ABSTRACT
Computer control was introduced in thermal power plants about twenty years back. Microprocessor-based digital monitoring and control systems migrated to power plants in mid 1970s. The individual modulating and binary control equipment consisted of several microprocessors, functionally distributed within the equipment with regard to reaction time or system response, safety and availability of the system. The distributed digital control was configured by three types of controllers that had the performance to suit the properties of controller's objectives: boiler, burner/auxiliaries, and turbine, respectively. The control system monitors and controls the power plant for all plant operation modes such as plant start-up, shut-down, and normal running operation. Unit control level handles plant control and information system, common to the unit. Computer control of the sintering plant has largely been limited to data logging and local control. It is to be noted that the blast furnace is but a single process in the iron zone of a steel plant.
