Implementation of cost optimization and efficiency advisory software for power plant

• Main Author: Chew, Kenneth Zhen Xiang.
• Other Authors: Huang Xiaoyang
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Mechanical engineering::Power resources
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/39673
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Cost reduction and effective use of resources had been the key concerns of the power industry. As it looks for new ways to improve the power generation processes, one key area to work on would be to implement automated optimization to command the plant operations. Advanced controls would ensure that all components in the plant work at the optimal level while fulfilling the output demand. This final year project is an industrial project between Nanyang Technological University and Division of Power and Waters solution, Emerson Process Management Asia Pacific. The main objective of the project is to implement cost optimization and performance calculations software for Ras Laffan C Independent Water and Power Project (IWPP), a mega power generation (2730MW) and water desalination plant (63 MIGD) in Doha, Qatar. The Economic Optimizer (EO) and Global Performance Advisor (GPA) by Emerson are the software used for the project. Economic Optimizer is an equation based, mathematical simulation optimizing software, embedded with advanced controls built for power plant operations. GPA is a real-time performance calculations software, which can communicate with most Distributed Control Systems (DCS). Due to the level of difficulty involved, the author was only assisting the engineering team in some areas of the optimizing work. His main contribution was to organize design information and implement the performance calculation software. With these two software, drop in efficiencies of any major component would be identified instantly and mitigated automatically, preventing losses of up to millions of dollars. This continuing trend of automated optimization would likely expand to the power distribution process and could even include consumers in time to come. An ideal scenario would be realization of Smartgrid, which is the highlighted issue for power industries recently. As of the time of this report submission, the proposed implementation and testing of Economic Optimizer and GPA onsite has yet to be completed. However, it is assured that the software will help to maintain high level of efficiencies for the plant, which can be proven by the seven GPA test cases conducted.