West Virginia University Deploys 3D Virtual IGCC Immersive Training System

NETL’s AVESTAR team completed the successful deployment of a 3D virtual IGCC immersive training system (ITS) at West Virginia University (WVU) for use in chemical engineering education and industry workforce training.  With collaborators from Invensys Operations Management, the team installed the ITS hardware and EYESIM® virtual reality software and tested usability and performance when integrated with the real-time IGCC dynamic simulator and operator training system deployed at WVU in March 2011.  User actions taken in the 3D virtual plant affect the dynamic models operating in the control room, and actions performed in the control room change the animations and information visible to plant personnel, illustrating how various pieces of equipment will operate under almost any scenario and condition.  A separate virtual reality training system was installed and commissioned at NETL’s AVESTAR Center in July 2012 for use in advanced R&D on IGCC operations and control.  In addition to training and education, the NETL and its R&D partners, including WVU and Invensys, will use the IGCC dynamic simulator and ITS to showcase clean-coal technology as a means to support safe, reliable, and efficient power generation without emitting environmental pollutants or greenhouse gases.