Reclamation Information Sharing Environment (RISE)

The project aims to provide a low-cost, simpler alternative to current digital controllers for Reclamation, a hydroelectric generator operating in the Western US power system. Current manufacturers offer only a one-year warranty and a 15-year life cycle, making it costly to maintain multiple brands of systems. A "Reclamation made" controller could be easily retrofitted and installed, reducing the time required to install and commission a new system. This would also require less training for current and future employees to understand and maintain the controller. Additionally, the controllers would be able to perform NERC/WECC model validation tests on-site without the need for a test engineer. This automated testing feature would be incorporated into the controller software, eliminating the need for separate test apparatus or personnel to retrieve data. The project has already achieved several achievements, including evaluating real-time hardware platforms, developing excitation control algorithms, researching/selecting a platform for Human Machine Interface (HMI), designing basic HMI layouts for excitation applications, and developing a standalone real-time kernel operating system.