Currently one of the most-viewed articles on the website, the Fieldbus Jungle, written by system integrator Hunter Vegas, spawned some reader pushback:
I was somewhat surprised with respect to the rather "Dark" view of digital Instrumentation & Controls upgrades in this article. I feel that the author dwelled far too long on the peculiar pitfalls of digital upgrades while missing significant benefits regarding the digitalization of the process control industry. There are particular benefits that may not be as important to some areas of the process control industry, but are of particular and very important benefit to my specific area of I&C. My particular area of expertise is that of instrumentation and control systems for nuclear power plants.
To its credit, Mr. P. Hunter Vegas' article did identify a number of the problem areas Duke Energy/Oconee experienced with its first Foundation Fieldbus based installation. However, the second and third installations, as well as subsequent smaller additions to the FF system have been very straight forward and implemented efficiently. Far too much focus was paid to the "difficulties" , and not enough "encouraging" or "benefits" operating experience provided, to mitigate the trepidation based arguments that many uninformed people and organizations offer to endure their obsolete systems or undertake heroic maintenance of the status quo (analog & pneumatics) with respect to power industry process instrumentation and control systems.
The Oconee Major Projects Engineering organization implemented many digital upgrades at the Oconee Nuclear Station and the Keowee Hydroelectric Station between 2003 and 2009. Oconee Nuclear Station's 3 units began generating in 1973 and 1974. The I&C utilized is of that time frame. Oconee today still has many pneumatic and analog I&C process loops. But, Oconee is also one of the most "Digital" nuclear power plants in the United States. Digital systems are the future for power generation, whether an existing plant or a new one, and regardless of fuel or energy source utilized. Duke Energy has implemented many digital upgrades within their nuclear fleet. Most all driven by obsolescence issues and a desire for improved performance, monitoring and reduced maintenance.
Feel free to use my response attached as you wish. And, feel free to contact me regarding many more details and experiences of this particular FF application at Oconee.
Michael H. (Mike) Miller, PE
Registered in NC #10993 & SC #9722
Sargent & Lundy, LLC
Oconee Nuclear Station
Seneca, SC 29672
Here's the link to the article:
http://www.controldesign.com/articles/2011/FieldbusJungleIN11Q1.html
