2002-09-26 HOT Meeting

No mention of ITB

2003-02-26 HOT Meeting

7 – Type I optimization

This task would be the procurement and installation of initial equipment and pilot algorithms to investigate the potential of unit self-optimization.

Follow-up action: a small group (Jerry, Jack, Rod, Tom, and Al Lewey) will develop a proposal for Type I optimization. It will include task 8 below – a proposal for relative flow measurement, and the ASME testing proposal at BON. They will provide costs to Bob and Jeff for incorporation into the decision document.

2004-08-12 HOT Meeting

Type 1 optimization at LWG

Rod Wittinger explained that reliable flow measurement is needed – relative, not absolute. Current meter, acoustic, and scintillation equipment will be installed and compared at LWG. Time of flight data also needs to be gathered an the paths analyzed. Jeff will confirm the installation of all equipment this fall.

Type 1 optimization index test box

Rod and Ed Miska stated that the contract has been awarded for installation on Unit 5 at McNary, and then they will run the test and check the code. The 3-D cam is being moved to a separate PLC, and will not be part of GDACS. A mock-up of the 3-D cam is available for initial bench testing. Eventually they hope to integrate the 3-D cam into the digital governor - for now they are just testing the concept.

Type 1 optimization is designed to get the unit operating as efficiently as it can; Type 2 (or T2) is at the project level, T3 is the regional hydro system, and T4 would incorporate all regional power sources.

2005-04-22 T1 Optimizer Future Work

2005-10-03 HOT Meeting

Type 1 optimization (Exhibit 3)

Lee Sheldon reported on this action item for HDC. He clarified that the Corps has an operating Index Test Box (ITB) at MCN to record data, and now needs a method to analyze the data. Lee summarized the plan for implementation in three phases. The capital workgroup will need a detailed outline of the phases that are required to make it generic enough to fit in GDACS.

Phase 1

Complete field measurements at McNary.

Develop techniques for data reduction.

Conduct field test at Chief Joseph.

Install information into cams.

Add approximately $15k to contract.

Verify if met proof of concept.

Phase 2

Use prototype ITB at a GDACS plant.

Phase 3

Use prototype ITB at non-GDACS plant.

Phase 4

Develop a plan and schedule for implementation in both GDACS and non-GDACS turbines.

APPROVED The HOT approved Phases 1 & 2 now for the purposes of proceeding with budget planning, with the agreement that the project manager will check back in with HOT before proceeding with Phase 2.

Follow-up actions:

· HDC will coordinate Phase 1 & 2 data to the program managers in time for the districts to prepare an amendment.

· Jeff Sedgwick and Robert van der Borg will prepare a subagreement amendment.

2006-01-25 HOT Meeting

2006-03-07 HOT Meeting

Type 1 (unit) optimization (Exhibit 2)

T1 optimizer/Winter-Kennedy taps automatic flushing system (Exhibit 2)

Dan Ramirez explained the HDC proposal for a T1 box that will incorporate W-K flushing control. He explained the difference between a steady state proposal and the old system. This proposal will create an equivalent box with improvements. All flushing control software has been developed in-house.

Timeline and tasks

FY 07 - HDC would develop and install a T1 box (or Gate-Blade Optimizer, GBO) for a single unit (MCN U9), and collect a data set from which the cam curve can be developed. Initial field testing is scheduled July 07. With the unit under AGC, unit operation will be continuously monitored to determine when conditions meet user-defined steady state criteria. The GBO will collect data in an unattended, automated fashion. Periods of perturbation will adjust the blade angle approx. + 1.5 degrees overa three day cycle. The goal is to validate the equipment and process of collecting the data. It will verify whether unattended, automated collection of data = index test data under two conditions – with and without fish screens. The initial focus is on the Walla Walla District because the units have upgraded 3D cam controllers in the governors.

FY 08 – index test – will be a verification of the data set using traditional COE index test methods and finalize the design of the T1 collection box and make sure that it will work for the entire project (not just one unit). 4 units at McNary will be designated for development and demonstration of GBO from single unit concept to powerhouse concept. This will require 3 additional W-K flushing systems by installed FY08 to support GBO powerhouse development. During the year, HDC hopes to validate the data, and complete the transformation from proof of concept to prototype. They can be designing data reduction and analysis software now while waiting to collect and analyze the data. By the end of FY 08, there should be data sets that need reducing.

Following FY 08, the proposal is to propagate GBO / W-K flushing system in NWW (FY09). Propagation to NWP to follow (FY10), pending revision/updating of 3D Cam controller (GBO as currently developed, will not communicate with existing NWP 3D cam controllers – no GDACS interface) . A separate sub-agreement will be developed to address propagation.

For the long term, do we need to hire someone to track all the data and keep it current and provide quality assurance? Someone needs to check to make sure that all cam curves are kept up to date and provide configuration control. This is a bigger workload than just managing index testing although some aspects will be automated. The work could also include benchmarking and system improvements. HDC will look at how to resource this.

There was a brief discussion of hardware and PCs, with screens that will be configured for each plant.

There was a discussion of the relationship of this work to the digital governor replacement program. The governor team is looking at lower Columbia projects for the near-term because new governors would include an upgraded controller. The governor team is working on specifications that will accommodate the optimization.

Follow-up actions:

· The Project Manager for T1 (Ken Earlywine) will put together a detailed milestone chart for the project on the Snakes and MCN initially with decision points to show critical paths and what work can be started now. Due 6/15

· Richard Nelson will provide a copy of the digital governor replacement program BCOE to Ed Miska for review.

HDC will explore how to resource a quality assurance position

2006-05-23 HOT Meeting

2006-09-12 HOT Minutes

T1 Index test box (Exhibit 7)

Lee Sheldon described tests of a successful proof of concept of a new way to develop cam curves. He summarized the conclusions, lessons learned, and recommendations.

Rod Wittinger commented that HDC has dropped the recommendation to purchase additional index test boxes from the contractor as a result of contracting difficulties. Instead they intend to develop functioning prototypes with in-house efforts, using codes owned by the government. They will need to develop an automatic flushing system for the Winter-Kennedys.

Richard Nelson concluded that an independent ITB should reside in the digital governor, so software needs to be able to be integrated into the generic governor controller.

Dan Ramirez will replace Rod Wittinger and lead a design team to address a number of index testing issues.

2006-12-13 HOT Meeting

2007-05-11 HOT Meeting

2007-05-16 HOT Meeting

Type 1 (unit) optimization (Exhibit 2)

T1 optimizer/Winter-Kennedy taps automatic flushing system (Exhibit 2)

Dan Ramirez explained the HDC proposal for a T1 box that will incorporate W-K flushing control. He explained the difference between a steady state proposal and the old system. This proposal will create an equivalent box with improvements. All flushing control software has been developed in-house.

Timeline and tasks

FY 07 - HDC would develop and install a T1 box (or Gate-Blade Optimizer, GBO) for a single unit (MCN U9), and collect a data set from which the cam curve can be developed. Initial field testing is scheduled July 07. With the unit under AGC, unit operation will be continuously monitored to determine when conditions meet user-defined steady state criteria. The GBO will collect data in an unattended, automated fashion. Periods of perturbation will adjust the blade angle approx. + 1.5 degrees overa three day cycle. The goal is to validate the equipment and process of collecting the data. It will verify whether unattended, automated collection of data = index test data under two conditions – with and without fish screens. The initial focus is on the Walla Walla District because the units have upgraded 3D cam controllers in the governors.

FY 08 – index test – will be a verification of the data set using traditional COE index test methods and finalize the design of the T1 collection box and make sure that it will work for the entire project (not just one unit). 4 units at McNary will be designated for development and demonstration of GBO from single unit concept to powerhouse concept. This will require 3 additional W-K flushing systems by installed FY08 to support GBO powerhouse development. During the year, HDC hopes to validate the data, and complete the transformation from proof of concept to prototype. They can be designing data reduction and analysis software now while waiting to collect and analyze the data. By the end of FY 08, there should be data sets that need reducing.

Following FY 08, the proposal is to propagate GBO / W-K flushing system in NWW (FY09). Propagation to NWP to follow (FY10), pending revision/updating of 3D Cam controller (GBO as currently developed, will not communicate with existing NWP 3D cam controllers – no GDACS interface) . A separate sub-agreement will be developed to address propagation.

For the long term, do we need to hire someone to track all the data and keep it current and provide quality assurance? Someone needs to check to make sure that all cam curves are kept up to date and provide configuration control. This is a bigger workload than just managing index testing although some aspects will be automated. The work could also include benchmarking and system improvements. HDC will look at how to resource this.

There was a brief discussion of hardware and PCs, with screens that will be configured for each plant.

There was a discussion of the relationship of this work to the digital governor replacement program. The governor team is looking at lower Columbia projects for the near-term because new governors would include an upgraded controller. The governor team is working on specifications that will accommodate the optimization.

Follow-up actions:

· The Project Manager for T1 (Ken Earlywine) will put together a detailed milestone chart for the project on the Snakes and MCN initially with decision points to show critical paths and what work can be started now. Due 6/15

· Richard Nelson will provide a copy of the digital governor replacement program BCOE to Ed Miska for review.

HDC will explore how to resource a quality assurance position

2007-08-14 HOT Meeting

Gate Blade Optimization

Ed Miska reported on the Gate Blade Optimization “stand alone” system. The GBO uses MW, blade, gate TW and Forebay values from GDACS to collect steady-state data necessary develop individual unit performance data (type I optimization). The blades are perturbated and readings taken, and the values are used to determine the optimum gate/blade relationship for a given head. Cam curve development is done off-line, i.e. the GBO is not a self-optimizing system. Ed also showed screen shots that illustrated the operations of the GBO. The first unit (single-unit data collection) is to be implemented by the end of September at McNary. Expansion (software programming) of GBO for multi-unit data collection is FY08 activity.