System and Method for operating steam systems
AssigneeConsolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc.
InventorsEdward Gerard Ecock, Josephine Aromando, Charles Stuart Conroy, Dowlatram Somrah, Wilket Ng
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for operating a steam system, such as a district heating system is provided with provisions for predicting potential water hammer conditions. The system measures steam parameters as inputs into a steam system engine. The steam system engine uses physics models and empirical steam flow behavior models to determine a condensate parameter such as rate of condensate generation and condensate levels within the system. When the condensate parameter exceeds a threshold, a signal is transmitted to the system operator so that actions may be taken to alleviate or prevent undesired conditions.
Claims19
A district heating system comprising:
- a plurality of conduits, the plurality of conduits having a first conduit;
- a first sensor measuring at least one first steam parameter associated with the first conduit;
- a controller coupled to the first sensor to receive a first signal indicating the at least one first steam parameter, the controller having a processor that is responsive to executable instructions when executed on the processor for determining a first condensate parameter and first condensate location in the plurality of conduits in response to the first signal.
A district heating system having at least one heating facility and at least one consuming facility, the system comprising:
- a plurality of conduits fluidly coupling the at least one heating facility with the at least one consuming facility;
- a plurality of valves coupled to the plurality of conduits;
- a plurality of temperature sensors coupled to the plurality of conduits, each of the plurality of temperature sensors disposed distally from each other;
- a plurality of pressure sensors coupled to the plurality of conduits, each of the plurality of pressure sensors disposed distally from each other;
- a plurality of condensate level sensors coupled to the plurality of conduits, each of the plurality of pressure sensors disposed distally from each other;
- at least one manhole water level sensor arranged adjacent the plurality of conduits;
- and,
- a controller coupled to communicate with the plurality of temperature sensors, the plurality of pressure sensors, the plurality of condensate sensors the at least one manhole water level sensor and the plurality of valves, the controller having a processor that is responsive to executable instructions when executed on the processor for determining a condensate parameter at a location within the plurality of conduits in response to receiving signals from the plurality of temperature sensors, the plurality of pressure sensors, the plurality of condensate sensors the at least one manhole water level sensor.
A method of operating a district heating system having at least one heating facility and at least one consuming facility, the method comprising:
- measuring a steam parameter in a first conduit, the first conduit being fluidly coupled between the at least one heating facility and the at least one consuming facility;
- transmitting the steam parameter to a steam system engine;
- determining with the steam system engine at least one parameter including condensate rate of generation, condensate flow rate or condensate level, wherein the at least one parameter associated with a condensate in the first conduit;
- and,
- generating a first signal when the at least one parameter exceeds a threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.