Control systems for power plants - a review

In close relation to the programme of the meeting on control systems for power plants the journal etz gives a concise survey of the state and the trends in developing power plant control systems. The innovations rapidly superseding each other in the field of semiconductor technology force the producing firms always to think over again and to adapt equipment and systems technology. On the other hand, the setting up of power plants requires increasing periods of planning and construction. This discrepancy is even more emphasized by the necessity of applying only such equipment and systems for power plants - especially in nuclear power plants - which grant sufficient reliability with regard to quantity and time factors which are based on statistical standards. Moreover, the securing of maintenance and other services in the long term requires a sufficient generation period for hardware and software. (orig./GL)