Enhanced instrumentation and control systems for improved plant operational flexibility

摘要

The author (R. S., EPRI)) noted that under the new regimes in operation, cycling was but one aspect in 'flexibility' which now may include a variation in fuel supply and price. Adequate instrumentation was critical in order to understand how new operating modes were affecting component reliability and life expenditure. The speaker recalled the many conferences that EPRI had conducted on plant cycling. Since plant owners were no longer the same as the owners of the power system an 'ancillary market service' had sprung up and a Table was presented for these. A proposed flexible control system was described which would allow the plant to tailor its operating mode to best suit the prevailing market conditions. There were several ways of operating plant - (i) in maximum-megawatt mode, where plant efficiency and response were sacrificed, (ii) least-emissions mode where efficiency and plant capacity were sacrificed and (iii) maximum-efficiency mode where plant heat rate was minimised or alternatively would operate in a free pressure or sliding pressure mode. The possibilities of operating coal-fired plant at very low loads and the monitoring of inevitable 'wear and tear' imposed on components during cycling were discussed.