Modeling and Control of Subcritical Coal-Fired Power Plant Components for Fault Detection

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Selorme Agbleze ◽  
Fernando V. Lima ◽  
Natarianto Indrawan ◽  
Rupendranath Panday ◽  
Paolo Pezzini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Fault Detection ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Energy Content ◽  
Leak Detection ◽  
Primary Component ◽  
Plant Performance ◽  
Saturated Steam ◽  
Power Sources

Abstract Due to the increased penetration of renewable power sources into the electric grid, the current number of existing coal-fired power plants shifting from baseload to load-following operations has also increased. This shift creates challenges especially for the power industry as coal-fired power plants were not designed for ramping situations, leading to added stress on major components of these plants. This stress causes the system to degrade over time and eventually develop faults. As boilers are still the primary component that fails and causes forced outages, accurate characterization of faults and fractures of boilers is now becoming increasingly critical to reduce plant downtime and extend the plant life during cycling operations. This work focuses on modeling sections of a subcritical coal-fired power plant and proposes algorithms for fault detection in MATLAB/Simulink. The developed model simulates the process dynamics including steam and feedwater flow regulating valves, drum-boiler, and heat rate on the regulation of pressure, drum level and production of saturated steam. The model also simulates the dynamics of superheaters for increasing the energy content of steam, and a spray section for regulating the temperature of steam upstream of the high-pressure turbine to allow for power output adjustment within a given valve operating range. Furthermore, an extension to a leak detection framework proposed by co-authors in previous work is explored. The new framework includes a modification to the threshold analysis portion of the previous work. The extended framework is then applied to a subcritical coal-fired power plant model for leak detection. In particular, this framework analyzes mismatches or deviations in expected plant dynamics with an identified transfer function model. The mismatch is flagged after it exceeds a threshold. The developed algorithm thus aids in rapid detection of faults to reduce impeded plant performance. The results of this work will support real plant operations by providing an accurate characterization of faults in the operation of coal-fired power plants.

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.

scholarly journals Design Considerations for the Liquid Air Energy Storage System Integrated to Nuclear Steam Cycle

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (18) ◽  
pp. 8484
Author(s):  
Seok-Ho Song ◽  
Jin-Young Heo ◽  
Jeong-Ik Lee
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Energy Storage ◽  
Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Storage System ◽  
Energy Storage System ◽  
Power Sources

A nuclear power plant is one of the power sources that shares a large portion of base-load. However, as the proportion of renewable energy increases, nuclear power plants will be required to generate power more flexibly due to the intermittency of the renewable energy sources. This paper reviews a layout thermally integrating the liquid air energy storage system with a nuclear power plant. To evaluate the performance realistically while optimizing the layout, operating nuclear power plant conditions are used. After revisiting the analysis, the optimized performance of the proposed system is predicted to achieve 59.96% of the round-trip efficiency. However, it is further shown that external environmental conditions could deteriorate the performance. For the design of liquid air energy storage-nuclear power plant integrated systems, both the steam properties of the linked plants and external factors should be considered.

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.

scholarly journals Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Powered by Direct Methanol Fuel Cell-Based Power Plants: A Quick Preliminary Design Model

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (21) ◽  
pp. 7687
Author(s):  
Antonio Villalba-Herreros ◽  
Ó. Santiago ◽  
Loredana Magistri ◽  
Teresa J. Leo
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Direct Methanol Fuel Cells ◽  
Autonomous Underwater Vehicle ◽  
Energy Content ◽  
Autonomous Underwater Vehicles ◽  
Preliminary Design ◽  
Underwater Communications ◽  
Direct Methanol ◽  
Remote Sites

Investigation, conservation, and exploitation of seas require platforms capable of accomplishing a wide variety of missions in harsh environments with restricted human intervention for long periods of time. Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) are excellent tools for carrying out these missions due to their versatility and ability to access remote sites. However, despite the improvement of their capabilities, their development is not devoid of challenges. Endurance, among others, such as underwater communications or autonomy, is still a pending subject. Current battery-based solutions do not offer sufficient endurance and innovative power plants with higher energy content are needed. This work studies the advantages, in terms of endurance, of using a power plant based on Direct Methanol Fuel Cells (DMFCs) to power AUVs. In order to accomplish this, a multi-objective optimization tool that makes use of a genetic algorithm was developed. This tool allows quick preliminary design of AUVs with a DMFC-based power plant, complying with a user-defined payload, operation profile, and restrictions. Six designs based on a real AUV model were studied, and endurance values up to 2 times longer than the corresponding reference AUV were obtained. These results support the benefits of using DMFCs to power AUVs to increase their endurance.

scholarly journals THERMOACOUSTIC ENGINE AS A LOW-POWER COGENERATION ENERGY SOURCE FOR AUTONOMOUS CONSUMER POWER SUPPLY

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 60-66
Author(s):  
A.D. Mekhtiyev ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Low Power ◽  
Power Supply ◽  
Thermal Power Plant ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Thermal Power ◽  
Saturated Steam ◽  
Working Fluid ◽  
Thermoacoustic Engine ◽  
Basic Principles

The article deals with the issue of using a thermoacoustic engine as a low-power cogeneration source of energy for autonomous consumer power supply capable of operating on various types of fuel and wastes subject to combustion. The analysis of the world achievements in this field of energy has been carried out. A number of advantages make it very promising for developing energy sources capable of complex production of electrical and thermal energy with a greater efficiency than that of present day thermal power plants. The proposed scheme of a thermal power plant is based on the principle of a Stirling engine, but it uses the most efficient and promising thermoacoustic converter of heat into mechanical vibrations, which are then converted into electric current. The article contains a mathematical apparatus that explains the basic principles of the developed thermoacoustic engine. To determine the main parameters of the thermoacoustic engine, the methods of computer modeling in the DeltaEC environment have been used. A layout diagram of the laboratory sample of a thermal power plant has been proposed and the description of its design has been given. It has been proposed to use dry saturated steam as the working fluid, which makes it possible to increase the generated power of the thermoacoustic engine.

scholarly journals Performance Modeling of the Weather Impact on a Utility-Scale PV Power Plant in a Tropical Region

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Ajith Gopi ◽  
K. Sudhakar ◽  
Ngui Wai Keng ◽  
Ananthu R. Krishnan ◽  
S. Shanmuga Priya
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Energy Generation ◽  
Plant Performance ◽  
Tropical Region ◽  
Weather Impact ◽  
Weather Parameters ◽  
Utility Scale ◽  
Solar Generation

Solar photovoltaics and the associated applications are now considered the most promising technologies for a sustainable future. The performance of the PV power plants is not studied in detail with respect to the influence of various weather parameters like rain, relative humidity, and atmospheric pressure on energy generation. The objective of this research work is to analyze and model the weather impact of a utility-scale PV power plant in a tropical region. The methodology involves the detailed analysis of the PV plant performance for various weather seasons and modeling the energy generation based on important weather parameters obtained from a Solar Radiation Resource Assessment (SRRA) station installed at the PV power plant location itself. Solar generation and its performance are affected during the rainy seasons, and it turns out to be a typical phenomenon in the humid tropical region. A regression model of solar generation for all the weather seasons is generated based on different weather parameters.

scholarly journals Coal to Biomass Conversion as a Path to Sustainability: A Hypothetical Scenario at Pego Power Plant (Abrantes, Portugal)

Resources ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 84
Author(s):  
Margarida Casau ◽  
Diana C. M. Cancela ◽  
João C. O. Matias ◽  
Marta Ferreira Dias ◽  
Leonel J. R. Nunes
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Energy Production ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Social Impact ◽  
Biomass Conversion ◽  
Hypothetical Scenario ◽  
Coal Power Plants ◽  
Low Levels

Energy consumption is associated with economic growth, but it comes with a toll regarding the environment. Renewable energies can be considered substitutes for fossil fuels and may contribute to reducing the environmental degradation that the world is presently facing. With this research, we aimed to offer a broader view of the state-of-the-art in this field, particularly regarding coal and biomass. The main objective is to present a viable and sustainable solution for the coal power plants still in operation, using as a hypothetical example the Pego Power Plant, the last operating coal fueled power plant in Portugal. After the characterization of land use and energy production in Portugal, and more particularly in the Médio Tejo region, where the power plant is located, the availability of biomass was assessed and it was concluded that the volume of biomass needed to keep the Pego power plant working exclusively with biomass is much lower than the yearly growth volume of biomass in the region, which means that this transition would be viable in a sustainable way. This path is aligned with policies to fight climate change, since the use of biomass for energy is characterized by low levels of GHGs emissions when compared to coal. The risk of rural fires would be reduced, and the economic and social impact for this region would be positive.

CO2 Capture for Power Plants: An Analysis of the Energetic Requirements by Chemical Absorption

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana R. Diaz
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Power Plant ◽  
Co2 Capture ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Fossil Fuel ◽  
Plant Performance ◽  
Energy Requirements ◽  
Co2 Absorption ◽  
Chemical Absorption ◽  
Technical Effort

The tendency in the world energy demand seems clear: it can only grow. The energetic industry will satisfy this demand-despite all its dialectic about new technologies-at least medium term mostly with current fossil fuel technologies. In this picture from an engineer’s point of view, one of the primary criterions for mitigating the effects of increasing atmospheric concentration of CO2 is to restrict the CO2 fossil fuel emissions into the atmosphere. This paper is focused on the analysis of different CO2 capture technologies for power plants. Indeed, one of the most important goal to concentrate on is the CO2 capture energy requirements, as it dictates the net size of the power plant and, hence, the net cost of power generation with CO2 avoidance technologies. Here, the Author presents a critical review of different CO2 absorption capture technologies. These technologies have been widely analyzed in the literature under chemical and economic points of view, leaving their impact on the energy power plant performance in a second plan. Thus, the central question examined in this paper is the connection between abatement capability and its energetic requirements, which seriously decrease power generation efficiency. Evidencing that the CO2 capture needs additional technical effort and establishing that further developments in this area must be constrained by reducing its energy requirements. After a comprehensive literature revision, six different chemical absorption methods are analyzed based on a simplified energetic model, in order to account for its energetic costs. Furthermore, an application case study is provided where the different CO2 capture systems studied are coupled to a natural gas cogeneration power plant.

An Expanded Cost of Electricity Model for Highly Flexible Power Plants

2012 ◽  
Vol 135 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Can Gülen ◽  
Indrajit Mazumder
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Power Plant ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Combined Cycle ◽  
Plant Performance ◽  
Cost Of Electricity ◽  
Renewable Power ◽  
Effective Performance ◽  
The Impact

Cost of electricity (COE) is the most widely used metric to quantify the cost-performance trade-off involved in comparative analysis of competing electric power generation technologies. Unfortunately, the currently accepted formulation of COE is only applicable to comparisons of power plant options with the same annual electric generation (kilowatt-hours) and the same technology as defined by reliability, availability, and operability. Such a formulation does not introduce a big error into the COE analysis when the objective is simply to compare two or more base-loaded power plants of the same technology (e.g., natural gas fired gas turbine simple or combined cycle, coal fired conventional boiler steam turbine, etc.) and the same (or nearly the same) capacity. However, comparing even the same technology class power plants, especially highly flexible advanced gas turbine combined cycle units with cyclic duties, comprising a high number of daily starts and stops in addition to emissions-compliant low-load operation to accommodate the intermittent and uncertain load regimes of renewable power generation (mainly wind and solar) requires a significant overhaul of the basic COE formula. This paper develops an expanded COE formulation by incorporating crucial power plant operability and maintainability characteristics such as reliability, unrecoverable degradation, and maintenance factors as well as emissions into the mix. The core impact of duty cycle on the plant performance is handled via effective output and efficiency utilizing basic performance correction curves. The impact of plant start and load ramps on the effective performance parameters is included. Differences in reliability and total annual energy generation are handled via energy and capacity replacement terms. The resulting expanded formula, while rigorous in development and content, is still simple enough for most feasibility study type of applications. Sample calculations clearly reveal that inclusion (or omission) of one or more of these factors in the COE evaluation, however, can dramatically swing the answer from one extreme to the other in some cases.

scholarly journals The impact of operations and maintenance practices on power plant performance

2014 ◽  
Vol 25 (8) ◽  
pp. 1148-1173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shyong Wai Foon ◽  
Milé Terziovski
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Performance Measures ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Explanatory Power ◽  
Plant Performance ◽  
Operating Costs ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Operations And Maintenance ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of operations and maintenance (O&M) practices, individually and collectively, on power plant performance. Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected from more than 100 power plants in Australia and Malaysia. The reliability and validity (content, construct, and criterion) of the practice and performance measures were evaluated. Findings – Committed leadership and maintenance-oriented practices as part of a total productive maintenance (TPM) philosophy were found to be the main differentiators between high and low performing plants. Research limitations/implications – The research is cross-sectional in nature, therefore, it does not permit us to account for the lag between implementation and performance. Second, the performance measures are subjective and may be subject to response bias. Practical implications – The implication of the research findings for plant managers is that they need to allocate more “softer” resources to the O&M function if they expect high plant availability. Social implications – Apart from capacity and fuel cost, operating costs are an important source of differentiation for power plants. The implication is that reduction in operating costs is directly related to the reduction of consumer power bills. Originality/value – The reader will learn from this paper that committed leadership and maintenance-oriented practices have greater explanatory power in the regression models than employee involvement, customer focus, strategic planning, and knowledge management. This knowledge is important because it emphasises that in addition to quality management practices, which are focussed on the development of the people aspects of the organization, the plant equipment and physical assets should also be given equal emphasis, in order to improve operational performance of power plants.

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