Integrated Technologies for Improved Plant Performance and Availability: Application of First Principles and Empirical Modeling Technologies

摘要

FirstEnergy Corp. has recently selected and installed first principles thermodynamic models and empirical, advanced-pattern recognition-based models to monitor and predict the capacity, efficiency and condition of the units, systems and equipment in its 16-unit/7-site fleet of coal-fired supercritical power plants. This single software platform will be used at both the plants and at the new Information Diagnostic Evaluation and Analysis (IDEA) Center to continually improve the reliability, availability and efficiency of these power stations.First principles power plant thermodynamic models are developed for verifying plant design, establishing performance benchmarks, and evaluating current operating data and, in many cases, conducting performance tests. These models are then used to determine the cost of off-design operation, identify load-limiting factors, and quantify the effects of degradation of key plant equipment. Empirical models, based on historical operating plant data, are effective at identifying abnormal operating conditions, equipment degradation, and faulty instrument indications thereby providing information for condition-based maintenance. Models based on Advanced Pattern Recognition (APR) tend to be less susceptible to instrument errors and are particularly effective at identifying equipment problems well before a catastrophic upset.FirstEnergy has been using independent systems that incorporate most of the capabilities for years. Enhancement and integration of these technologies allows access to the raw data and calculated results in a single platform, substantially expanding their capability for advanced equipment diagnostics and accurate, actionable information. FirstEnergy is also leveraging these systems and key operations, engineering and maintenance expertise through the establishment of centralized monitoring and diagnostic center, the IDEA Center, located in Akron, Ohio, and piloting the same system at one of its nuclear plants through an internal Synergy Initiative.This presentation will provide an overview of the technologies utilized and present several case studies identifying the problems and issues identified by the system and FirstEnergy diagnostic team(s) and quantifying the benefits to FirstEnergy.