Emerson’s SmartProcess® Unit Response Optimization Improves Minnkota’s Young Unit 1 Ramp Rate by 70%

Published By Emerson Process Management

• Published April 2008
• 2 Page(s)

For years the Young station was base-load operated to meet stable regulation demands. When Minnkota started participating in the MidWest ISO, the units were required to change from producing megawatts at relatively constant levels to quickly and efficiently responding to daily demand changes. This presented Minnkota with several challenges. First, reaction of the units to setpoint load variations, especially during higher ramp rates over a longer period of time, caused lagging load response and overshoots in megawatt control. Second, supply changes introduced by recently added wind farms required the Young units to immediately offset megawatts to meet generation demands. Both challenges contributed to lost revenue potential. Minnkota sought a solution that improved the unit’s operational response to efficiently meet constantly changing demand.