PVO-Vesivoima has implemented process control and optimization software supplied by Honeywell to control the company's hydropower plants in Iijoki, Kemijoki and Kokemäenjoki. In connection with the renewal, the company also launched the implementation of a river control system for all Iijoki plants.
“Until the introduction of river regulation, control room operators controlled the power plants and water bodies according to the production plan through the energy management system and production planning. You could say that we have taken a huge leap from a manual approach to a fully automated and optimized system,” says the automation expert Tommi Hansen-Haug From PVO Hydropower.
“The river control system is still guided by production plans, but automation controls the river as a whole instead of separate production units. The goal is to achieve the most complete optimization of the production process.”
“PVO-Vesivoima now has one of the world’s most advanced river control systems, which includes the largest number of plant units in the country,” says Timo Koivunen From Honeywell.
According to Honeywell, the river control system is commonly known as an APC (Advanced Process Control) system, which helps save operator resources. The system predicts and suggests operating patterns and reacts automatically. It also controls production processes within set parameters.
"APC monitors all eleven production units and twelve floodgates of the regulating dam located along the Iijoki River. Each of them has its own power level calculated based on the production plan and the market situation. The automatic control system brings significant benefits when scaled to the total electricity production of the Iijoki River," says Tommi Hansen-Haug.
Ultracapacitor in Ontojoki
PVO-Vesivoima's hydropower plants are operated from UPM Energy's control room.
UPM Energy is a major producer of hydropower and balancing power, and has also been involved in the development of PVO-Vesivoima systems. The company is currently the first energy company to pilot energy storage using ultracapacitor in a system of two hydropower plants on the Ontojoki River in Kuhmo and Sotkamo.
Ultracapacitors are electrostatic devices that can rapidly discharge or charge large amounts of energy. When connected to a hydroelectric power plant, an ultracapacitor can react in milliseconds and meet a rapid power demand for the first few minutes, after which the hydroelectric power takes over and continues to balance the electricity system.
The whole system is managed and optimized, like Iijoki, with the APC control system, which utilizes digital functions and automation.
“In the case of the Ontojoki River, we can think of it as a kind of river balance that is optimized by utilizing the Katerma and Kallioinen power plants,” says the development manager. Juha Haromo From UPM Energy.
What? PVO-Vesivoima has implemented process control and optimization software supplied by Honeywell to control the company's hydroelectric power plants in Iijoki, Kemijoki and Kokemäenjoki.
Why? Known as APC (Advanced Process Control), the river control system helps to save operator resources. It also anticipates and suggests operating patterns and reacts automatically.
