Method and system for calculating marginal cost curves using plant control models

• US 20060089730A1
• Filed: 10/25/2005
• Published: 04/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: NeuCo Incorporated (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: Rosenof, Howard, Spinney, Peter, Kohn, Daniel W., Lefebvre, Curt W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,333,861 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/36
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 90/00 Systems or methods specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial or supervisory purposes, not involving significant data processing

Abstract

A method and system are provided for calculating a marginal cost curve for a plant at a plant load range comprising a plurality of specified plant loads. The method includes providing a model used for controlling the plant. The model relates plant load and one or more given cost contributing factors. The marginal value for each of the one or more given cost contributing factors at each of the plurality of specified plant loads is determined using the model. A variable cost at each of the plurality of specified plant loads is determined by: (i) multiplying the marginal value of each of the one or more given cost contributing factors at each of the plurality of specified plant loads by a respective unit cost of each of the one or more given cost contributing factors, and (ii) if there are a plurality of given cost contributing factors, summing the results of (i) at each of the plurality of specified plant loads. A marginal variable cost is determined at each of the plurality of specified plant loads by computing a derivative of the variable cost at each of the plurality of specified plant loads. A collection of marginal variable costs at the plurality of specified plant loads defines the marginal cost curve for the plant at the plant load range.

Claims

1. A method for calculating a marginal cost curve for a plant at a plant load range comprising a plurality of specified plant loads, the method comprising:

(a) providing a model used for controlling the plant, the model relating plant load and one or more given cost contributing factors;

(b) determining a marginal value for each of the one or more given cost contributing factors at each of the plurality of specified plant loads using the model;

(c) determining a variable cost at each of the plurality of specified plant loads by;

(i) multiplying the marginal value of each of the one or more given cost contributing factors at each of the plurality of specified plant loads by a respective unit cost of each of the one or more given cost contributing factors, and

(ii) if there are a plurality of given cost contributing factors, summing the results of (i) at each of the plurality of specified plant loads; and

(d) determining a marginal variable cost at each of the plurality of specified plant loads by computing a derivative of the variable cost at each of the plurality of specified plant loads, wherein a collection of marginal variable costs at the plurality of specified plant loads defines the marginal cost curve for the plant at the plant load range.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more given cost contributing factors include a consumables cost, an emissions allowance cost, or a plant depreciation or maintenance cost.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the consumables cost comprises the cost of fuel, reagents or sorbents.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the emissions allowance cost comprises NOx emission allowance cost or SO_x emission allowance cost.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the plant is an electric power producing plant, and the model is a fuel efficiency or plant emission model.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the plant is an electric power producing plant, and the load is electric output of the plant.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the plant is a manufacturing plant.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of cost contributing factors, and wherein the marginal values for the plurality of cost contributing factors are determined from multiple models or from multiple outputs of the model.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the model comprises a neural network model, a genetic algorithm model, or a first principle model.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the model is a one-dimensional model derived from a multi-dimensional plant control model.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising obtaining the unit cost of each of the one or more given cost contributing factors in real time from a market source.

12. A computer program product for calculating a marginal cost curve for a plant at a plant load range comprising a plurality of specified plant loads, the computer program product residing on a computer readable medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a processor, cause that processor to:

(a) determine a marginal value for each of the one or more given cost contributing factors at each of the plurality of specified plant loads using a model used for controlling the plant, the model relating plant load and one or more given cost contributing factors;

(b) determine a variable cost at each of the plurality of specified plant loads by;

(i) multiplying the marginal value of each of the one or more given cost contributing factors at each of the plurality of specified plant loads by a respective unit cost of each of the one or more given cost contributing factors, and

(ii) if there are a plurality of given cost contributing factors, summing the results of (i) at each of the plurality of specified plant loads; and

(c) determine a marginal variable cost at each of the plurality of specified plant loads by computing a derivative of the variable cost at each of the plurality of specified plant loads, wherein a collection of marginal variable costs at the plurality of specified plant loads defines the marginal cost curve for the plant at the plant load range.

13. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein the one or more given cost contributing factors include a consumables cost, an emissions allowance cost, or a plant depreciation or maintenance cost.

14. The computer program product of claim 13 wherein the consumables cost comprises the cost of fuel, reagents or sorbents.

15. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein the emissions allowance cost comprises NOx emission allowance cost or SO_x emission allowance cost.

16. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein the plant is an electric power producing plant, and the model is a fuel efficiency or plant emission model.

17. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein the plant is an electric power producing plant, and the load is electric output of the plant.

18. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein the plant is a manufacturing plant.

19. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein there are a plurality of cost contributing factors, and wherein the marginal values for the plurality of cost contributing factors are determined from multiple models or from multiple outputs of the model.

20. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein the model comprises a neural network model, a genetic algorithm model, or a first principle model.

21. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein the model is a one-dimensional model derived from a multi-dimensional plant control model.

22. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein the processor further obtains the unit cost of each of the one or more given cost contributing factors in real time from a market source.

23. A system for calculating a marginal cost curve for a plant at a plant load range comprising a plurality of specified plant loads, the system comprising:

a model for controlling the plant, the model relating plant load and one or more given cost contributing factors;

means for determining a marginal value for each of the one or more given cost contributing factors at each of the plurality of specified plant loads using the model;

means for determining a variable cost at each of the plurality of specified plant loads by;

(i) multiplying the marginal value of each of the one or more given cost contributing factors at each of the plurality of specified plant loads by a respective unit cost of each of the one or more given cost contributing factors, and

(ii) if there are a plurality of given cost contributing factors, summing the results of (i) at each of the plurality of specified plant loads; and

means for determining a marginal variable cost at each of the plurality of specified plant loads by computing a derivative of the variable cost at each of the plurality of specified plant loads, wherein a collection of marginal variable costs at the plurality of specified plant loads defines the marginal cost curve for the plant at the plant load range.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the one or more given cost contributing factors include a consumables cost, an emissions allowance cost, or a plant depreciation or maintenance cost.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the consumables cost comprises the cost of fuel, reagents or sorbents.

26. The system of claim 24 wherein the emissions allowance cost comprises NOx emission allowance cost or SO_x emission allowance cost.

27. The system of claim 23 wherein the plant is an electric power producing plant, and the model is a fuel efficiency or plant emission model.

28. The system of claim 23 wherein the plant is an electric power producing plant, and the load is electric output of the plant.

29. The system of claim 23 wherein the plant is a manufacturing plant.

30. The system of claim 23 wherein there are a plurality of cost contributing factors, and wherein the marginal values for the plurality of cost contributing factors are determined from multiple models or from multiple outputs of the model.

31. The system of claim 23 wherein the model comprises a neural network model, a genetic algorithm model, or a first principle model.

32. The system of claim 23 wherein the model is a one-dimensional model derived from a multi-dimensional plant control model.

33. The system of claim 23 further comprising means for obtaining the unit cost of each of the one or more given cost contributing factors in real time from a market source.