Optimization Systems for Fossil Fueled Power Plants is the Subject of the Hot Topic Hour on April 30th at 10 a.m. CST
Utility operators have always been interested in improving the efficiency of their operations to reduce cost, but today they are looking at efficiency improvements as part of the solution to some of the other concerns they are faced with. Improving efficiency of the combustion process and heat recovery only a few percent can very inexpensively reduce the total CO2 emissions and help to meet the new regulations for GHG reduction being imposed by states and soon the U.S. EPA. This can also reduce their emissions of other criteria pollutants. Improving the efficiency of systems designed to remove particulates and SO3 can help meet the coming PM2.5 regulations with minimal investment. Improving the operation of fans, pumps and pollution control equipment can reduce parasitic losses and increase output for the same fuel consumption.
Executives are increasingly asking utility engineers and planners’ questions regarding efficiency improvement such as: What are the available systems, technologies and methods for improving efficiency and who provides them? Have these systems, technology and methods been proven in other plants with the same configuration as mine? What is the impact on maintenance and overall operating cost? Is here a tradeoff between cost and reductions in emissions? What is the best way to improve efficiency or where will we get the best bang for the buck so to speak? Should we invest in optimization software and/or additional monitoring instrumentation?
The following speakers will address these questions and describe real world experience with improving the operating efficiency of fossil fueled power plants.
Bill Rafferty, Vice-President, Sales & Marketing of Clyde Bergemann Power Group Americas will discuss the favorable impact that modern intelligent boiler cleaning technologies can have on plant efficiency and subsequently air quality when retrofitted to an existing plant. He will include the results of several case studies in the presentation.
William “Bill” Poe, a Consultant with Invensys Process Systems in Houston, Texas is responsible for developing performance and business solutions for the Power Generation industry. He will discuss the benefits of utilizing Dynamic Combustion Optimization to minimize heat rate, reduce tube failures, and maximize ramp rates while honoring emissions and other operating constraints. Dynamic Combustion Optimization incorporates robust, online predictive modeling with adaptive control complemented with optimization algorithms that respond very quickly to changing conditions.
Neil Widmer, Product Line Manager, GE Environmental Services’ Boiler Optimization Service group will present the Latest Applications and Results of the application of GE’s Zonal™ Combustion Tuning System on Coal-Fired Boilers. The Zonal™ Combustion Tuning System provides tools to measure CO and O2 profiles in the exhaust of fired boilers to a degree that hasn't been done before and to advise plant operators on burner and overfire air adjustments, which can maximize performance and reduce operating costs. The presentation will cover features, application and reliability of the Zonal™ Monitoring system and will discuss operating experiences and improvements achieved on wall and tangential fired boilers.
Dave Early, President of Combustion Technologies Corporation and Manager of AMC Power – a Division of Air Monitor Corporation will describe the use of online coal pipe flow measurement combined with online burner secondary airflow measurement to improve control of combustion to reduced NOx from 20% to 30%, CO and LOI as well as improve furnace temperature and slagging conditions.
Stewart Nicholson, President, Primex Process Specialists, Inc.
Jeff Williams, Business Development Manager for SmartProcess for Emerson Process Management, Power & Water Solutions will share the latest in advancements for capturing wind energy (ramp rate improvements), lowering load on SCR equipped units, and optimization for NOx reductions to support the greening of the power industry.
Michael Tay, Director of Sales Engineering at Pavilion Technologies, a Rockwell Automation Company will describe how Pavilion develops nonlinear control and optimization software to provide stable, robust economic performance drivers that provide optimization across multiple, occasionally conflicting objectives to obtain the highest possible performance from existing plant equipment. He will also describe the Pavilion customer engagement methodology and what it means as far as reduced cost of making a MWh of electrical or steam energy.
Dana Maas, Director of Business Development for RMT’s SmartBurn® Technical Unit will discuss a suite of custom solutions that allows power producers with coal-fired boilers to optimize their systems keep existing equipment and marginal facilities running in an environmentally friendly, efficient and cost-competitive manner. He will describe how extensive use and application of advanced and proven computational techniques can identify the optimal balance of cost and benefit utilizing solutions ranging from operational tuning, to custom-designed burners and over-fire air applications, to biomass co-firing.
To register for the “Hot Topic Hour” on Thursday, April 30th at 10:00 a.m. CST, click on: http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/brochures/FGDnetoppbroch/Default1.htm .
Bob McIlvaine
847 784-0012
rmcilvaine@mcilvainecompany.com