"Optimization Systems are only cost effective if you use them--” Hot Topic Hour July 29, 2010
There were very impressive case histories presented by three of the speakers relative to the cost savings with optimization software. The fourth speaker, Matt Dooley talked about the value of expert hands-on evaluations of operations. He was asked whether he recommended optimization software. His answer was that the companies who are looking for simple fixes and minimizing capital expenditures are not going to do justice to the system after they install it. On the other hand, a utility who is willing to put the resources behind the system can find it very valuable.
William "Bill" Poe, a Consultant with Invensys Process Systems in Houston, Texas, discussed Generation Management Systems that are now utilized by several power producers with a fleet of generation assets. The Fleet Generation Management system
· Provides Better “Generation” Management
o Closer generation to demand tracking
o Optimal mix of generating plants to match current grid/market conditions
o Exposes generation opportunities and improves asset utilization
o Creates a link between individual plants
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More affective sharing of best practices
· Allows Power Generator to:
o Have an overview of the status of generation assets
o Implement economic dispatch
o Schedule generation
o Track performance
o Interface to the energy market
o Consolidation of public domain information required for generation operation
o Interface with asset performance and maintenance
Tom Snowdon, a Performance Consultant for Emerson Process Management, Power and Water Solutions Division, explained that optimization of an existing fleet is a complex task that must begin with optimization of individual units, accounting for the position of each in the dispatch optimizer of the fleet. This bottom up approach seeks to minimize cost or maximize the margin of the fleet accounting for operating and maintenance costs in both the short-term and mid-term. Success depends heavily on an understanding of optimization science and the active use of appropriate optimization software.
Ray Johnson, Vice-president of Business Development at NeuCo, Inc., analyzed the use of integrated, closed-loop, boiler optimization systems to improve and manage tradeoffs between the combustion and boiler cleaning processes of fossil-fired power plants. Benefits are:
Matt Dooley, PE, Manager of Energy Assessments at Sigma Energy Solutions, is one of the seasoned veterans who work closely with customers to reduce power plant operating costs and emissions by improving the thermal energy efficiency of operating units. This is accomplished through the application of a modified PTC performance test, which relies on installed instrumentation and thereby reduces cost.
McIlvaine is making an effort to provide the power industry with “Decisive Classification.” The goal is to veer away from literal or scientific classification and instead classify options based on the value in decision making. Matt and the participants did some decisive classifying by inference. A power plant can choose to do nothing. Matt gave the example of one power plant where the Alstom service engineer had already recommended steps to improve the pulverizer performance. But only when Sigma came in and pointed out the cost savings of making these changes did the plant become motivated to do so. So we have three basic approaches to optimization:
· Do nothing
· Install optimization software
· Utilize outside experts on a periodic basis to evaluate processes and make recommendations for improvement.
Part of the Decisive Classification concept is precise definitions of terms. Tom Snowdon of Emerson provided the following:
What is Fleet Optimization?
Tom also discussed manipulated variables, disturbance variables, dependent variables, and constraints. These same terms, not surprisingly, were used by Bill Lauer and Jeff Williams of Emerson in their gas turbine presentation last week.
For the purposes of decisive classification we need to define and list these variables. For example, manipulated variables include damper positions, pump speeds, valve positions, fuel flow rate, ramp rate and others.
We believe that the application of “Decisive
Classification” is particularly valuable in making optimization systems. The
reason is that the subject is new to many of the decision makers. Furthermore it
is complex. It is accurate to say that all decision making is classification.
Decisive classification of optimization options will result in better decision
making. We hope to work with the suppliers and provide this classification in
both English and Chinese.
The BIOS, ABSTRACTS AND PHOTOS can be viewed as
follows:
BIOS, PHOTOS, ABSTRACTS - JULY 29, 2010.htm
The individual slides can be viewed in the NOx Decision Tree as follows:
WILLIAM "BILL" POE - INVENSYS
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NOx Continuing Decision Process For: Products
Generation Management Systems, presented by William "Bill" Poe, Invensys. Hot Topic Hour July 29, 2010.
TOM SNOWDON – EMERSON PROCESS MANAGEMENT
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NOx Continuing Decision Process For: Products
Fleet Optimization, presented by Tom Snowdon, Emerson Process Management. Hot Topic Hour July 29, 2010.
RAY JOHNSON - NEUCO
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NOx Continuing Decision Process For: Products
Integrated Boiler Optimization for Improved Combustion and Sootblowing Performance, presented by Ray Johnson - NeuCo. Hot Topic Hour July 29, 2010.
MATT DOOLEY – SIGMA ENERGY SOLUTIONS
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NOx Continuing Decision Process For: Products
Asset Optimization Through Efficiency Improvement, presented by Matt Dooley - SIGMA Energy Solutions. Hot Topic Hour July 29, 2010.