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Automatic Dispatching Systems for Electric Utility Companies
Apr., 1956.1
CURRENT TOPICS
detect a g-in. hole as little as 0.040 in. from a surface. Ultrasonic frequencies used can be 5, 10, 15, 20, or 25 megacycles, depending on the type of material being inspected. Water is used as a COUpling agent and only the section of the rotor being inspected is immersed in A 17-in. cathode ray tube the water. is used to give a visual report of the inspection along with a recorder that can picture the shape of any crack detected. The equipment operates on 110 volt, 60 cycle, single phase, or 220 volt, 60 cycle, three phase power. Automatic Dispatching Systems for Electric Utility Companies.-A new automatic dispatching systemthe first to perform the routine and repetitive functions of electric utility production departments as well as automatically regulate power generation for fluctuating customer needs-has been announced by General Electric’s Instrument Department. The new dispatching system consists basically of a remote-position repeating selsyn circuit which requires only a single control channel to each generating station. It adjusts total generation to maintain desired average conditions of frequency and tie-line load. Moreover, the dispatching system allocates total generation between machines automatically in order to realize a minimum fuel input to the system. This is based on a continuous use of incremental cost data for every machine under control. The system production cost (mills/KWH) is compared with this incremental cost data for each machine to specify a value of output. The economic features of this control system comprise an analogue computer which continuously specifies
475
an optimum division of output among all machines. To assure that total generation is properly adjusted to match the area load, measurements of tie-line power and system frequency are combined in order to detect any deviation from desired conditions. Any deviation is employed by the master area controller to correct the prevailing incremental cost signal to restore the power system to balance. The dispatching system is composed of four console sections. These inmaster clude : master area, dispatching, station, and turbine control console sections. The master area section contains all controls for determining the mode of operation for the system as a whole. The dispatching section contains all controls for inserting transmission-loss penalty factors and means for providing signals for the wire line, carrier or microwave channel to each station. The master station section has all controls for determining the mode of operation of the station as a whole. The turbine control section has all controls for determining the mode oi operation of individual turbines and for inserting the complete incremental cost data for the individual turbine and boiler combination. Helicopter as Mine Countermeasure Tow Vehicle.-With the advent of the helicopter as a towing vehicle, the battle against the sea mine, that ancient but very effective scourge of the sea lanes, has entered a new phase. The helicopter has demonstrated its ability to tow mine countermeasure devices effectively. By reason of the fact that the helicopter operates with a high degree of mobility outside of the medium of the mine, the element of danger to per-
CURRENT TOPICS
detect a g-in. hole as little as 0.040 in. from a surface. Ultrasonic frequencies used can be 5, 10, 15, 20, or 25 megacycles, depending on the type of material being inspected. Water is used as a COUpling agent and only the section of the rotor being inspected is immersed in A 17-in. cathode ray tube the water. is used to give a visual report of the inspection along with a recorder that can picture the shape of any crack detected. The equipment operates on 110 volt, 60 cycle, single phase, or 220 volt, 60 cycle, three phase power. Automatic Dispatching Systems for Electric Utility Companies.-A new automatic dispatching systemthe first to perform the routine and repetitive functions of electric utility production departments as well as automatically regulate power generation for fluctuating customer needs-has been announced by General Electric’s Instrument Department. The new dispatching system consists basically of a remote-position repeating selsyn circuit which requires only a single control channel to each generating station. It adjusts total generation to maintain desired average conditions of frequency and tie-line load. Moreover, the dispatching system allocates total generation between machines automatically in order to realize a minimum fuel input to the system. This is based on a continuous use of incremental cost data for every machine under control. The system production cost (mills/KWH) is compared with this incremental cost data for each machine to specify a value of output. The economic features of this control system comprise an analogue computer which continuously specifies
475
an optimum division of output among all machines. To assure that total generation is properly adjusted to match the area load, measurements of tie-line power and system frequency are combined in order to detect any deviation from desired conditions. Any deviation is employed by the master area controller to correct the prevailing incremental cost signal to restore the power system to balance. The dispatching system is composed of four console sections. These inmaster clude : master area, dispatching, station, and turbine control console sections. The master area section contains all controls for determining the mode of operation for the system as a whole. The dispatching section contains all controls for inserting transmission-loss penalty factors and means for providing signals for the wire line, carrier or microwave channel to each station. The master station section has all controls for determining the mode of operation of the station as a whole. The turbine control section has all controls for determining the mode oi operation of individual turbines and for inserting the complete incremental cost data for the individual turbine and boiler combination. Helicopter as Mine Countermeasure Tow Vehicle.-With the advent of the helicopter as a towing vehicle, the battle against the sea mine, that ancient but very effective scourge of the sea lanes, has entered a new phase. The helicopter has demonstrated its ability to tow mine countermeasure devices effectively. By reason of the fact that the helicopter operates with a high degree of mobility outside of the medium of the mine, the element of danger to per-