A replica
simulator closely simulates the reference plant configuration, control
system, operator interface and information systems. Depending on the method
of simulation there are basically two types of replica simulators:
Replica power plant simulators with emulated controls and HMI.
In emulation type simulator the functions of the reference plant control system and Human Machine Interface (operator interface) are simulated using alternative or equivalent off-the-shelf open systems hardware and software and VDU based graphics systems to reproduce the HMI functions.
Replica power plant simulators with stimulated controls and HMI.
In the stimulation type simulator the control system and the HMI are simulated by using the same control system and HMI as in the reference plant. (The hardware and software for the HMI and control system are same as in the real plant).