Method for correcting combustion effluent data when used for input-loss performance monitoring of a power plant
AssigneeExergetic Systems LLC
InventorFred D Lang
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Abstract
The operation of a fossil-fueled thermal system is quantified by a method for determining correction factors to Choice Operating Parameters, including effluent CO2 and other parameters, such that combustion stoichiometric consistency and thermodynamic conservations are both achieved. Correcting Choice Operating Parameters is accomplished through multidimensional einimization techniques operating on certain System Effect Parameters. The corrected Choice Operating Parameters may then be supplied to Input/Loss methods as used to monitor and improve system heat rate.
Claims20
A method for quantifying the operation of a fossil-fired thermal system through accurate knowledge of its system heat rate and other thermal performance parameters when its fuel chemistry, heating value and fuel flow are determined from Input/Loss methods, the method for quantifying the operation comprising the steps of:
- selecting a set of minimization techniques applicable to the thermal system and its fuel,
- processing a set of routine inputs and convergence criteria to the minimization techniques,
- selecting a set of Choice Operating Parameters and their initial values,
- determining a set of scaling factors for the set of Choice Operating Parameters resulting in a set of Choice Operating Parameters which are scaled initial values,
- determining a set of System Effect Parameters applicable to the thermal system and its fuel whose functionalities effect the determination of system heat rate,
- determining a set of Reference System Effect Parameters which uniquely describe the thermal system and its fuel,
- determining an objective function applicable to the thermal system's stoichiometric situation, the set of scaled Choice Operating Parameters, the set of System Effect Parameters and the set of Reference System Effect Parameters,
- optimizing the set of Choice Operating Parameters using their scaled initial values by employing the set of minimization techniques and the objective function such that convergence criteria is met resulting in a set of final Choice Operating Parameters,
- determining a set of correction factors to the set of Choice Operating Parameters using their initial and final values resulting in a set of corrected Choice Operating Parameters, and
- reporting the set of corrected Choice Operating Parameters.
A method for quantifying the operation of a fossil-fired thermal system through accurate knowledge of its system heat rate and other thermal performance parameters when its fuel chemistry, heating value and fuel flow are determined from Input/Loss methods, the method for quantifying the operation comprising the steps of:
- selecting a neural network technique applicable to the thermal system and its fuel,
- processing a set of routine inputs and convergence criteria to the neural network technique,
- selecting a set of Choice Operating Parameters and their initial values,
- determining a set of System Effect Parameters applicable to the thermal system and its fuel whose functionalities effect the determination of system heat rate,
- optimizing the set of Choice Operating Parameters by employing the neural network technique such that convergence criteria is met resulting in a set of final Choice Operating Parameters,
- determining a set of correction factors to the set of Choice Operating Parameters using their initial and final values resulting in a set of corrected Choice Operating Parameters, and
- reporting the set of corrected Choice Operating Parameters.
A method for quantifying the operation of a fossil-fired thermal system by computing the volumetric flow of effluent gases, the method for quantifying the operation comprising the steps of:
- determining a fuel flow rate,
- determining a stoichiometric balance for the combustion process resulting in stoichiometric terms descriptive of Boiler gases, system air leakage and As-Fired fuel,
- determining an average molecular weight of the effluent gases,
- determining a molecular weight of the As-Fired fuel,
- determining an ideal gas density,
- computing the volumetric flow of effluent gases based on the fuel flow rate, results from the stoichiometric balance for the combustion process, the average molecular weight of the effluent gases, the molecular weight of the As-Fired fuel and the ideal gas density, and
- reporting the volumetric flow.
A method for quantifying the operation of a fossil-fired thermal system by computing the volumetric flow of effluent gases, the method for quantifying the operation comprising the steps of:
- determining an energy flow to the working fluid,
- determining a set of Operating Parameters required for boiler efficiency,
- determining a set of Reference Fuel Characteristics descriptive of a typical fuel including a typical heating value,
- determining a stoichiometric balance for the combustion process based on the set of Operating Parameters and the set of Reference Fuel Characteristics resulting in stoichiometric terms descriptive of Boiler gases, system air leakage and As-Fired fuel,
- determining an average molecular weight of the effluent gases,
- determining a molecular weight of the As-Fired fuel,
- determining a boiler efficiency of the thermal system,
- determining an ideal gas density,
- computing the volumetric flow of effluent gases based on the energy flow to the working fluid, the set of Operating Parameters, the set of Reference Fuel Characteristics, results from the stoichiometric balance for the combustion process, the average molecular weight of the effluent gases, the molecular weight of the As-Fired fuel, the boiler efficiency and the ideal gas density, and
- reporting the volumetric flow.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.