U a

Fidelity Matters: What “High- delity” Really

Means
by GSE Systems | Jun 21, 2017 | Simulation & Training

Most simulation vendors say they provide high- delity power plant simulators, but
what does the term “high- delity” really mean? Everyone is abuzz about the “Digital
Twin,” and the soft copy of your plant that enables a wide variety of engineering and
optimization applications. However, not all twins are identical.

In the nuclear power realm, the ANSI/ANS 3.5 standard essentially de nes high-
delity for operator training simulators. The simulator must perform with certain ×
tolerances, and Sign
no negative training
blogcan occur because of di erences between
up for our updates SUBSCRIBE NOW
simulator and plant response. Moreover, performance must be in real-time and
repeatable. For fossil fuel power plant simulators, the ANSI/ISA 77.20 standard
provides functional requirements and addresses delity in both physical and
functional realism.

Realistically, however, the question of delity is often tied directly to purse strings.
Some plants opt for low to medium delity simulators because they initially appear
to be a lower cost option. But, as Richard W. Vesel notes in his article “Power Plant
Training Simulators Explained” (Power Magazine 12/01/2013), “Cost
notwithstanding, many users choose high- delity simulators to train operators so
that the trainees get as deeply exposed to the plant as possible, without actually
touching it.”

If you require a high- delity power plant simulator, either by law or by virtue, keep in
mind that not all high- delity simulators are created equal. Fidelity is essentially a
combination of three elements:

1 Technology – the engineering quality of the equations used in the

modeling tools

2 Engineering Rigor – the thoroughness of the model and the scope to

which plant systems are modeled

3 Experience – the experience of the simulation engineer and the “test

operator” to assure realism in real-time

These combined elements provide the desired steady state and dynamic
performance during normal and o -normal operations.

1. Technology
To determine the engineering quality of a simulator’s modeling tools, simply answer
this question. Does the simulator use equations to predict results or empirical
correlations that model known data?

Many high- delity nuclear power plant simulators model known data. This method
complies with the ANS 3.5 standard, but it doesn’t account for predictive modeling.
When simulating phenomena that have not happened in real life (thankfully), the
models must have the engineering muster to accurately predict behavior. That way, ×
operator actionsSign
canup for our
provide responseSUBSCRIBE
blog updates
a realistic NOWSee if your model
to the situation.
technology uses six equations to accurately model mass, energy and momentum (in
both gas and liquid phases) or simply uses correlated phenomena.

For example, let’s say you have a combined cycle gas turbine plant with a triple
pressure heat recovery steam generator (HRSG). Solving the pressure, temperature
and enthalpy as a single solution for the high, intermediate and low pressure stages
of the HRSG provides the right response for the operator during start up. Make the
plant a 2x1 or 3x1 con guration, and the integrated operation complexity of steam
mixing, headers, startups/shutdowns and transients demand e ective model
equations. For utilities with supercritical or ultra-supercritical coal units, high-quality
equations combined with extended steam tables are essential to model
performance.

Ideally, you want a simulator that o ers accurate performance across a wide range
of operating conditions, from cold iron to rated power. To make that happen, the
technology must rely on engineering principles rather than a limited set of data.
Your engineers must also understand the plant design and operations before they
can nodalize the model and ensure accurate and seamless responses across the
entire operation.

2. Engineering Rigor
The size of your plant model in uences your simulator delity. When you model
more areas and functions of your plant, you gain additional uses for your simulator
beyond training. Your return on investment increases signi cantly when
engineering, human factors, safety analysis, I&C and other parts of the organization
bene t from the tool.

Before deciding on a simulator vendor, it is important to consider the desired size

for your plant model. Should you model additional plant systems or only the areas
required for training the control room operator? While providing correct information
to the control room operator is essential, a high- delity simulator has other
important uses. You could virtually commission new control logic and equipment
and plan plant e ciency improvements.

For example, a nodalized, matrix-based solution o ers a more accurate response

than complex thermodynamics (or electrical) systems. Why? Because it features a
simultaneous equation solver. The model should tell you what is happening in the
plant, not the other way around. When you calculate pressure, temperature, ×
enthalpy, etc. atSign
the nodal
up forlevel, you can often see what’s happening in areas without
our blog updates SUBSCRIBE NOW
instrumentation. This level of insight gives your engineers a better understanding of
plant performance.

3. Experience
Simulation technology has grown leaps and bounds since the early days of ight
simulation. But what really de nes an e ective simulator is the engineers who build
the models. The experience of the engineer to understand plant data and its
interactions, determine how detailed the model needs to be and implement the
high- delity solution is paramount to ensuring the simulator is capable of
addressing the user’s performance requirements and expectations.

Are your vendor’s engineers really writing control loops to make the simulator
behave? Or are they mechanical engineers applying thermohydraulic principles to
create dynamic e ects?

Conclusion
Simulators will likely remain your plant’s most valuable resource for training
operators, engineering, technical and maintenance personnel. However, their use
now extends far beyond training. Today, innovative power plants and process plants
use these simulators for engineering aides, virtual commissioning, analytics, cyber
security, veri cation and validation. If you want to take advantage of your “Digital
Twin,” you can’t base critical operating decisions on weaker delity models.

If you’re looking to invest in a new power plant simulator or expand the application
of your simulator beyond training, remember that delity matters. Is your simulator
truly high- delity?

Learn how a combined cycle power plant used a high- delity simulation for
extensive distributed control system testing and operator training prior to plant
commission.

×
Sign up for our blog updates SUBSCRIBE NOW
 GSE Systems Inc.
+1 410.970.7800
info@gses.com

People Plant Products

Simulators Plant Support Simulation
EnVision E-Learning Virtual Commissioning Training
Training Support & Turnkey Training Programs Decommissioning
Training Program Development

Literature About Us News Investors

Nuclear Power About Us GSE News Investors
Thermal Power History & Experience Events Corporate Governance
Petroleum Senior Leadership Team Press Releases Financial Information
Board of Directors Newsletter Frequently Asked Questions
Locations In the News
Careers Blog

Privacy
Privacy

Read Our Blog

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Contact Us

Copyright © 2015 - 2019 GSE Systems

×
Sign up for our blog updates SUBSCRIBE NOW