International Journal of Computer Science and Information Security (IJCSIS),

Vol. 14, No. 8, August 2016

Reengineering of Economic Operation of a Thermal Power Plant

based on Multi-Tier Web Architecture

*SAQIB ALI
University of Central Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

Prof. Dr. Muhammad Farooq Aslam

University of Central Punjab Lahore, Pakistan

Aamir Hayat
University of Central Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

Syed Imran Ahmad Shah

Center for advanced studies in Engineering (CASE), Islamabad, Pakistan

Abstract- The absence of central control office in the deregulated and restructured power system sets a new
range of challenges to their organization and functioning. The basic parameters in the operation of power sector,
at high level, are distribution of operation over large geographical area, human factor’s dominance and huge size

of problem dimensionality.
Currently power system operation in vertically integrated utilities is rely on the concept of central dispatch office
(CDO), which itself is based on supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system for transportation of
data to CDO. For the stability of a power system, data received in CDO is useful but for short-term economic

operation it’s of little valued.

The scope of this paper is to build a new IT based mechanism to collect and utilize the information that is being
generated by pertinent system components. A Web based system is designed and developed using XAMPP [V
3.2.1] (Operating system, Apache web server, MySQL, PHP in a single package) for processing the generated data

of a thermal units/IPP. Several “Processes” are developed and incorporated in this intelligent database system.
Subsequently the output parameters are transferred to the center dispatch office (CDO) in the form of a smart
database transaction to participate in online economic dispatch process. Apache Web server is used for front-end
user interface development. PHP is used as programming language for developing Web homepage behind all

interfaces for posting and retrieval of data from MySQL database.

Keywords: Reengineering, Deregulated, Restructured, Distributed Economic Operation

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 International Journal of Computer Science and Information Security (IJCSIS),
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I. INTRODUCTION
In present situation of Pakistan, energy crises in power sector are the major problem. It is necessary to use current

energy resources economically. This can be achieved by using ‘Multi-Tier Web based architecture’. Load
management system and energy generation system have prim significance in this scenario. Nowadays, TPS have
basic importance for the growing countries like Pakistan. Web based architecture reduces the manpower
requirement and increases the productivity.

Web based architecture used worldwide to resolve these issues of TPS. Web based architecture in TPS can save
power by improving unit commitment (UC) and economic dispatch (ED). Multi-Tier Web based architecture can
efficiently explain huge complications faced by a TPS in these days. Web based architecture allowed computers to
solve complex problems. [6]

Power generation, power flow analysis, UC, ED and power management system can handle in an excellent manner
by permitting web based scheme to produce result in a very short time. Web based database system update the data
that helps to make results in real time situation. Web based architecture that is proposed in this paper has an
inference engine. All the activities of TPS is recorded in a database for different situation of load demand. Rules

are define for various activities of a TPS like start-up time, shut-down time, start-up and shut-down cost, fuel type
etc.
In this paper, Web based architecture is developed using XAMPP [V 3.2.1] (Operating system, Apache web server,
MySQL, PHP in a single package) for processing of generated data in a TPS/IPP. Several “Processes” are

developed and incorporated in proposed database system. HTML is used for user interface development. PHP is
used as programming language for developing Web homepage behind all interfaces for posting and retrieval of
data from the MySQL database.
Following Fig. 1 is the complete Multi-Tier Web based system architecture that describes the working mechanism

of the software in pictorial form. In this architecture, knowledge engineer and user deals with graphical user
interface. In analytical method PHP programming, knowledge based result, rule adjuster and working memory is
used.

Fig. 1: Complete Architecture of Multi-Tier Web based System

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II. LITERATURE REVIEW

Here is a brief review of work done by various researchers related to a multi-Tier Web based system. Several

research papers had appeared in the past couple of years that indicate increasing usage of Web based system for
improving various operational aspects of an electrical power system. Likewise there is increasing instance of using
the Web for information sharing in electrical power systems operation. The economic operation is an area that is
mainly relying on SCADA telemetry signals for control and a slow paper link for transfer of parameters required

for an ED and UC related problems. [1] An intelligent agent architecture that can meet the need of generation,
transmission and distribution of Energy Management System for large and small type of architecture. [2]
In [3], author developed Web based distributed system operation employing intelligent approach of a client server
database system for ED of TPS.

The author proposed in this paper an architecture based on database system for energy management system for a
power system with allocate properties, which consists of integrated micro-grid and lumped load. [4]
The author proposed a scheme to solve ED problem of an electrical power system that is suffering from two
crucial factors, distribution of information, and management of human factor. Most of the data that is transferred to

CDO is mainly useful for stability alone, the data that is continuously generated but at present it is not utilized
effectively in short term economic operation. In order to take advantage of Web based system’s techniques such as
a Multi-Tier system for each field of expertise. The idea of system operation has been successfully presented
where the client–server database systems communicate with each other over Web. [5]

After investigating various research work, we have to conclude that ED and UC of TPS in deregulated and
restructured environment needs to be improve. That’s why, in this research work, we are going to suggest a new
Web based architecture which is more efficient and reliable in terms of robust data communication. With the help
XAMPP, we designed and implement this proposed system on three different thermal generating units that

communicate the desired information with central dispatch office. The obtained result help to solve communication
and IT related complications of ED and UC problem in electrical power system.

III. RESEARCH METHOD

A multi-tier web based system for a TPS/IPP is developed in this work. One of the main processes in a TPS is the
status development process. A recent trend is to build thermal units having multiple fuel capabilities, especially
diesel oil, furnace oil and gas. For an example Muzaffargarh power station (Genco III) using furnace oil of
different calorific value. Selection of fuel’s calorific value is the responsibility of higher management, but

unfortunately they didn’t consider this factor.

With the present system it is not possible that there is any check and balance system in a TPS that measure the
exact calorific value of the fuel. The proposed multi-tier web based system can check and save the result in the
database. It can also use to save all the records about net power output versus fuel consumption. The front end of

the system developed in PHP and database is developed in MySQL. A proposed rich internet web application is
shown in Fig .2.

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Fig. 2: Rich Internet Web Application architecture

The flow chart used to calculate the UC and ED are shown here in the form of flow diagram.

Fig. 3: Flow Chart Use to calculate most Optimized Combination

When shift engineer logged-in with his user name and password as shown in Fig.4. Then he can visualized TPS

current status, complete Information, input/ output characteristics curve, generated output power, enter data, view
data and individual unit status. After the user-login by shift engineer CDO can check, analyze and change the load
demand.
Suppose 550MW load demand sanded by CDO to TPS. Now it is the responsibility of plant engineer that he

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distributes this load to available units in a plant. It is a time taking process but here is a proposed mechanism that
describes how load demand distributes to the available units in a TPS without wasting of time. He just put the load

demand in graphical user interface (GUI) and gets correct result. The user-login window and GUI of this Web
based system are shown in Fig. 4 and Fig.5 respectively.

Fig. 4: User or Knowledge Engineer Login Window

Fig. 5: User or Knowledge Engineer Input Load Demand Window

VI. RESULTS

In this proposed method, UC and ED results are calculated within a second. All possible combinations that are
available according to situation will be displayed at that time in their priority list in an order as shown in Fig. 6.
Possible ED is also calculated with its total generation cost in the priority list from lowest to highest. Now plant
engineer can decide which will be the most preferable and feasible combination according to that situation as

shown in Fig.6 and Fig.7.

Fig. 6: Unit Commitment Result Window

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Fig. 7: Economic Dispatch Result Window

When shift engineer enters the load demand from the CDO, it will automatically save in database with current date
and time. A record is generated for 24 hours and it will be visualized after 24 hours or whenever TPS management
wants to analyze this data. This database will also share with the CDO.

.
Fig. 8: Load Demand Saved in Database with Date & Time
For the entered load demand there is also a set of possible combinations generate with their total cost and save this

set in database. MySQL is used for database first time in this work that is shown in the Fig. 8.

Fig. 9: Economic Dispatch Results Saved in Database

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IV. TEST SYSTEM INPUT DATA:

IEEE three units test system for 24 hours load demand in MW is used to analyzed this proposed method which is
shown in Fig. 10 as an input data for this work.

Fig. 10: Forecasted 24-Hour Load Demand

At any time, the CDO wants to initiate ED or UC; it shares the instruction to find the status of units in a TPS. TPS
in response to this instruction compute ED and UC of each unit from last logged data stored in its database and
then share the transaction back to CDO. Proposed algorithm is first time developed in XAMPP environment to

calculate the UC and ED for given load profile as a test system for 24 hours.

VII. FINDINGS & DISCUSSION

TPS processes need to be redesign for power system operation, energy interchange evaluation and plant schedule

process, plant unit’s economic loading process, re-engineering of operation, radical rethinking, human factor
management, TPS development process, thermal plants economic dispatch and unit commitment process etc.
Re-engineering procedure can be implemented (discuss above in methodology portion) for UC and ED by using
principle activities of propose process map that is shown in Fig. 11. TPS is subjected to the following proposed

stepladder.

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Principle activities in a TPS are managing electrical flow from CDO, where all data is stored in the form of a
database. It is a central head of all TPS. This database is directly connected to TPS, with load centers and with load

flow analyzers. The following figure shows complete activities of propose process map.

Fig. 11: Proposed Process Map for Principle Activities of CDO

Conclusion: Electrical power demand is increasing day by day in Pakistan. Since our country is not economically

sound, we couldn’t invest huge additional amount to install new TPS. The above draw-backs are to be rectified by
re-engineering work. The mechanism of power plants are selected to withstand a programmed number of load
cycles and the normal safe operating life of a high-pressure boiler is 1.8 to 2 lakhs hours. Service life of a plant is
normally reduced due to factors like scaling, corrosion, thermal creep and fatigue in high pressure and temperature

zones. At this stage, instead of scrapping the entire unit or installing new TPS. Re-engineering process needs to be
done to extend the life of TPS for another 20 years.
The hazardous mechanism of TPS like water wall tubes, economizer coils, super heater tubes and main stream
lines and damaged coils of low and high pressure heaters are to be replaced. Air ingress through duct plates, shield

plates and mill casings are to be arrested. The purpose of re-engineering is to improve TPS/IPPs efficiency after a
continuous usage period of last 15-20 years. The re-engineering work of TPS/IPPs are helped to increase its life
and efficiency to original status by mean of less expensive mechanism compared to huge investment for

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installation of new TPS.

The propose process map helps to achieve the right decision, the right information at the right time from every TPS.

CDO needs correct information in every single moment to take the decision for UC and ED. There is strong
communication establish through Multi-Tier web based architecture between CDO and TPS.

VIII. APPENDIX

Abbreviations Full form

TPS Thermal Power Station

CDO Central Dispatch Office

ED Economic Dispatch

UC Unit Commitment

GUI Graphical User Interface

PHP Personal Home Page

SQL Structured Query Language

SCADA supervisory control and data acquisition

HTML Hypertext Markup Language

XI. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We would like to express our sincere thanks towards Prof Dr. Farooq Aslam (Professor in UCP Lahore, Pakistan)

who devoted his technical support, time and knowledge in the completion of this paper.

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