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Avantha Power Selects Rockwell Automation for Plantwide Optimization

Friday 25. March 2011 - Avantha Power, part of the Avantha Group, one of India’s leading global business conglomerates, has selected Rockwell Automation (NYSE: ROK) as its automation provider for the utility’s balance of plant (BOP) applications for the next three years.

The $2.5 million estimated investment allows Avantha Power to adopt a common control platform for its entire BOP system, improving plantwide optimization as well as reducing lifecycle costs.
“Avantha Power is aiming to achieve an installed capacity close to 4000 MW of power in the next five years, so uptime and reliability are key goals,” explained Randy Selesky, director, Power and Energy, Rockwell Automation. “By standardizing its BOP systems on a single, open control platform that is field-proven, Avantha Power staff can enjoy the reduced maintenance time that comes with improved system flexibility.”
The Rockwell Automation Integrated Architecture system will monitor and control up to nine BOP applications, including coal handling, ash handling, mill reject, water treatment and fire protection systems, at the company’s two coal-based thermal power projects, each consisting of two 600 MW units being set up at Raigarh, Chattisgarh and Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India.
“The Integrated Architecture system can be easily replicated in both facilities, reducing our engineering time significantly,” said Janmejaya Mahapatra, head of Instrumentation and Control, Avantha Power. “We only need to train our operators on one control system for all of our BOP applications. In addition, the system can be managed from a single, central location using one standard EtherNet/IP network to ease dataflow throughout the facility for improved troubleshooting and reduced downtime.”
“Leveraging an integrated BOP solution rather than traditional non-integrated islands of automation is an innovative trend in the Indian power generation industry,” said Partha Bhaumik, Power Industry Manager, Rockwell Automation India. “Avantha Power’s use of an integrated BOP control strategy helps them achieve faster plant start-up and operational flexibility.”
The two greenfield electric power plant projects will begin power production over an 18-month period, beginning in March 2012. “The overall reduction in system complexity with a Rockwell Automation system helps make our aggressive timeline achievable,” said Mahapatra.