time systems is Statecharts. The system is represented as a set of hierarchical states instead of processes. Each state can be decomposed into sub states and so on. The statecharts notation is more compact than the SA-RT notation and has been formally defined. Structured Analysis for Real-Time Systems, or SA-RT, is a graphical design notation focusing on analyzing the functional behavior of and information flow through a system [19]. SA-RT, which in turn is a refinement of the structural analysis methods originally introduced by Douglass Ross and popularized by Tom DeMarco in the seventies, was first introduced by Ward and Mellor in 1985 and has thereafter been refined and modified by other researchers, one well-known example being the Hatley and Pirbhai proposal (See Figure 6). www.intechopen.com  Thus, SA-RT is a complex method for system analysis and design. This is one of the most frequently used design method in technical and real-time oriented applications adopted by various Case-Tools. It is a graphical, hierarchical and implementation independent method for top-down development. SA-RT method enables us to identify an entrance and an exit of data in an algorithm or a computer program. It is divided in three modules: Diagram of Context, Data Flows Diagram and Control Flows Diagram. Every module includes in its graphic interpretation different symbols. So, the SA-RT model is composed exclusively of diagrams [20]. It starts with the main process 'To supervise the signals of the TPP' (Figure 7). Then, this process is broken into a preliminary data flows diagram composed of three processes. We continue the decomposition of the processes until the last decomposition level has been reached (levels DFD1, DFD2 and DFD3). For this example, we present the control flow diagram of the application of the SCADA system in a hydrogen station ( Figure 8).  [20].
In order to give a detailed vision of the control of the hydrogen station, we present on Figure 9 an example of a State/Transition diagram. Compared to the results given by the SADT method, the SA-RT method allows a functional as well as a temporal analysis. The possible uses for the SADT and the SA-RT models are the design of a monitoring display and a diagnosis display. For the design of a monitoring display, the A0 level of the SADT model or the preliminary data flow diagram of the SA-RT model supplies a global view of the system. Indeed, information relative to each function represented through this level should appear in a monitoring display. For the design of hierarchical diagnosis displays, each actigram of the SADT model or data flows diagram of the SA-RT model constitutes a vision at a given abstraction level. So, each www.intechopen.com of these actigrams gives a less or more detailed vision. In function of the objectives defined by the designer for each display, a particular actigram or data flows diagram can supply the required information.  Finally, this application of the FA techniques on the SCADA system of a TPP shows briefly the interests of the SADT and SA-RT methods in the design of supervisory systems.

Application of the supervision of a hydrogen station of a TPP
The objective of this application is to show interests of the use of a SCADA system in a hydrogen station of a TPP. In fact, the cooling by hydrogen has been adopted for turboalternators in 1926. This technique has been used for the interior cooling of drivers while doing circulating of the fluid in their conducts, putting the fluid in contact with materials in which the heat is produced.

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Hydrogen is an odorless, colorless, very light gas (more that air) and composed of two atoms of hydrogen. It possesses a high gravimetric energizing power: 120 MJ/kgs compared to oil (45 MJ/kgs), to the methanol (20 MJ/kgs) and to the natural gas (50 MJ/kgs). However it is as the lightest gas (2,016g/mol H 2 ), of where a weak volumetric power: 10,8MJ/m 3 facing the methanol (16 MJ/m 3 ), natural gas (39.77 MJ/m 3 ). It pu ts a real problem of storage and transport: that it is for the utilization of hydrogen in a vehicle or for the transport in pipeline, in truck, it is the volumetric density that imports. The volumetric energizing density of H2 is not interesting that to the state liquid tablet either (700 bars). The fact that a mixture of hydrogen and air is an exploding mixture on a large range of proportions, the machine and the procedure of utilization specified is conceived so that no exploding mixture can occur in the normal conditions of working. The aforesaid unforeseen conditions cannot present themselves that during the replacement. However the pressure of gas being nearly equal to the air pressure in this condition, the intensity of explosion can take place doesn't pass to the more of 7bar. The purity of hydrogen H 2 in an alternator is always maintained superior to 95% until 98% and when it decreases to 90% an alarm is given out to the panel of the local cupboard as well as the room of control. Preventing gas H 2 intern to form an exploding the mixture. It is necessary to renew a certain volume of H 2 lodged in the alternator by another volume coming from bottles H 2 . The principle of the interior cooling permitted the increase of the strength of the alternator and an efficient utilization of the hydrogen pressure (See Figure 10). Gas hydrogen is introduced in the alternator while manipulating the regulator of pressure or the regulator. When the purity of hydrogen measured is 95% or more on the meter, its feeding is stopped, the regulator of pressure is adjusted foreseen at the level and the pressure of the alternator is increased. Thus, gas hydrogen is introduced in the envelope, giving back the ready alternator to the working. The diagram of circuit of the system of gas control represents the position of every floodgate during the working.

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Otherwise, the drier of gas, composed of a full reservoir of alumina activated (absorbing agent), of a heating device, of a puff, of a thermometer…, is installed between the circuit high pressure and the circuit bass pressure of the alternator so that gas crosses the drier all along the working of the alternator. The turbo-alternator group of the center of Radès is cooled internally by gas hydrogen. As shows the diagram of circuit (See Figure 11), the device of gas control is composed by the following elements:  A spray of carbon dioxide  A device of gas hydrogen feeding  A drier of gas  A unit of surveillance of gas pressure / purity  Command valves  A meter of purity. The pressure of gas hydrogen inside the alternator is maintained to a face value of 3 to ABS 6 bars, thanks to a regulator of pressure gone up on the collector of feeding in hydrogen.
In the same way, the purity of hydrogen in the alternator is always maintained to more of 95% and, when it descends to 90%, an alarm is given out, preventing the internal gas to compose an exploding mixture. The gas of carbon dioxide is used fluid how of sweep to fill to either hunt the hydrogen of the alternator in order to avoid that hydrogen and air won't be mixed in a critical condition. At the time of replenishment of the alternator by hydrogen, the dioxide of carbon is used to hunt the air of the alternator. The valve of safety is adjusted to an ABS 6 bar pressure so that, www.intechopen.com when an anomaly occurs in the circuit of gas of carbon dioxide, the pressure of the bottle is exercised on all tubings. The CO 2 being heavier than air, it is provided in the alternator through the lower distribution hose. It is then necessary to measure the purity of gas to the top of the alternator: the lower hose leads to the valve of command in the post office of distribution that is opened opportunely and closed.
In the same way, the puff of the meter of the purity is starting up in the alternator with the spray in start. When the purity of carbon dioxide gotten on the meter of purity is besides 75%, the feeding is stopped and hydrogen is by following introduces to its room. By reason of its relatively weak weight in relation to the CO 2 , gas hydrogen is provided with the help of the superior hose of distribution of the alternator. The purity of gas hydrogen must be measured to the bottom of the alternator that is for it the valve of command is opened appropriately and closed. A regulator of pressure is installed between the hose of gas feeding and the station of gas hydrogen in order to maintain the pressure of the internal gas to a value wanted of 1 to 8 Abs bars.
In this application, we present on the one hand, the programming of the general numbering, timetable and daily of the gas hydrogen consumption and on the other hand, the configuration of a new tabular circuit gas hydrogen containing the new information [21]. Figure 12 presents the new tabular of the Hydrogen circuit containing the new modifications. Fig. 12. New tabular of the hydrogen circuit [21]. www.intechopen.com The TPP of Radès arranges a regulator of pressure that assures the feeding of H2. When the uncommunicative gas in the alternator and the pressure is increased the regulator in will be stopped. The calculation of hydrogen flights makes himself by hand therefore we cannot have an exact value on these flights. This value is not displayed on the SCADA system. The daily taking of values of numberings of flights of hydrogen consumption decreases the precision of calculation of the output of every slice.
To remedy these problems we propose a solution of automatic reading of the value of the gas hydrogen flight. The proposed solution is to make the calculation of flights by the SCADA system and to program blocks of the daily calculation. This solution is automatic and cyclic where the period of the time is stationary. The algorithmic of treatment is based on the concepts of block and diagram (or compound). Indeed, a block is a software entity that achieves a specific function more less complex (stake to the ladder, conversion, filtering, calculation, test of alarms, etc.) definite by its algorithm. For the configuration stage, we used the ICC software (Integrated Control Configuration). This software permits the creation and configuration of the resident program in the CP60. For the conception stage of the tabular, we used the FoxDraw software. This software possesses a library of components permitting to represent the various elements of an industrial installation.

Application of the supervision of a water steam -cycle a TPP
Considering that the water used contains an elevated rate in dissolved salts and in matter suspended, it is indispensable to adopt a stage of pretreatment to assure the good working of the inverse osmosis installation and to protect modules against risks of usuries, corrosion and especially membrane calmative. The pretreatment is constituted of two filtration chains each including a sand filter and an active coal filter. Thereafter, we present the two stations of the TPP: inverse osmosis and demineralization. The control of the water quality is an important task to maintain the efficiency and the sure and continuous working of the power station. To guarantee the best water quality at the level of the water steam circuit, the TPP of Radès arranges an inverse osmosis station that permits to eliminate the majority of salts dissolved in the raw water before being treated in a demineralization station (See Figure 13). This stage serves to minimize risks of failing by corrosion of the turbine or the loss of the efficiency and the power. The basic principle of the ion exchange consists in withdrawing ions (remaining salts that are lower to 8%) in solution in water is to recover an ion of value, either to eliminate a harmful or bothersome ion for the ulterior utilization of water. The exchange of ions is a process which ions with a certain load contents in a solution are eliminated of this solution, and replaced in the same way by an equivalent quantity of other ions load gave out by the strong but the opposite load ions are not affected. In the demineralization chain, osmosis water passes by the following stages:  a weak cationic exchanger (CF1);  a strong cationic exchanger (CF2);  a weak anionic exchanger (AF1);  a degasser;  a strong anionic exchanger (AF2);  a strong cationic exchanger (CF3);  a strong anionic exchanger (AF3).

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After the demineralization, the water must have a lower conductivity of 0.2 µS/cm, a pH between 6.5 and 7.5; silica < 30 ppb. Figure 14 presents the cycle of the water treatment in the demineralization station.  In order to remedy to the absence of indication, of follow-up and of storage of the chemical characteristics of the water of the furnace, it is necessary to achieve an interfacing between the chemical sensors (pH meter and conductivity meter) and the stations of surveillance of the control room of the TPP. The interfacing of the signals of the pH and the conductivity of the ball furnace is assured by a data configuration of both analogical and numeric signals and requires a unique code for every entrance which must be programmed in the data base system. This application is declined in six stages: The last stage of this application of interfacing consists in improving the tabular pH meter and conductivity meter. Figure 15 presents the display of the sampling room containing the chemical analysis parameters of the water -steam cycle of the TPP.  www.intechopen.com

Application of the supervision of pumps vibrations of a TPP
Systems of vibration surveillance are often equipped of measure chains for other complementary parameters, as the axial position, the crankiness, the differential dilation, the dynamic pressure, the speed of rotation and the temperature. Among the new systems of measures, we mention notably IDS (system of icing detection) and AGMS (system of measure of the bore between the rotor and the stator) that complete a system of vibration surveillance efficiently, but that are also usable as of the autonomous specific systems [23].
The MMS system (System of Machine Surveillance) is the synthesis of the long experience of Vibro-Meter in the domain of the surveillance of machines and its expertise to master technologies of vanguard as for the manufacture of the electronic of surveillance. The instrument of vibration control measures the vibration all the time when machines (turbine of power plant, big dimension compressor, pump, blower…) are in service. When the supervised vibration reached the amplitude of vibration, that is adjusted in advance, the instrument gives out an exit of point of alarm contact to give a warning to the working of the machine or gives out an instruction to stop the working of the machine, avoiding so the danger and accidents before they occur. The mechanical vibration that is developed in a machine is controlled by a sensor of vibration and is converted in electric signal and this signal is introduced in an amplifier of vibration. In this amplifier, a signal that is proportional to the speed of vibration and supervised by an instrument of vibration control, and convert in a signal that is proportional to the displacement of the vibration, and this last is to its tower convert in a tension to continuous current, that is given back like signal to an indicator and a signal to the circuit of alarm. The piezoelectric sensor is used as detector of shock, vibration or percussion. It captures the mechanical vibrations that transmit itself in a material. Figure 16 presents the diagram block of the system vibratory surveillance of a pump used in a TPP [24]. To achieve a complete monitor of surveillance, we always associate a module of treatment UVC 691 with a module of surveillance with a high performance PLD 772. UVC 691 is a module of signal treatment assorted to different sensors and conditioners via a galvanic separation.

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Most modules of Vibro-Meter provide unipolar signals in the range of 0 to 10 V DC. However, the PLD 772 can accept some bipolar signals in the range of 0 to ±10 V DC. In fashion of programming of the PLD 772, the user has the possibility to define the calibration of the display and all parameters of alarm. While equipping the PLD 772 of an interfacing RS-485, the module is capable to the digital communication ( Figure 17). Thus, a system of surveillance can make part of a cabled network. A computer detains the main computer role. All other modules PLDS 772 in racks are some secondary stations. Such a link between a system of surveillance and a main computer is in measure to do functions of programming from afar and of data transfer. The central computer can read the calibration of every module at all times PLD 772. Instructions of set up and a special authorization permit to modify parameters of calibration or doorsteps of alarm of every surveillance module. Commands become thus easy and the result is from afar a fully programmable surveillance system. The computer calls each module periodically to ask it the measured values (DC signals) and the state of alarm of every channel. Such a process of acquirement suits the registration of data and the creation of a data basis very well with the acquisition in DC in order to do an analysis of tendency subsequently using software of conditional maintenance. We have built many displays with FoxDraw that are used by FoxView, and become the I/A Series interface to the pumping process of the TPP (See Figure 18). Monitoring display and diagnosis display are important for the supervisory system. A global view of the system should appear the information needed for the pumping process [25].

Conclusion
SCADA systems are used to control and monitor physical processes, examples of which are transmission of electricity, transportation of gas and oil in pipelines, water distribution, traffic lights, and other systems used as the basis of modern society. SCADA system gathers information, transfers the information back to the central site, alerting the home station and carrying out necessary analysis and control, and displaying the information in a logical and organized fashion.
In this work, we presented on the one hand an application of Functional Analysis (FA) techniques on a SCADA system of thermal power plant (TPP) and on the other hand some examples of SACDA applications. The first application of the SCADA system consists in integrating a module for the calculation of hydrogen flights in the alternator. The proposed solution was permit to elaborate a new tabular for the hydrogen circuit containing the new modifications. The second application of the SCADA system consists in interfacing the chemical analysis parameters of a water-steam cycle to the SCADA system. The third application is related to the supervision of a system of vibratory surveillance in a TPP. This application enables us the creating and the maintaining dynamically updating the pumping process displays. This achieved applications is going to facilitate the work of both laboratory and instrumentation agents in the TPP. Functional Analysis techniques seem to be a promising way because the major advantage of these kinds of techniques is due to the concept of function and abstraction hierarchy which are familiar to the human operator. These techniques permit the complexity of a system to be overcome. In this paper, the application of SADT and SA-RT methods on a real system, a SCADA system of a TPP generates a source of useful information for the design of a supervisory system (monitoring and diagnosis displays, definition of alarms, etc.). So, research into the application of FA techniques for the design of a human centered supervisory system must be intensified in order to solve several difficulties and to improve their efficiency (tools to build the model, tools to check the validity of the model, etc.).

Acknowledgements
The author extends his especial thanks to Moncef Harrabi and Moez Lakhoua, Tunisian Society of Electricity and Gas (STEG) for their valuable help. Thermal power plants are one of the most important process industries for engineering professionals. Over the past few decades, the power sector has been facing a number of critical issues. However, the most fundamental challenge is meeting the growing power demand in sustainable and efficient ways. Practicing power plant engineers not only look after operation and maintenance of the plant, but also look after a range of activities, including research and development, starting from power generation, to environmental assessment of power plants. The book Thermal Power Plants covers features, operational issues, advantages, and limitations of power plants, as well as benefits of renewable power generation. It also introduces thermal performance analysis, fuel combustion issues, performance monitoring and modelling, plants health monitoring, including component fault diagnosis and prognosis, functional analysis, economics of plant operation and maintenance, and environmental aspects. This book addresses several issues related to both coal fired and gas turbine power plants. The book is suitable for both undergraduate and research for higher degree students, and of course, for practicing power plant engineers.