Use of statistical analysis in power plant performance monitoring
First Claim
1. A method of monitoring the performance of a power generating unit, comprising:
- collecting first data related to a primary performance indication for the power generating unit at numerous different times within a time period during which the power generating unit is operating, the first data including data corresponding to at least one cost in addition to a cost of fuel;
determining the primary performance indication based on the collected first data;
collecting second data related to each of a plurality of operating parameters of the power generating unit within the time period;
performing a correlation analysis on the first data and the second data to quantitatively determine, for each of the plurality of operating parameters, a correlation between the each of the plurality of operating parameters and the primary performance indication;
determining from the correlation analysis a subset of the plurality of operating parameters that most affect the primary performance indication for the power generating unit; and
altering the control of one or more of the subset of the plurality of operating parameters during subsequent operation of the power generating unit based on the correlation analysis to thereby enhance the primary performance indication during subsequent operation of the power generation unit.
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Abstract
A technique of implementing performance monitoring in a power plant is appropriate to control operating parameters and factors connected with the efficiency of the energy production process in an energy marketplace that is more complex than in the past, and that takes variable costs besides the cost of fuel into account, e.g., environmental credits, equipment degradation and repair costs, electrical energy trade market factors like ramp rate, LMP (Locational Marginal Pricing) factors, the ability to deliver contracted power levels and spot transactions, etc. The technique applies a statistical analysis to collected power plant data to determine the factors that are best controlled or changed to affect (increase) the efficiency or other primary performance indication of the plant, as well as to establish baseline or best-possible operational constraints to be used to control the plant in the future.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A method of monitoring the performance of a power generating unit, comprising:
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collecting first data related to a primary performance indication for the power generating unit at numerous different times within a time period during which the power generating unit is operating, the first data including data corresponding to at least one cost in addition to a cost of fuel; determining the primary performance indication based on the collected first data; collecting second data related to each of a plurality of operating parameters of the power generating unit within the time period; performing a correlation analysis on the first data and the second data to quantitatively determine, for each of the plurality of operating parameters, a correlation between the each of the plurality of operating parameters and the primary performance indication; determining from the correlation analysis a subset of the plurality of operating parameters that most affect the primary performance indication for the power generating unit; and altering the control of one or more of the subset of the plurality of operating parameters during subsequent operation of the power generating unit based on the correlation analysis to thereby enhance the primary performance indication during subsequent operation of the power generation unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of monitoring the performance of a power generating unit, comprising:
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collecting first data related to a primary performance indication for the power generating unit at numerous different times within a time period, the first data including data corresponding to at least one cost in addition to a cost of fuel; determining the primary performance indication based on the collected first data; collecting second data related to each of a plurality operating parameters of the power generating unit within the time period; determining, based on the first data and the second data, one or more statistical measures associated with both the primary performance indication and at least one of the plurality of operating parameters; and controlling the power generating unit over a period of time to result in a desired value or desired range of values of at least one of the one or more statistical measures. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A system for monitoring the performance of a power generating unit, comprising:
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a computer readable memory; and a computer program stored on the computer readable memory and executable on one or more processors to; collect first data related to a primary performance indication for the power generating unit at numerous different times within a time period, the first data including data corresponding to at least one cost in addition to a cost of fuel, determine the primary performance indication based on the collected first data, collect second data related to each of a plurality operating parameters of the power generating unit within the time period, perform a correlation analysis on the first data and the second data to quantitatively determine, for the each of the plurality of operating parameters, a correlation between the each of the plurality of operating parameters and the primary performance indication, and determine from the correlation analysis a subset of the plurality of operating parameters that most affect the primary performance indication for the power generating unit, wherein each member of the subset of the plurality of operating parameters effects a bigger change in the primary performance indication than at least one other operating parameter of the plurality of operating parameters that is not a member of the subset. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification