Hotline of power engineering specialists:
On the site of IDGC of Centre - Belgorodenergo division the first stage of research on the use of virtual training for operational staff has been completed. Specialists tested existing technologies of spatial modelling of specific work situations for the Belgorod 110 kV substation "Alexeevka", developed a model of the future simulator.
The simulator of routine switching with 3D-visualization allows to model planned and emergency operational switching, creating a sense of presence at the facility. According to experts, this will significantly increase the level of training for power engineers.
According to statistics, 34% of all accidents at 110 kV and above substations is the fault of the staff because of mistakes made when making complex switching. Appropriate skills can be acquired only directly in the work, and even in this case it is difficult to ensure that a person in an emergency situation will correctly apply his knowledge.
Modelling complex and extreme situations will eventually replace and complement the qualitative real training, providing a number of additional benefits, such as copying and reuse of developed training facilities, including reproducing realistic options for location and configuration of the equipment at facilities of the Company, scenarios of interaction with them. Now electricians have this training at training centres, where conditions are significantly different from the actual schemes of operating electrical installations. Emergency drills allow to work out skills with individual devices, rather than the equipment of a power facility in the complex.
Existing today 2D-imaging systems, according to experts, do not give a sense of presence, do not have a sufficient set of tools for the implementation of routine and emergency scenarios, do not allow the staff to form automatic actions to a real situation. In addition, they are more focused on theoretical training of operators, rather than practicing skills directly with electricians.
For full "immersion" into the virtual environment it is planned to use at the substation the 3D-helmet technology, omni-directional treadmill, actively developing in recent years. That is an electrician with a special set of equipment, reproducing a realistic set of experiences, will be able to move around the virtual substation, as he would do it at a real facility (i.e. walking around), follow indications and indicators (i.e. e. looking at them, changing the position of the head, body), at a given speed to work out the sequence of operations for complex switching (putting his hand to toggle switches, switches, confirming the validity with a special gesture). Trainings, activities of learners will be complemented by studying realistic surround sound. And whole groups can exercise, all participants in the process will see actions of their teammates, talk and discuss decisions.
The development is a joint project of IDGC of Centre and National Research University "MPEI". According to the developers, in the current phase of the project it is planned to simulate more than 30 full-time or emergency situations step by step, ranging from workplace preparation and finishing with switching equipment in an emergency operation mode.