Power plant life assessment

• US 20060129413A1
• Filed: 12/10/2004
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Energy Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation
• Inventors: Bellows, James C., Shoemaker, Fred W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,689,515 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/188 Electronic negotiation

Abstract

A method of evaluating a power plant having a design life based on operating the plant within an allowable chemical exposure range includes accumulating a history of a chemical exposure of a steam generating portion of the power plant (e.g., 10). The method also includes determining a remaining life of the plant based on the history of the chemical exposure and assuming continued operation of the plant within the allowable chemical exposure range (e.g., 20). The method may also include evaluating an economic value of operating the plant based on the remaining life of the plant (e.g., 30).

Claims

1. A method of evaluating a power plant having a design life based on operating the plant within an allowable chemical exposure range, the method comprising:

accumulating a history of a chemical exposure of a steam generating portion of the power plant; and

determining a remaining life of the plant based on the history of the chemical exposure and assuming continued operation of the plant within the allowable chemical exposure range.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising evaluating an economic value of operating the plant based on the remaining life of the plant.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein evaluating an economic value further comprises comparing an economic gain achieved by operating the plant with the history of chemical exposure exceeding the allowable range with an economic loss resulting from the remaining life being shorter than the design life due to the chemical exposure exceeding the allowable range.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein evaluating an economic value further comprises including a factor selected from the group consisting of depreciation and a time value of money.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising:

projecting a future operation of the plant with the chemical exposure exceeding the range of the allowable chemical exposure; and

using the future operation of the plant in conjunction with the history of chemical exposure and the continued operation of the plant within the allowable range of the chemical exposure to determine the remaining life.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising determining, based on the remaining life, if the power plant should continue to be operated with the chemical exposure exceeding the range of the allowable chemical exposure.

7. A method of evaluating a power plant having a design life based on operating the plant within an allowable chemical exposure range, the method comprising:

identifying a period of operation exceeding an allowable chemical exposure range of a steam generating portion of the power plant; and

determining a remaining life of the plant based on operating the plant in the period of operation exceeding an allowable chemical exposure range and in all other periods of operation of the plant within an allowable chemical exposure range and assuming continued operation of the plant within the allowable chemical exposure range.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising evaluating an economic value of operating the plant based on the remaining life of the plant.

9. A method of evaluating a power plant comprising:

identifying a period of operation exceeding an allowable chemical exposure range of a power plant having a design life based on operating the plant within an allowable chemical exposure range; and

determining a remaining life of the plant based on a chemical exposure of the plant comprising at least a period of chemical exposure exceeding the allowable chemical exposure range and a continued operation of the plant within the allowable chemical exposure range.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising evaluating an economic value of operating the plant based on the remaining life of the plant and the design life.