Operator Training Simulator – eOTS™

Accelerate Dispatcher Operation Training

With increased focus on elimination of overdesign, system validation using digital twins, safety and emission compliance, as well as realized savings through virtual readiness and preparation, utilization of Operator Training Simulators has become a key factor in better design and improved operation of power systems.

ETAP eOTS - Model-Driven Power System Training Simulator helps to develop and improve operator competency through real-world simulated learning.


From simulation to operation, eOTS utilizes the ETAP Digital Twin foundation to provide operators and engineers with an effective learning environment to improve and augment their knowledge of the actual system.  eOTS can save hundreds, thousands or millions of dollars by minimizing capital cost expenditures (CAPEX) on new design or upgrades, startup time reductions to reduced overall operating cost (OPEX) from improved system efficiency, reliability, safety, and availability resulting from improved operator skills.

  • Ensure operator readiness & foreplan contingencies
  • Increase operator competency & audit productivity
  • Improve system safety & security through real-world simulations
  • Validate design using steady-state & dynamic simulation
  • Faster startup & shutdown times
  • Reduce planned turnaround time
  • Minimize outages due to operator errors
eots-benefits

Challenge

Concerns & Challenges

Solutions

Solutions & Benefits

benefits

Avoid Unplanned Outages Caused by Human Error

Risks Reduction Associated with Operator Missteps

Real-Time Operation Simulator using ETAP Digital Twin Model
eOTS allows operators to learn about and gain knowledge of the behavior of the power system and associated processes before facing real-world situations.

 

Avoid Mistakes by Wrong Switching Actions

Approved Switching Sequence of Operations to Guide Operators
Operators can follow tested and approved switching orders for various contingencies; normal operations as well as emergency and abnormal conditions, through virtual simulation.

 

Safer Operation while Improving Performance and Productivity

Predictive Simulations to Verify Proper Switching Actions
Knowing how the system will respond to the operator actions in simulation mode, before implementation, provides invaluable insights and reliability during actual operations.

 

Emulated & Validated Control Actions prior to Deployment to Avoid Costly Interruptions

High-Fidelity Digital Twin with Dynamic Simulation
A model-driven OTS allows for design verification, control, and operability studies using the dynamic simulation digital twin model to minimize capital expenditure. eOTS high-fidelity simulator enables operations staff to safely evaluate new control strategies, optimize alarm management, emulate control actions such as load shedding, interlocks, generator controls, etc., pre-tune controls, and optimize operational procedures.

 
  • Build and verify new switching actions and control logic using ETAP Digital Twin simulator before field deployment.
  • Identify root cause and finding remedies for issues arising during the operation for normal, non-routine, and emergency situations.
  • Develop competency, improve confidence, and increase knowledge of operations staff for better and safer system performance.
 

Reduce Start-up & Commission Times

Ensure Smooth and Successful Startup / Shutdown

Simulate & Track the Sequence-of-Operation
A model-driven power system training simulator to mimic the sequence-of-operation scenarios using real-time data to perform and validate actions, such as configuration switching, generator synchronization, load shedding, motor startup, and more.

 

Predict System Response Before Action Implementation

Model-Driven Software-in-the-Loop Technology
Using real-time operation data, OTS provides actual system-operator interfaces with realistic learning simulations that match the operation of the power management system, including its protection and control systems to verify and validate the impact of actions taken by the operator in a simulated environment.

 
  • Startup and shutdown with confidence for safer and faster deployment.
  • Improve system optimization by unlocking hidden or abnormal operational conditions and variables.
  • Validate new or revised operating procedures by testing them before their use in operation.
  • In addition to operator training, engineers will get operational insights at various stages of the plant life-cycle.
 

Evaluate Operator Awareness & Readiness

Preparing Operators to Respond to Malfunctions and Emergencies

Pre-defined Scenarios for Operator Coaching and Self-Training
The training simulator provides the capability to inject events, messages, and disturbances under various operational situations that allows the operator to self-train and get immediate feedback on the potential risks associated with the decisions and actions taken.

 

Prepare Operators for Unexpected Situations and Contingencies

Replicate Real-World Steady-State and Dynamic Scenarios
Operator Training Simulator allows trainees to evaluate contingency responses to both, steady-state and dynamic scenarios using actual system-operator interfaces with realistic learning simulations and logic schemes validation.

 

Effectively Certify and Confirm Operator Readiness

Ad Hoc & Pre-defined Scenarios Evaluation
Trainers can create preconfigured scenarios to simulate realistic situations on the electrical system while allowing the operator to respond to the disturbances.

 

Certification and Re-Certification of Operators

Trainer-to-Trainees Learning Evaluation Environment
Utilizing on-screen playback of trainee’s actions, step-by-step logs, alarms & control logs, and responses, trainers can fully evaluate the steps taken by the operators in order to certify their readiness.

 
  • Deep learning in a safe, simulated, non-intrusive environment.
  • Improve operator competency through hands-on training.
  • Qualify and certify new and experienced operators using standardized operating scenarios and test cases.
  • Use of ETAP SIL (Software-in-the-Loop) to emulate user interface and create a high fidelity training simulator. 

benefits

Benefits & Value

  • Reliable
    High fidelity model based on the ETAP Digital Twin provides dynamic simulation for system-wide plant operation.
  • Competence
    Accelerate time-to-competency, improve confidence and knowledge for better plant operation.
  • Flexible
    Client-server architecture allows for remotely hosted virtual learning platform.
  • Configurable
    Easily and quickly configure OTS settings and scenarios to replicate various operation conditions.
  • Affordable
    No hardware dependency, using ETAP SIL to provide fast and affordable deployment of the OTS solution.
  • Maintainable
    Utilize eOTS over the plant lifecycle, from the design to operation phases, to improve productivity and efficiency.

Application

Features

  • Virtual test of operator actions
  • Simulate & track Sequence-of-Operation
  • Ad hoc & pre-defined evaluation scenarios
  • Trainer-to-trainees learning environment
  • Software-in-the-Loop (SIL) simulation
  • Simulate plant startup & shutdown
  • Simulate normal or abnormal operation
  • System dynamics & steady-state behavior
  • Simulate external disturbances
  • Simulation speed variability
  • Model plant behavior qualitatively
  • Simulate energy consumption
  • Simulate long-term trends
  • Simulated or actual operating data

Applications

ETAP Operator Training Simulator reflects the realistic operations and control responses of the actual plant. eOTS ties together steady-state and dynamic simulation of the power system to emulate automatic controls, including relay characteristics, interlocks, exciter/AVR & speed governor, and generator capability for an array of applications including:

  • SCADA / Power Management System
  • Energy Management System
  • Generation Management System
  • Load Shedding Controller
  • Microgrid System
  • Load Demand Controls

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OTS-Webinar

 

eOTS™ - Operator Training Simulator

Webinar

This webinar demonstrates how eOTS™ helps to develop and improve operator competency through real-world simulated learning, resulting in improved power system design and operation.



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