Efficiency Extra Edition
BY TINA TOBUREN, P.E.
Announcements
|
Next LM6000 Seminar
to be held in San Francisco in
September, 2009 |
Read & Comment
on Tina’s Blog: |
Monitoring Corrected Performance
Previous
newsletters have dealt with planning and maintaining your performance
monitoring system, but one thing which has not yet been discussed in detail is Corrected
Performance.
Once
you have your raw data selected, your sensors all calibrated and the data being
read, analyzed and archived without a hitch, you’re ready to look at
trends. But, the first thing you may
notice, is that trends for maximum capacity and heat rate will vary
depending on the current ambient conditions (especially for gas turbine
based plants).
Operators
are quick to identify the deficiencies of their plants – noting that on hot
days, the gas turbine is output limited.
But is this MW limit due to the ambient conditions alone, or is there
something else going on? The only way to
know, is to have a baseline set of expectations for the unit as ambient
conditions change. These expectations
are most often presented to the user as a set of performance correction curves,
such as the following:
Gas
turbine output and heat rate vary with the density of the air entering the
compressor – or, more directly, with compressor inlet temperature, humidity and
pressure. The OEM normally provides
performance curves for how the gas turbine responds to changes in these
conditions. The curves can then be
programmed into your performance monitoring system, and used to determine the
corrected performance of your unit: the
current operating data for your gas turbine (and/or plant) corrected to reference
ambient conditions.
You
can then compare your corrected performance values (normally output and heat
rate) to your design (or baseline) values, and you can also trend them to
see how the unit is degrading over time.
Because
corrected performance values no longer include the expected changes in
performance due to ambient conditions, any variances observed are due to other
(potentially controllable) influences.
Some of the differences could be normal wear & tear (degradation),
but changes could also mean something significant has occurred in the operation
- either software/controls or hardware.
When
trends show large step changes in corrected performance, an investigation
should be initiated ASAP to determine the cause of the change. Step changes in corrected performance
normally indicate something needs attention – whether that’s just an
instrument failure, a plug in a fuel filter, or foreign object damage (FOD)
needs to be determined.
The
cause of the change needs to be identified to verify that continuing to run in
the current state will not cause additional damage.
By
monitoring your corrected performance, you are on your way to finding the clues
to a more reliable and more efficient plant.
Seminar: LM6000 Performance Characteristics, Testing
and Long-Term Condition Monitoring
The next LM6000 Performance
Seminar is currently scheduled for September 2009, to be convenient for
attendees to the Aero Users Group Annual Conference (http://lm6000.users-groups.com/Events/2009/Info/).
I
am currently looking at holding the seminar on either Monday & Tuesday
before the conference (September 7 & 8) or the Monday & Tuesday
after the conference (September 14 & 15). If you would like to attend, and have a
preference for the dates, please let me know by sending an email to seminars@t2e3.com.
Additional information on
the seminar, including an agenda, can be found on at http://www.t2e3.com/LM6000.php.
T2E3
Products & Services
|
Analysis Tools |
Excel Workbooks, Macros & Add-Ins |
Training Seminars |
Compressor Efficiency Tracking Software |
Site Marketing and Dispatch Support |
T2E3 Add-ins
for Excel
Streamline your analysis
spreadsheets by using functions from the T2E3 Automation Add-ins. Available
functions include ASME steam tables, ASHRAE air properties, orifice flow meter
calculations and select performance functions, including: compressor efficiency
and evaporative cooler effectiveness.
For a complete function listing, available options or a trial version of an
add-in contact T2E3 at 425-821-6036
T2E3 Performance
Analysis Services for Power Plants
Including:
Analysis Tools & Software – from customized spreadsheets to add-ins for Excel or
complete compiled programs, T2E3 can develop software tools and analyses to
support all your performance monitoring needs, including integrating your
existing tools with available site data systems, to create online systems
providing data and results in real-time.
Training – both public seminars and customized options are available. Highly interactive sessions increase
attendees’ knowledge and understanding of the thermodynamic cycles,
instrumentation and analyses needed to improve equipment performance and
reliability.
Performance Test Support – if your site is
required to perform annual capacity or power purchase performance tests, having
Tina Toburen from T2E3 on site to direct the testing can lead to a smoother
test execution with more consistent performance results. Professional reports can also be produced to
communicate the results to all required parties.
Site Marketing and Dispatch Support – Do your marketers and/or
dispatchers understand the operation of your facility? Do they constantly dispatch the plant at
loads which are difficult or impossible to maintain? T2E3 can help you build tools and training
programs to help all parties understand the expected changes in performance due
to ambient conditions and operating constraints. These tools can also lead to a greater
understanding of the long-term economic outlook for your facility.
Unlock the potential of your
operation. Call for more information on
how we can work together, today!
T2E3
Tina Toburen’s Energy Efficiency Enterprises
14260 120th PL NE, Kirkland, WA 98034
Phone: 425-821-6036
Fax: 253-550-6992
E-mail: performance@t2e3.com
T2E3 Newsletter Volume 3, Issue 1:
May 2009
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