EARLY DETECTION OF SIGNAL OR PROCESS VARIATION IN THE CO-GENERATION PLANT AT U.S. STEEL, GARY WORKS

摘要

This 161 megawatt co-generation plant is highly instrumented to provide real-time monitoring of turbine, extraction, generator, condenser and bearing functions, including pressure, valve position, temperature, amperage, voltage and displacement. An equipment condition monitoring (SmartSignal eCM~(TM)) system, based on an empirical profile of normal operational conditions, monitors 60 signals on this system at one-minute intervals. This study of two months of plant data shows that eCM~(TM) technology generates a reasonable estimated value for each of the signals and enables early detection of significant, but subtle, variations in pressures, temperatures, flows, and energy level. Alerts annunciated by the system focus attention on groups of signals that can be early indications of equipment failure or process imbalance.