Abstract:
A technique of implementing performance monitoring in a power plant is appropriate to control operating parameters and factors connected with the efficiency of the energy production process in an energy marketplace that is more complex than in the past, and that takes variable costs besides the cost of fuel into account, e.g., environmental credits, equipment degradation and repair costs, electrical energy trade market factors like ramp rate, LMP (Locational Marginal Pricing) factors, the ability to deliver contracted power levels and spot transactions, etc. The technique applies a statistical analysis to collected power plant data to determine the factors that are best controlled or changed to affect (increase) the efficiency or other primary performance indication of the plant, as well as to establish baseline or best-possible operational constraints to be used to control the plant in the future.
Abstract:
A device for optimizing a modeled fluidized bed combustion power plant (10) includes a model (112) of a fluidized bed combustion system and an optimizer (114). The model (112) of the fluidized bed combustion system provides at least one simulated output parameter of the fluidized bed combustion power plant (10) in response to a user selected parameter of the fluidized bed combustion power plant (10). The optimizer (114) provides at least one optimized simulated output parameter of the fluidized bed combustion power plant (10) in response to at least one user selected optimization setting (126) and the at least one simulated output parameter.
Abstract:
The present disclosure pertains to thermostats that assist users in monitoring and/or controlling their utility consumption habits and patterns. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a thermostat that includes a housing and a controller located within the housing. The controller may be adapted to implement a control algorithm that permits the controller to operate one or more components of an HVAC system. The thermostat may include a display and a receiver that is configured to receive messages from a utility. In some cases, the controller may provide, on the display, an indication of a measure of utility usage during a first time period (e.g. during a current month) and an indication of a measure of utility usage during a second time period (e.g. during the same month one year ago) that may be after the first time period.
Abstract:
A technique of implementing performance monitoring in a power plant is appropriate to control operating parameters and factors connected with the efficiency of the energy production process in an energy marketplace that is more complex than in the past, and that takes into account more than just the cost of fuel. In particular, this method works well when the real costs of production are dependent on other variable costs besides the cost of fuel, such as environmental credits, equipment degradation and repair costs, as well as electrical energy trade market factors like ramp rate, LMP factors, and the ability to deliver contracted power levels and spot transactions. The power plant performance monitoring technique applies a statistical analysis to collected power plant data to determine the factors that are best controlled or changed to affect (increase) the efficiency or other primary performance indication of the plant, in whatever state or operating level the plant is run. Because heat rate calculation applications are typically performed on-line, it is possible to analyze collected plant data in detail and to apply for example, principal component analysis (PCA) and linear and nonlinear regression analysis to the data, which enables the performance method to obtain a more accurate detection of the influence of the principal process parameters that affect heat rate deviation (efficiency), as well as to establish baseline or best-possible operational constraints to be used to control the plant in the future. This performance based control methodology will allow for near optimum performance of power plants by constantly allowing for refinement and best practices and control to be realized.
Abstract:
The present disclosure pertains to thermostats that assist users in monitoring and/or controlling their utility consumption habits and patterns. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a thermostat that includes a housing and a controller located within the housing. The controller may be adapted to implement a control algorithm that permits the controller to operate one or more components of an HVAC system. The thermostat may include a display and a receiver that is configured to receive messages from a utility. In some cases, the controller may provide, on the display, an indication of a measure of utility usage during a first time period (e.g. during a current month) and an indication of a measure of utility usage during a second time period (e.g. during the same month one year ago) that may be after the first time period.