Automatic on-line chemistry monitoring system
First Claim
1. Apparatus for automatic, continuous on-line monitoring of a power plant steam cycle water system having a plurality of points where the chemical characteristics of the water in the system are to be measured, said water in the system at each said point having characteristic temperature conditions and cation conductivity levels in addition to said chemical characteristics, said apparatus comprising:
- means at each point for extracting a respective extracted fluid sample stream to be monitored;
continuous monitor module means for each extracted fluid sample stream, each said continuous monitor module means comprising;
means for monitoring the temperature conditions of the corresponding extracted fluid sample stream and generating a temperature signal representative of the temperature conditions so monitored,calibration means for selectively conditioning the corresponding extracted fluid sample stream in accordance with calibration actuation signals, to provide a conditioned calibration stream having predetermined chemical characteristics for calibration of downstream components,first flow-splitter means for dividing said extracted fluid sample stream into first and second fluid sample streams, andmeans for continuous on-line monitoring of one or more selected chemical characteristics of said first fluid sample stream and generating continuous monitor signals representative of said one or more selected chemical characteristics so monitored;
second flow-splitter means for each of said second fluid sample streams for dividing the latter into respective third and fourth fluid sample streams;
means for monitoring the cation conductivity levels of each of said third fluid sample streams and generating corresponding cation conductivity signals representative of the cation conductivity levels so monitored;
ion chromatography means for on-line monitoring of one or more selected chemical characteristics of selected ones of said third and fourth fluid sample streams in accordance with chromatography actuation signals and generating chromatograph signals representative of the selected chemical characteristics so monitored by ion chromatography;
valve means selectively operable to supply a plurality of said third fluid sample streams and corresponding fourth fluid sample streams to said ion chromatograph means in individual succession, in accordance with a sampling sequence; and
control means for;
receiving said temperature, continuous monitor, cation conductivity and chromatograph signals,determining said sampling sequence,calculating a derived cation conductivity for the fluid sample stream which corresponds to the third and fourth fluid sample streams being supplied to said ion chromatography means in accordance with predetermined conductivity equations, the temperature levels monitored in the fluid sample stream, and the selected chemical characteristics monitored by said ion chromatograph means,comparing said derived cation conductivity of the corresponding fluid sample stream with the cation conductivity levels monitored by the means for monitoring the cation conductivity levels, and using such comparison to choose which chemical characteristics are to be monitored by said ion chromatography means and to determine if calibration is necessary,selectively generating said calibration actuation signals at predetermined time intervals and between said predetermined time intervals, andgenerating said chromatograph actuation signals in accordance with the chemical characteristics selected by comparing said derived cation conductivity with the monitored cation conductivity levels.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for automatically sampling, monitoring and analyzing power plant steam cycle water supplied from various points in a power plant steam cycle system as a plurality of influent fluid sample streams. A continuous monitor module including continuous on-line monitors and a calibration unit provides continuous on-line monitoring of each influent fluid sample stream, and an ion chromatograph unit provides semi-continuous monitoring of a selected one of the influent fluid sample streams. Each calibration unit is operable to condition the corresponding influent fluid sample stream to provide a conditioned influent fluid sample stream having predetermined chemical characteristics; the continuous on-line monitors are calibrated with respect to the predetermined chemical characteristics of the corresponding conditioned influent fluid sample stream and the ion chromatograph unit is calibrated with respect to the predetermined chemical characteristics of the selected conditioned influent fluid sample stream supplied thereto. A control unit receives signals representative of the monitored chemical characteristics from the continuous on-line monitors and the ion chromatograph unit and uses these signals in a feedback loop to control the monitoring system and to detect, analyze and correct steam cycle water chemistry changes before corrosion or other problems related to water chemistry imbalances. The control unit controls the monitoring system by determining the sequence in which the plural influent fluid sample streams are supplied to the ion chromatograph unit, controlling the monitoring performed by the ion chromatograph unit, and automatically calibrating the continuous on-line monitors and the ion chromatograph unit.
52 Citations
17 Claims
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1. Apparatus for automatic, continuous on-line monitoring of a power plant steam cycle water system having a plurality of points where the chemical characteristics of the water in the system are to be measured, said water in the system at each said point having characteristic temperature conditions and cation conductivity levels in addition to said chemical characteristics, said apparatus comprising:
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means at each point for extracting a respective extracted fluid sample stream to be monitored; continuous monitor module means for each extracted fluid sample stream, each said continuous monitor module means comprising; means for monitoring the temperature conditions of the corresponding extracted fluid sample stream and generating a temperature signal representative of the temperature conditions so monitored, calibration means for selectively conditioning the corresponding extracted fluid sample stream in accordance with calibration actuation signals, to provide a conditioned calibration stream having predetermined chemical characteristics for calibration of downstream components, first flow-splitter means for dividing said extracted fluid sample stream into first and second fluid sample streams, and means for continuous on-line monitoring of one or more selected chemical characteristics of said first fluid sample stream and generating continuous monitor signals representative of said one or more selected chemical characteristics so monitored; second flow-splitter means for each of said second fluid sample streams for dividing the latter into respective third and fourth fluid sample streams; means for monitoring the cation conductivity levels of each of said third fluid sample streams and generating corresponding cation conductivity signals representative of the cation conductivity levels so monitored; ion chromatography means for on-line monitoring of one or more selected chemical characteristics of selected ones of said third and fourth fluid sample streams in accordance with chromatography actuation signals and generating chromatograph signals representative of the selected chemical characteristics so monitored by ion chromatography; valve means selectively operable to supply a plurality of said third fluid sample streams and corresponding fourth fluid sample streams to said ion chromatograph means in individual succession, in accordance with a sampling sequence; and
control means for;receiving said temperature, continuous monitor, cation conductivity and chromatograph signals, determining said sampling sequence, calculating a derived cation conductivity for the fluid sample stream which corresponds to the third and fourth fluid sample streams being supplied to said ion chromatography means in accordance with predetermined conductivity equations, the temperature levels monitored in the fluid sample stream, and the selected chemical characteristics monitored by said ion chromatograph means, comparing said derived cation conductivity of the corresponding fluid sample stream with the cation conductivity levels monitored by the means for monitoring the cation conductivity levels, and using such comparison to choose which chemical characteristics are to be monitored by said ion chromatography means and to determine if calibration is necessary, selectively generating said calibration actuation signals at predetermined time intervals and between said predetermined time intervals, and generating said chromatograph actuation signals in accordance with the chemical characteristics selected by comparing said derived cation conductivity with the monitored cation conductivity levels. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. Apparatus for automatic continuous on-line monitoring of a power plant steam cycle water system having a plurality of points where the chemical characteristics of the water in the system are to be measured, said water in the system at each said point containing anions, cations and organic acids and having characteristic temperature conditions, cation conductivity levels and specific conductivity levels in addition to said chemical characteristics, said apparatus comprising:
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means at each point for extracting a respective extracted fluid sample stream of power plant steam cycle water; continuous monitor module means for each extracted fluid sample stream, each said continuous monitor module means comprising; a filter; a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature conditions of the extracted fluid sample stream and generating a temperature signal representative of the temperature conditions so sensed, a flow meter for supplying said extracted fluid sample stream at a predetermined volumetric rate, deionizer means for selectively deionizing the corresponding extracted fluid sample stream to produce a deionized fluid sample stream in accordance with deionizer means actuation signals, said filter, temperature sensor, flow meter, and deionizer means being interconnected in a fluid series circuit, calibration means for selectively conditioning the corresponding deionized fluid sample stream in accordance with calibration actuation signals, to provide a conditioned deionized stream having predetermined chemical characteristics for calibration of downstream components, a first flow-splitter for dividing said extracted fluid sample stream into first and second fluid sample streams, and means for monitoring the specific conductivity of said first fluid sample stream, for monitoring chemical characteristics of said first fluid sample stream selected form the group of pH, dissolved oxygen, sodium, hydrazine, and ammonia, and for generating continuous monitor signal representative of the specific conductivity and the chemical characteristics so monitored; a second flow-splitter for each of said second fluid sample streams for dividing the latter into respective third and fourth fluid sample streams; means for monitoring the cation conductivity levels of each said third fluid sample streams and generating corresponding cation conductivity signals varying in accordance with the cation conductivity levels so monitored; ion chromatograph means comprising; anion chromatograph means for performing anion chromatography to monitor anions in one of the third fluid sample streams, and generating anion chromatograph signals representative of the anions so monitored, said anion chromatograph means having a sample volume control means for preparing a sample volume of one of the third fluid sample streams for monitoring in accordance with anion chromatograph sample volume control means actuation signals, and a detector, organic acid chromatograph means for performing organic acid chromatography to monitor organic acids in one of the third fluid sample streams, and generating organic acid chromatograph signals representative of the organic acids so monitored, said organic acid chromatograph means having a sample volume control means for preparing a sample volume of one of the third fluid sample streams for monitoring in accordance with organic acid chromatograph sample volume control means actuation signals, and a detector, cation chromatograph means for performing cation chromatography to monitor cations in one of the fourth fluid sample streams, and generating cation chromatograph signals representative of the cations so monitored, said cation chromatograph means having a sample volume control means for preparing a sample volume of one of the fourth fluid sample streams for monitoring in accordance with cation chromatograph sample volume control means actuation signals, and a detector, chromatograph selector means operable to alternatively direct one of the third fluid sample streams to either said organic acid chromatograph means or said anion chromatograph means in accordance with a chromatograph selector means actuation signal, an anion chromatograph eluant supply means for supplying an eluant to said anion chromatograph at a predetermine volumetric rate in accordance with anion chromatograph eluant supply means actuation signals, an organic acid chromatograph eluant supply means for supplying a selected one of plural eluants to said organic acid chromatograph at a predetermined volumetric rate in accordance with organic acid chromatograph eluant supply means actuation signals, and a cation chromatograph eluant supply means for supplying an eluant to said cation chromatograph at a predetermined volumetric rate in accordance with cation chromatograph eluant supply means actuation signals; valve means operable to selectively direct said third fluid sample streams to said ion chromatograph means in accordance with a sampling sequence and to provide said fourth fluid sample streams to said ion chromatograph means in accordance with the sampling sequence; and control means for; receiving said temperature, continuous monitor, cation conductivity, and anion, organic acid and cation chromatograph signals, determining said sampling sequence, comparing the cation conductivity of each third fluid sample stream with a cation conductivity alarm value an interrupting said sampling sequence if any of said cation conductivities exceeds said cation conductivity alarm value to provide the corresponding third and fourth fluid sample streams to said ion chromatograph means, calculating the sample volume of the third fluid sample stream to be prepared for monitoring by said anion and organic acid chromatograph sample volume control means in accordance with the monitored cation conductivity of the third fluid sample stream being supplied to said ion chromatograph means and stored data relating cation conductivity to ion concentration in a fluid sample, and generating said anion and organic acid chromatograph sample volume control means actuation signals and said anion and organic acid chromatograph eluant supply means actuation signals in accordance with the sample volume thus calculated, calculating the sample volume of the fourth fluid stream to be prepared for monitoring by said cation chromatograph sample volume control means in accordance with the specific conductivity of the fourth fluid sample stream being supplied to the ion chromatograph means and stored data relating specific conductivity to ion concentration in a fluid sample, and generating cation chromatograph sample volume control means actuation signals and said cation chromatograph eluant supply means actuation signals in accordance with the sample volume thus calculated, calculating a strong acid temperature compensated cation conductivity in accordance with the temperature conditions of the fluid sample stream being supplied to said ion chromatograph means, predetermined conductivity equations, and the anions and cations monitored by said anion and cation chromatographs, comparing said strong acid temperature compensated cation conductivity with the cation conductivity monitored by said means for monitoring cation conductivity levels to determine if organic acid chromatography is required, and selectively generating said chromatograph selector means actuation signals, calculating a cation conductivity including organic acids at the temperature conditions of the fluid sample stream being supplied to said ion chromatograph means in accordance with the anions, organic acids, and cations monitored by said anion, cation, and organic acid chromatographs and stored data, comparing temperature compensated cation conductivity including organic acids with the cation conductivity monitored by said means for monitoring cation conductivity levels to determine if calibration is required, and selectively generating said calibration actuation signals, and calibrating the continuous monitor, cation conductivity, and anion, organic acid and cation chromatograph signals using the conditioned dionized stream as a standard. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. Apparatus for automatic, continuous on-line monitoring of the chemical characteristics of power plant steam cycle water at any one of a plurality of different points in the power plant steam cycle system, said water in the system at each point having characteristic temperature conditions and cation conductivity levels in addition to said chemical characteristics, said apparatus comrpising:
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means for extracting, from at least a selected one of the plurality of points in the power plant steam cycle system, a corresponding, selected fluid sample stream; a respectively associataed continuous monitor module for each selected fluid sample stream comprising means for monitoring the temperature conditions of the selected fluid sample stream and generating a corresponding temperature signal, calibration means operable for selectively conditioning the selected fluid sample stream in accordance with calaibration actuation signals to provide a conditioned calibration stream having predetermined chemical characteristics, and means for continuously monitoring at least one selected chemical characteristic of the selected fluid sample stream and, in response thereto, generating a corresponding continuous monitor signal; means for receiving a portion of each selected fluid sample stream and monitoring the cation conductivity levels thereof, and, in response thereto, generating a corresponding cation conductivity signal and providing a corresponding altered fluid stream from which cations have been removed; ion chromatograph means for monitoring at least one chemical characteristic of each selected fluid sample stream and at least one selected chemical characteristic of the corresponding altered fluid stream in accordance with a chromatograph actuation signal, and, in response thereto, generating corresponding first and second chromatograph signals; and control means, responsive to at least the temperature signal, said corresponding cation conductivity signal and the first and second chromatograph signals corresponding to each selected fluid sample stream, for calculating a derived cation conductivity for the respective, selected fluid sample stream in accordance with predetermined conductivity equations, comparing the derived cation conductivity with the cation conductivity monitored by said means for receiving for the respective fluid sample stream, and generating said calibration actuation signals and said chromatograph actuation signal in accordance with said comparison, for supply to said respectively associated continuous monitor module and said ion chromatograph means for the selected fluid sample stream. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification