Application of APACS in a power plant

APACS (Advanced Process Analysis and Control System) is a system for monitoring and diagnosing failures in industrial processes. The main objective of this applied research program is the development of advanced simulation and knowledge-based systems to carry out real-time diagnosis of plant malfunctions and the prediction of plant behaviour. APACS is a non-intrusive computer simulation technology system that compares the plant instrumentation outputs (those that are monitored by the plant control computers), with the optimum state. APACS will identify the root cause of a sudden process upset. The system will also provide accurate diagnostic evaluation of any non-optimal process system performance, thus allowing opportunities for improved efficiency and for the planning of corrective/preventive maintenance measures. Its first application was to the Ontario Hydro Bruce Nuclear Generating Station feedwater system which was chosen as a representative process system for the use of the station engineers. Previous reports on APACS have been based on testing which was carried out on high fidelity engineering and training simulator testbeds. This year, an actual data link was established that provides access to plant data under varying operating conditions for off-line testing. APACS was placed on-line and live at the plant in August, 1997. This paper describes the accommodations that were required to move to the plant environment. It will also present examples of situations in which APACS accurately diagnosed station problems. (author)