Magnus Fast

Prediction of power output of a coal-fired power plant by artificial neural network

Accurate modeling of thermal power plant is very useful as well as difficult. Conventional simulation programs based on heat and mass balances represent plant processes with mathematical equations. These are good for understanding the processes but usually complicated and at times limited with large number of parameters needed. On the other hand, artificial neural network (ANN) models could be developed using real plant data, which are already measured and stored. These models are fast in response and easy to be updated with new plant data. Usually, in ANN modeling, energy systems can also be simulated with fewer numbers of parameters compared to mathematical ones. Step-by-step method of the ANN model development of a coal-fired power plant for its base line operation is discussed in this paper. The ultimate objective of the work was to predict power output from a coal-fired plant by using the least number of controllable parameters as inputs. The paper describes two ANN models, one for boiler and one for turbine, which are eventually integrated into a single ANN model representing the real power plant. The two models are connected through main steam properties, which are the predicted parameters from boiler ANN model. Detailed procedure of ANN model development has been discussed along with the expected prediction accuracies and validation of models with real plant data. The interpolation and extrapolation capability of ANN models for the plant has also been studied, and observed results are reported.

Condition based maintenance of gas turbines using simulation data and artificial neural network: A demonstration of feasibility

Gas turbine maintenance is crucial due to high cost for the replacement of its components and associated loss of power during shutdown period. Conventional scheduled maintenance, based on equivalent operating hours, is not the best alternative as it can require unnecessary shut downs. Condition based maintenance is an attractive alternative as it decreases unnecessary shut downs and has other advantages for both the manufacturers and the plant owners. However, this has shown to be a complex/difficult task. A number of methods and approaches have been presented to develop condition monitoring tools during the past decade. Condition monitoring tools can e.g. be developed by means of training artificial neural networks (ANN) with historical operational data. Such tools can be used for online gas turbine performance prediction where input data from the plant is fed directly to the trained ANN models. The predicted outputs from the models are compared with corresponding measurements and possible deviations are evaluated. With this method both recoverable degradation, caused by fouling, and irrecoverable degradation, caused by wear, can be detected and hence both compressor wash and overhaul periods optimized. However, non-availability of operational data at the beginning of the gas turbine operation may cause problems for the development of ANN based condition monitoring tools. Simulation data, on the other hand, may be generated by using a manufacturer’s engine design program. This data can be used for training artificial neural networks to overcome the problem of non-availability of operational data. ANN models trained with simulation data could be used to monitor the engine from the very beginning of its operation. A demonstration case using a Siemens gas turbine has been shown for this proposed method by comparing two ANN models, one trained with operational data and the other with simulation data. For the comparison an arbitrary section of operational data was used to produce predictions from both models, whereupon these were plotted with corresponding measured data. The comparison shows that the trends are very similar but the parameter values for the measured and the simulated data are shifted by a constant. Using this knowledge, one can provide an ANN based engine monitoring tool that could be adjusted to a certain engine using engine performance test data. The study shows promising results and motivates further investigations in this field. (Less)

A Novel Approach For Gas Turbine Condition Monitoring Combining Cusum Technique And Artificial Neural Network

Investigation of a novel condition monitoring approach, combining artificial neural network (ANN) with a sequential analysis technique, has been reported in this paper. For this purpose operational data from a Siemens SGT600 gas turbine has been employed for the training of an ANN model. This ANN model is subsequently used for the prediction of performance parameters of the gas turbine. Simulated anomalies are introduced on two different sets of operational data, acquired one year apart, whereupon this data is compared with corresponding ANN predictions. The cumulative sum (CUSUM) technique is used to improve and facilitate the detection of such anomalies in the gas turbines performance. The results are promising, displaying fast detection of small changes and detection of changes even for a degraded gas turbine.

Different Condition Monitoring Models for Gas Turbines by Means of Artificial Neural Networks

This paper presents three different gas turbine condition monitoring models developed by artificial neural networks. Operational data from an ALSTOM GT11-N1 has been employed for training and evaluation of the artificial neural network models. The developed models differ by their selected input and output parameters. These ANN models are used for prediction of performance parameters of the gas turbine. When tested on data collected after a training period, the models reveal different degradation trends, i.e. difference between expected and measured performance parameter values. The approach adopted in this paper shows that powerful monitoring tools can be developed form operational data with artificial neural networks.Copyright