Laserfiche WebLink
Year 2000 Issues for the Electric Utility Industry 4 <br />Operating the systems, of course, is the operations software. Operations software <br />includes: <br />e Transaction -oriented execution systems - resource monitoring and tracking, process <br />reporting <br />■ Process management - human -machine interface (HMI), supervisory control and <br />data acquisition (SCADA), real-time statistical process control (SPC), data <br />accumulation, diagnostic tools and support, software -based control <br />Other operations software includes: <br />■ higher-level systems and additional plant applications; <br />■ embedded systems within production devices and equipment; <br />■ known and "hidden" computer applications internally developed; <br />■ external linkages; and <br />■ support systems and equipment - plant computers, intelligent terminals and devices, <br />networks, communications, interfaces, drivers, controllers, system management <br />software, etc. <br />USES FOR DATES <br />Most operating systems and their operating software have uses for dates. This date usage <br />is what creates the Y2k risks to operating systems. Utilities are just beginning to identify <br />operations -related Y2k risks. One system of classifying operational issues has been <br />developed by the Automation Research Corporation (ARC). Operational issues, <br />discussed below, are grouped into four broad categories: storage, transfer, output, and <br />calculations. <br />Storage - Products and applications store dates in memory registers on devices and in <br />electronic files or databases. The date can be stored with process values for analysis, or <br />as specific values for checks and record stamping. <br />Storage of dates can occur in the <br />following: <br />■ Historical data and trending ■ <br />Calibration information stored on <br />■ Alarm and event logging <br />smart sensors <br />■ Sequence of events recorders ■ <br />Storage and retrieval systems <br />■ Lot/part number tracking ■ <br />Inventory management systems <br />■ Maintenance databases ■ <br />Uninterruptible power supplies <br />■ <br />Building automation and security <br />systems <br />Copyright 1998. TAVA/R. W. BeckLcc <br />All rights reserved. CTAVA R.W. BECK <br />