http://www.bwisa.org/Simulators%20in%20the%20Power%20Industry.ppt

ELDERSBURG – Since moving to South Carroll in 2008, GSE Systems, a technology company that specializes in computer simulators and training power plant operators, has brought about 80 jobs to the county.

GSE builds computer simulators for chemical and nuclear power plants and oil refineries.

CEO John V. Moran said the company has built or modified more than 85 percent of the simulators that are in operation in the U.S. Also, GSE has delivered more than 160 full scope nuclear power plant simulators worldwide. Simulators are tools used for training power plant operators.

“We’re very much at the forefront of new technology,” he said. “There aren’t too many companies in the world that do what we do.”

On a day-to-day basis, GSE, based in Eldersburg, does computer modeling and engineering services and develops educational systems.

Moran said the company moved its headquarters from Baltimore to Eldersburg in 2008 because it received a lot of support from the county.

The company has 25 percent more space in its Eldersburg office and saved $1 million in facility costs.

“The [Carroll County] people gave us exceptional support in terns of explaining how the country would help us,” he said.

GSE brought at least 80 jobs to the county and has 200 staffers worldwide, Moran said. Since 2008, the company brought in an additional 35 positions to the county. GSE formed in 1994 as a merger with three other companies and has other offices in Georgia, Sweden and China.

Although 2009 revenues aren’t available, Moran said GSE’s revenues in 2008 were $29 million.

Moran, a Brooklyn, N.Y., native, lives in New Jersey with his wife of 37 years. He commutes to Eldersburg every Monday and stays through Thursday.

Denise Beaver, deputy director of economic development for the county, said the county helped GSE move its headquarters from Baltimore to Eldersburg in 2008 because county officials believed the impact of the company moving to the area would be significant.

“They’re continuing to get new contracts and add new employees and we’re pleased their headquarters is in Carroll,” Beaver said. “It creates more jobs and opportunities for local [residents].”

Dave Burrows Jr., president of the South Carroll Business Association, echoed Beaver’s comments.

“Any time you have someone with a global presence, it can’t do anything but help the community,” Burrows said. “They eat at our restaurants and support the local economy.”

Reach staff writer Jennifer Jiggetts at 410-857-7873 or jennifer.jiggetts@carrollcountytimes.com.

From: http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/articles/2010/01/26/news/local_news/4_simulator_company.txt

For process control, the ITS offers ControlIT SoftController for execution of the control application. The SoftController concept allows the full plant control application, residing in the numerous process controllers, to be transferred directly to a Windows 2000 PC environment for execution in the simulator. Identical software gives identical behavior. Thus, the realism of the training simulator environment gives the student operator a valuable exercise in learning how actual controls will perform during plant maneuvers.

The OperateIT operator interface is copied directly from the plant operator stations with no changes. Physical I/O from the plant system is replaced in the simulator environment by inputs to and responses from dynamic process models via an ITS link. The link between ITS and process models is based on OPC. The ITS has been interfaced to a large number of process models from various vendors. These include:

• RSI Simcon
• Fantoft Process
• Norcontrol
• KSIM
• Karnkraftsakerhet och Utbildning
• Eurosim
• S3
• GSE
• SAST
• Aspen Tech
• Kamyr
• Exelon Corp

Benefits

Generally stated, the benefits of the ITS from realistic behavior are easy to conceive: safer, more reliable operation of the processing plant; fewer shutdowns due to operator error; ability to research and improve control scheme and plant performance through design studies; ability to anticipate some events. Thus the ITS improves the bottom line for the plant owner in two categories. Operation costs are lower through more efficient maneuvers, lower engineering costs and lower insurance. Overall production rates are improved through longer time on line (fewer shutdowns), less material waste, and other costs in restarting or recovering from abnormal events.

Benefits Summary

• Cost and space efficient simulator platform
• Standard ABB products
• Technology platform identical to plant control system
• Ensures consistency and efficiency through:
  • Automated generation of simulator control code from plant controls
  • Automated regeneration after plant modifications
• Realistic and efficient training of process operators and system engineers
• Supports life cycle simulator strategy:
  • Design studies
  • Control system design verification
  • Operator training
  • Modification and optimization studies
• Ensures investment protection:
  • Easy to upgrade and easy to maintain
  • Easily expandable

From: http://www.abb.com.cn/Industries/seitp406/948cce7f18dc6aebc12572df0072f8e2.aspx?productLanguage=zh&country=CN&tabKey=7