Data exchange: application for integrated power plant database systems

A new technology, developed under a Research and Development program, is available to tie together existing, incompatible computer systems and provide a cost-effective way to implement an integrated power plant database. The Data Exchange is a system which integrates data stored on different computers and file systems. Data translation and communications functions are provided with the system, allowing existing application programs to have access to integrated data without modifying the existing physical files. The Data Exchange can work with any integrated data model and can be easily expanded or modified as computer systems are added or as data requirements change. This paper provides an overview of the Data Exchange system and its operation. The use of the Data Exchange system in implementing an integrated power plant database is described. The benefits of such an approach are presented and illustrated through an electric utility example