Parametric Studies of Power Plant Performance Monitoring

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vijiapurapu Sowjanya ◽  
Robert Craven ◽  
Sastry Munukutla
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Performance Monitoring ◽  
Performance Testing ◽  
Electric Power Industry ◽  
Plant Performance ◽  
Industry Performance ◽  
Parametric Studies ◽  
Loss Method ◽  
Coal Composition

Real-time performance monitoring of coal-fired power plants is becoming very important due to the impending deregulation of the electric power industry. Performance testing is made to be real-time by changing the traditional output loss method to include an estimation of coal composition based on the Continuous Emission Monitoring System (CEMS) data. This paper illustrates the robustness of the calculations by introducing a variance into each of the calculation inputs to access its effect on the final outputs of heatrate, boiler efficiency and coal flow. Though the original study was over five power plants this paper presents results for the two most diverse coals.

Performance Monitoring of Coal-Fired Units in Real-Time

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sastry S. Munukutla ◽  
Robert P. M. Craven ◽  
Michael R. Coffey
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Thermodynamic Model ◽  
Performance Monitoring ◽  
Plant Performance ◽  
Output Loss ◽  
Time Performance ◽  
Systems Research ◽  
Reheat Steam ◽  
Loss Method ◽  
The Impact

Power plant performance monitoring can be accomplished in real-time using the data already available on the plant computer in the control room. Because of this, plant operators can be provided with quantitative real-time feedback on the impact of any operational change on plant efficiency and economics. With funding from several major U.S. Utilities and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) the Center for Energy Systems Research (CESR) at Tennessee Technological University (TTU) has developed a Real-Time Performance Monitoring System for evaluating plant operations continuously. The calculations are based on the output/loss method. Coal analysis in real-time is obtained by using information on flue gas composition. This is a unique technology developed at CESR. The steady-state thermodynamic model includes on the fire-side the FD and ID fans, the air preheater, the coal pulverizers and the boiler. It includes flow rate, pressure and temperature of the feedwater, main steam, cold reheat steam and the hot reheat steam on the steam-side of the calculations. The model performs calculations and displays results every minute (or whatever averaging time is chosen) by reading relevant data from the plant computer. One of the primary advantages of this method is that it can be customized to a given unit with given instrumentation. The Real-Time Performance Model has been successfully installed in 10 coal fired units in the U.S.A., four 200 MW units in New Zealand, one 200 MW unit in India and one 900 MW unit in China. In this paper the output/loss method will be introduced. The thermodynamic model with which calculations are performed will be described in detail. Field results from several units around the world will be presented. Examples of strategies for performance enhancement based on real-time performance monitoring will be discussed.

Performance Testing of Coal Fired Power Plants

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shane E. Powers ◽  
William C. Wood
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Performance Test ◽  
Model Development ◽  
Performance Testing ◽  
The United States ◽  
Plant Performance ◽  
Cycle Performance ◽  
Test Program

With the renewed interest in the construction of coal-fired power plants in the United States, there has also been an increased interest in the methodology used to calculate/determine the overall performance of a coal fired power plant. This methodology is detailed in the ASME PTC 46 (1996) Code, which provides an excellent framework for determining the power output and heat rate of coal fired power plants. Unfortunately, the power industry has been slow to adopt this methodology, in part because of the lack of some details in the Code regarding the planning needed to design a performance test program for the determination of coal fired power plant performance. This paper will expand on the ASME PTC 46 (1996) Code by discussing key concepts that need to be addressed when planning an overall plant performance test of a coal fired power plant. The most difficult aspect of calculating coal fired power plant performance is integrating the calculation of boiler performance with the calculation of turbine cycle performance and other balance of plant aspects. If proper planning of the performance test is not performed, the integration of boiler and turbine data will result in a test result that does not accurately reflect the true performance of the overall plant. This planning must start very early in the development of the test program, and be implemented in all stages of the test program design. This paper will address the necessary planning of the test program, including: • Determination of Actual Plant Performance. • Selection of a Test Goal. • Development of the Basic Correction Algorithm. • Designing a Plant Model. • Development of Correction Curves. • Operation of the Power Plant during the Test. All nomenclature in this paper utilizes the ASME PTC 46 definitions for the calculation and correction of plant performance.

Variability in Thermal Performance and Measured Heat Rate in Fossil-Fuelled Power Plants

1992 ◽  
Vol 206 (2) ◽  
pp. 109-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
F L Carvalho ◽  
F H D Conradie ◽  
H Kuerten ◽  
F J McDyer
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Performance ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Performance Monitoring ◽  
Unit Commitment ◽  
Thermal Power ◽  
Heat Rate ◽  
Plant Performance ◽  
Plant Management ◽  
Fuel Quality ◽  
Stable Operating

The paper examines the variability of key parameters in the operation of ten thermal power plants in various commercial grid environments with a view to assessing the viability of ‘on-demand’ plant performance monitoring for heat rate declaration. The plants of various types are limited to coal- and oil-fired units in the capacity range of 305–690 MW generated output. The paper illustrates the influence of control system configuration on effective and flexible power plant management. The analysis of variability indicates that there is a reasonable probability of achieving adequately stable operating periods within the normal operating envelope of grid dispatch instructions when thermal performance monitoring and display can be undertaken with a high confidence level. The levels of variability in fuel quality, which were measured during nominally constant levels of fuel input and generated output, range from about +1 per cent for oil-fired plants to about ±5 per cent for coal-fired power plants. The implications of adopting on-line monitoring of unit heat rate as an input to the generation ordering and unit commitment process are potentially significant cost and energy conservation benefits for utilities having a high proportion of coal- and oil-fired generation.

A Case Study of Optimizing Combined Cycle Performance at Kalaeloa

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helmer Andersen
Keyword(s):  
Power Plants ◽  
Performance Monitoring ◽  
Combined Cycle ◽  
Plant Performance ◽  
Operational Performance ◽  
Cycle Performance ◽  
Monitoring Tools ◽  
Online Performance Monitoring ◽  
On Line

Fuel is by far the largest expenditure for energy production for most power plants. New tools for on-line performance monitoring have been developed for reducing fuel consumption while at the same time optimizing operational performance. This paper highlights a case study where an online performance-monitoring tool was employed to continually evaluate plant performance at the Kalaeloa Combined Cycle Power Plant. Justification for investment in performance monitoring tools is presented. Additionally the influence of various loss parameters on the cycle performance is analyzed with examples. Thus, demonstrating the potential savings achieved by identifying and correcting the losses typically occurring from deficiencies in high impact component performance.

Diagnostic Techniques for Improving Power Plant Performance, Reliability and Availability: A Case Study

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Komandur S. Sunder Raj
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Performance Monitoring ◽  
Monitoring Program ◽  
Heat Rate ◽  
Diagnostic Techniques ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Plant Performance ◽  
Reliability And Availability

The objectives of an effective power plant performance monitoring program are several-fold. They include: (a) assessing the overall condition of the plant through use of parameters such as output and heat rate (b) monitoring the health of individual components such as the steam generator, turbine-generator, feedwater heaters, moisture separators/reheaters (nuclear), condenser, cooling towers, pumps, etc. (c) using the results of the program to diagnose the causes for deviations in performance (d) quantifying the performance losses (e) taking timely and cost-effective corrective actions (f) using feedback techniques and incorporating lessons learned to institute preventive actions and, (g) optimizing performance. For the plant owner, the ultimate goals are improved plant availability and reliability and reduced cost of generation. The ability to succeed depends upon a number of factors such as cost, commitment, resources, performance monitoring tools, instrumentation, training, etc. Using a case study, this paper discusses diagnostic techniques that might aid power plants in improving their performance, reliability and availability. These techniques include performance parameters, supporting/refuting matrices, logic trees and decision trees for the overall plant as well as for individual components.

Challenges Facing Performance Evaluations of IGCC Power Plants

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin Zachary ◽  
Alex Khochafian
Keyword(s):  
Measurement Uncertainty ◽  
Heat Input ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Performance Test ◽  
Performance Testing ◽  
Air Separation ◽  
Plant Performance ◽  
Plant Design ◽  
Separation Unit

Based on the present revival of coal as the fossil fuel of choice for power generation, there is a high probability that several IGCC projects will materialize in the near future. One of the challenges facing the Owners, EPC Contractors and OEM’s will be to define the performance commercial guarantees and the practical means to determine them. In addition following the current huge upturn in conventional supercritical coal fired power plants, a large number of facilities will conduct thermal performance tests. The proper conductance of the test, data collection and correction to reference conditions, have many technical implications and could affect drastically the commercial outcome of a project both for the Contractor and the Owner. For IGCC plants, in anticipation of this probability, ASME Performance Test Committee had developed a Performance Test Code for such type of plant — PTC 47, which was published in January 2007. In the first part, the paper will provide details about the specific challenges facing the implementation of the Code, in particular the proposed use of the input/output method (mass and energy balance). The presentation will cover other highlights of the code recommendations. The methodology is fully applicable to conventional power plants, since they use same type of fuel. The determination of the heat input based on actual continuous measurement of the mass flow and composition of the coal will be discussed in details. The practicality and the measurement uncertainty associated with fuel composition will also be analyzed. A comparison with the indirect method for determination of the heat input will also be presented. The article will evaluate how the code requirements are reflected in the definition of the power plant design, configuration and instrumentation. The implications of test tolerance as a commercial issue and measurement uncertainty as a technical issue will also be presented and evaluated Other unique aspects of the entire IGCC plant performance testing will be discussed: (1) stability criteria related to the gasification and integration processes, (2) corrections from test to guarantees conditions due to complex chemical, mechanical processes. Finally, the article will indicate the progress on the development of performance evaluation methodologies for other main IGCC components: gasifier, air separation unit, gas cleaning systems and Power Island.

Combined Cycle Plant Performance Monitoring

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael McClintock ◽  
Kenneth L. Cramblitt
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Performance ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Performance Monitoring ◽  
Monitoring Program ◽  
Combined Cycle ◽  
Plant Performance ◽  
Testing Procedures ◽  
Combined Cycle Plant ◽  
Reheat Steam

Monitoring thermal performance in the current generation of combined cycle power plants is frequently a challenge. The “lean” plant staff and organizational structure of the companies that own and operate these plants frequently does not allow the engineering resources to develop and maintain an effective program to monitor thermal performance. Additionally, in many combined cycle plants the highest priority is responding to market demands rather than maintaining peak efficiency. Finally, in many cases the plants are not designed with performance monitoring in mind, thus making it difficult to accurately measure commonly used indices of performance. This paper describes the performance monitoring program being established at a new combined cycle plant that is typical of many combined cycle plants built in the last five years. The plant is equipped with GE 7FA gas turbines and a GE reheat steam turbine. The program was implemented using a set of easy-to-use spreadsheets for the major plant components. The data for the calculation of indices of performance for the various components comes from the plant DCS system and the PI system (supplied by OSIsoft). In addition to the development of spreadsheets, testing procedures were developed to ensure consistent test results and plant personnel were trained to understand, use and maintain the spreadsheets and the information they produce.

Monitoring and Improving Coal-Fired Power Plants Using the Input/Loss Method: Part V

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fred D. Lang
Keyword(s):  
Relative Humidity ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Online Monitoring ◽  
Heat Rate ◽  
Heating Value ◽  
Ambient Relative Humidity ◽  
Fuel Flow ◽  
Boiler Efficiency ◽  
Loss Method

This paper presents generic methods for verifying online monitoring systems associated with coal-fired power plants. It is applicable to any on-line system. The methods fundamentally recognize that if coal-fired unite are to be understood, that system stoichiometrics must be understood in real-time, this implies that fuel chemistry must be understood in real-time. No accurate boiler efficiency can be determined without fuel chemistry, heating value and boundary conditions. From such fundamentals, four specific techniques are described, all based on an understanding (or not) of real-time system stoichiometrics. The specific techniques include: 1) comparing a computed ambient relative humidity which satisfies system stoichiometrics, to a directly measured value; 2) comparing a computed water/steam soot blowing flow which satisfies system stoichiometrics, to a directly measured value; 3) comparing computed Energy or Flow Compensators (based on computed boiler efficiency, heating value, etc.), to the unit’s DCS values; and 4) comparing a computed fuel flow rate, based on boiler efficiency, to the plant’s indication of fuel flow. Although developed using the Input/Loss Method, the presented methods can be applied to any online monitoring system such that verification of computed results can be had in real-time. If results agree with measured values, within defined error bands, the system is said to be understood and verified; from this, heat rate improvement will follow. This work has demonstrated that use of ambient relative humidity is a viable verification tool. Given its influence on system stoichiometrics, use of relative humidity immediately suggests that effluent (Stack) flow can be verified against an independently measured parameter which has nothing to do with coal-fired combustion per se. Whether an understanding of coal-fired combustion is believed to be in-hand, or not, use of relative humidity (and, indeed, soot blowing flow) provides the means for verifying the actual and absolute carbon and sulfur emission mass flow rates. Such knowledge should prove useful given emission taxes or an imposed cap and trade system. Of the four methods examined, success was not universal; notably any use of plant indicated fuel flow (as would be expected) must be employed with caution. Although applicable to any system, the Input/Loss Method was used for development of these methods. Input/Loss is a unique process which allows for complete understanding of a coal-fired power plant through explicit determinations of fuel chemistry including fuel water and mineral matter, fuel heating (calorific) value, As-Fired fuel flow, effluent flow, boiler efficiency and system heat rate. Input consists of routine plant data and any parameter which effects stoichiometrics, typically: effluent CO2, O2 and, generally, effluent H2O. The base technology of the Input/Loss Method has been documented in companion ASME papers, Parts I thru IV, which addressed topics of base formulations, benchmarking fuel chemistry calculations, high accuracy boiler efficiency methods and correcting instrumentation errors in those terms affecting system stoichiometric (e.g., CEMS and other data).

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