Université Huazhong des Sciences et

Based on the principles of system thought and related enterprise integration methodologies, a process oriented methodology and ICMMS (Intelligent Control-Maintenance-technical Management Systems) reference model for hydropower plants are proposed. Because the structures of the hydropower generating process are unchanging from the point of view of energy conversion, the methodology employs the process-oriented approaches to model the hydropower plants, and the models constructed through this methodology are stable and reusable. The proposed Reference Model grasps the similarities and unchangeabilities of the hydropower plants. Therefore, the redistribution of the function modules inside the system can be done in a natural and easy way, while the synergies among the components of the system are guaranteed. To implement the ICMMS in hydropower plants, HSAS (Hybrid Smart Automation System) is proposed in which the conventional controllers and fieldbus based components are integrated under fully distributed system architecture. In the technical management domain, the performance evaluation methods and implementation system is a lacuna item to the HGUs (Hydroelectric Generating Units). However, it is indispensable for ICMMS. A system of concepts, indexes, criteria and methodologies for the performance evaluation on HGUs is established. An economic performance evaluation algorithm and software for HGUs is presented, with which the efficiency state, level of operation management and the maintenance state of an HGU can be measured through qualitative indexes. A real test case study illustrated effectiveness of the method. Based on this method, a new maintenance strategy, EBM (Economic performance Based Maintenance) is proposed and illustrated through a case study. In the maintenance domain, the concept of Condition Monitoring is clearly defined, and related technologies for hydropower plants are summarized and analyzed. The condition monitoring system is integrated into the ICMMS under the Reference Model proposed above. As a contribution to the control domain, based on the DAA (Disturbance Attenuation Approach) of H∞ theory, a new method to design hydraulic turbine governors is proposed. Finally, some philosophical thoughtlets of the author for the system integration are presented.