A Case Study of How Vertical Spindle Pulverizer Performance is Related to Overall Plant Performance

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen K. Storm ◽  
Richard F. Storm ◽  
Daniel S. Storm ◽  
Sammy Tuzenew ◽  
Adam McClellan
Keyword(s):  
Performance Optimization ◽  
Electrostatic Precipitator ◽  
Environmental Control ◽  
Heat Rate ◽  
Field Testing ◽  
Plant Performance ◽  
Performance Improvements ◽  
Super Heater ◽  
Generation Costs

Pulverizer performance optimization is the first step to a successful combustion optimization program and the inter-relationships of the pulverizers must be considered when attempting to optimize combustion, overall unit performance, operability, reliability, and capacity. Pulverizer capacity seems to be an industry challenge while many units today are undergoing drastic fuel changes. Considering there seems to be a huge disconnect when correlating mill performance with such issues as fuel line distribution, heat rate, NOx and environmental control equipment performance, it is the intent of this technical paper to provide better understanding of how mechanical optimization & tuning of the pulverizers can yield overall improved plant performance. Low NOx firing and/or optimization of the burner belt combustion with a limited amount of furnace residence time is absolutely essential to optimizing plant performance. For example, when pulverizer performance is poor, it is also often related to not only high furnace exit gas temperatures, increased slagging and/or high LOI, but also degrading electrostatic precipitator (ESP) performance from the coarse particle ash. Furthermore, reliability of the boiler (ie. tube leaks, fouling, and slagging) can also be impacted negatively by secondary combustion and consequent super heater and re-heater tube metals overheating and/or wall wastage often occurs from non-optimized fuel distribution being delivered from the pulverizers. Whether the reason for improving mill performance is for the aforementioned items and/or perhaps simply to reduce power generation costs with improved fuels flexibility, the purpose of this case study is to review the basics of vertical spindle mill performance improvements. The data used to support this paper is from a compilation of actual field testing & tuning results. Furthermore, Storm Technologies, Inc. (STI) suggests the aforementioned steps as an effective approach to optimization.

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.

A Novel Boiler Ash Deposit Removal System

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas R. A. Bussing ◽  
James R. Hochstein ◽  
J. Patrick Harty
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Plant Performance ◽  
Cleaning Product ◽  
Cleaning Method ◽  
Pulse Detonation ◽  
Performance Improvements ◽  
Generation Cost ◽  
Generation Costs

Pratt & Whitney has developed a novel boiler cleaning product based on pulse detonation combustion to efficiently remove ash deposits from coal-fired power plants as well as other industrial boiler applications. This new product, the SHOCKSystem™, offers significant advantages relative to conventional boiler cleaning methodology, including a likely reduction of erosion wear, as well as non-line-of-sight cleaning while online, which not only enhances overall plant performance but also enables a reduction and/or elimination of plant outages caused by fouling. As a result, the online detonation cleaning method has been shown to save millions of dollars in annual power generation costs for the typical coal-fired utility boiler. This paper briefly describes the pulse detonation cycle, presents the new online detonation cleaning method, and discusses demonstrated plant performance improvements and power generation cost savings using this method.

Power Plants Up-Rating Benefit From Technology Advancements: A Case Study

2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert McCue ◽  
Axel W. von Rappard
Keyword(s):  
Power Plants ◽  
Operating Experience ◽  
Heat Rate ◽  
Combined Cycle ◽  
Drive Power ◽  
Performance Improvements ◽  
Main Driver ◽  
Combined Cycle Plant ◽  
Actual Configuration

Life cycle considerations, Reliability / Availability and Maintainability (RAM) experiences, as well as performance improvements, drive power producers not only to plan new power plants but also to upgrade older ones. The main driver, however, is competitiveness and this means cost of electricity for the end users and equipment availability for the shareholders. An up-rating is attractive if you can increase performance and reduce failure rate and thereby operating risks. The first part of this paper describes the actual configuration of a combined cycle plant and the operating experience over the past three to five years. This refers to performance parameters — power and heat rate — as well as to RAM performance. Up-rating shows normally an advantage compared to new equipment concerning reliability, availability and maintainability. A cooperation of the parties involved — power producer and engine manufacturer (OEM) — is necessary, when all above-mentioned parameters are considered. The up-rating can improve the performance (power and heat rate), can keep reliability and availability at high values and can influence the maintainability positively. The second part addresses the evaluation and the stepwise implementation of the solution and the summary of the results. Different power producers and ABB have worked closely together to evaluate the options and to develop the best solution. The conclusions will show how important the power producer / OEM relationship is when such upgrades are implemented and the results are measured. Due to the multitude of interfaces associated with gas turbine power plant upgrades, good co-operation is essential. This case study, is also the result of solutions developed with several power producers.

Environmental control of emergence patterns: Case study of changes in hourly and daily emergence of aquatic insects at constant and variable water temperatures

2013 ◽  
Vol 98 (2) ◽  
pp. 104-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marija Ivković ◽  
Marko Miliša ◽  
Ana Previšić ◽  
Aleksandar Popijač ◽  
Zlatko Mihaljević
Keyword(s):  
Aquatic Insects ◽  
Environmental Control ◽  
Emergence Patterns ◽  
Variable Water

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.

Fixed Duct Burner Heat Input Approach for Combined Cycle Power Plant ASME PTC 46 Performance Testing

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas K. Kirkpatrick ◽  
Bernard J. Pastorik ◽  
Wesley M. Newland
Keyword(s):  
Heat Input ◽  
Heat Rate ◽  
Combined Cycle ◽  
Test Method ◽  
Plant Performance ◽  
Ambient Conditions ◽  
Power Test ◽  
Alternative Approach ◽  
Combined Cycle Plant ◽  
Duct Burner

Since its publication in 1996, ASME PTC 46 Performance Test Code on Overall Plant Performance has established itself as the premier test code for conducting overall plant performance within the power industry, especially for combined cycle power plants. The current text within ASME PTC 46, which is currently under revision by the ASME PTC 46 Committee, describes in Section 5.3.4 Specified Measured Net Power that “This test is conducted for a combined cycle power plant with duct firing or other form of power augmentation, such as steam or water injection when used for that purpose.” Further, the only example problem for a combined cycle with duct firing is provided in Appendix B of the code utilizing the Specified Measured Net Power Test Method. Though the text and example are correctly presented within the code, it resulted in misinterpretation within the industry that the only correct way to test a combined cycle plant with duct firing was to conduct a Specified Measured Net Power Test. Though the Specified Measured Net Power Test Method is an acceptable and accurate method in determining the performance of a combined cycle plant with duct firing in operation, it lends to being inflexible to the weather conditions for the plant operation. When the weather is too cold, the exhaust energy from the combustion turbines may be at such a magnitude as to not allow the duct burners to be fired due to limitations within the heat recovery steam generator and steam turbine systems to take the load, thus limiting the plant testing to take place when the weather is warm enough to allow the plant to be operated with duct firing. The opposite condition can also exist where the ambient conditions are too hot so that the duct burner capacity is unable to achieve the specified measured net power allowing the test to be conducted. The limitations stated herein are the reasons that an alternative approach with more flexibility is necessary. This paper will present an alternative approach referred to as the Fixed Duct Burner Heat Input Test Method to testing combined cycle plants where the duct burner heat input (Fuel Flow) is held fixed while the plant net power and heat rate are left to float with ambient conditions. Corrections for both power and heat rate will be developed for ambient conditions per ASME PTC 46 guidelines. This paper will further present a comparison between the Specified Measured Net Power Test Method and the Fixed Duct Burner Heat Input Test Method in the areas of the flexibility of the methods for various ambient conditions, and the method uncertainty associated with each method’s ability to correct to reference conditions.

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.

scholarly journals A Case Study in Watershed-Based Plan Development and Implementation for the May River Watershed in Bluffton, South Carolina

2014 ◽  
pp. 19-25
Author(s):  
Kimberly W. Jones ◽  
Ronald Bullman
Keyword(s):  
South Carolina ◽  
Environmental Control ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
River Watershed ◽  
Department Of Health ◽  
Close Proximity ◽  
Local Residents ◽  
Beaufort County ◽  
The Town

The Town of Bluffton, South Carolina was a one square mile coastal village until it experienced exponential growth in the early 2000s, and today is approximately 54 square miles. Until this recent growth, few sources of possible impairments to water quality were recognized within the watershed, and even fewer within close proximity to the river itself. In 2007, the Town was told by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) that fecal coliform levels in the May River headwaters were increasing and in 2009 the river received a shellfish harvesting classification down-grade. In response to this down-grade, the Town of Bluffton, with Beaufort County and stakeholders, committed to take action to restore shellfish harvesting in the river and to prevent further degradation to the river. Following the U.S. EPA (EPA) guidelines for developing watershed plans, Town staff worked for nearly a year with consultants, Beaufort County, topic experts and local residents to develop the May River Watershed Action Plan which was adopted by Town Council in November 2011.

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