DYNAMIC SIMULATION OF A PLANT STEAM SYSTEM.

A dynamic, hybrid-computer simulation of a plant steam system and associated controls was developed. The simulation was used to develop improvements to the control system, to develop operating procedures, and to train operators prior to plant start-up. Included in the simulation were two package boilers, nine interacting steam headers, and the principal process steam loads and generators. The pressure-reducing stations and the principal boiler controls were implemented in the simulation with actual, commercial process instruments interfaced to the hybrid computer, while the control valves were simulated with electronic hardware. The simulation runs in real time with a computer run typically lasting several minutes.