Key Features: Modeling

VirtualPlant

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VirtualPlant™ represents a first principles-based heat and mass balance model of conventional fossil and gas turbine-based combined cycle power plants. VirtualPlant models are used to validate measured data, calculate expected component performance based upon actual operating conditions, recommend optimum set points to maximize profitability, and simulate off-line "what-if" analyses.

VirtualPlant can be utilized in both off-line "interactive" and on-line "real-time" modes. In the off-line mode, plant operations personnel engineers, and planners are provided with a user-friendly tool to perform detailed "what-if" mass and energy balances of their power plant cycles. Model results include generation and heat rate, as well as mass flows and state point details to facilitate evaluation of conceptual changes in operating and equipment condition parameters. In the on-line mode, VirtualPlant models may be automatically executed with live inputs from the EtaPRO system.

Asset Optimizer Module

The Asset Optimizer Module provides a means for analyzing potential operating scenarios using a detailed plant model and updating those scenarios on a routine and automatic basis. The update is based on real-time performance indices calculated and recorded by EtaPRO. These indices may include, for example, gas turbine compressor efficiency, HRSG steam generation, steam turbine enthalpy-drop efficiency, condenser cleanliness and tower cold water temperature. The model considers all available means of power augmentation such as fogging and supplementary fuel. The optimization routines operate throughout the normal operating range. The objective of the optimizer is to identify the scenario having the lowest heat rate for the given load requirement.

Generation Forecast Module

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The Generation Forecast Module is a generation forecasting system for accurately calculating and updating dispatch curves on a real-time basis. Generation Forecast will provide a seven-day hourly forecast of plant performance, based on ambient conditions and equipment availability. The following plant data will be presented: Maximum Capacity, Minimum Capacity, Heat Rate at Minimum Capacity and Maximum Capacity, Average Heat Rate and Fuel Cost per MW ($/MWh).

The results are displayed via web pages and in downloadable Microsoft Excel compatible files. Graphs depicting predicted capacity and heat-rate from maximum to minimum load will also be available. A what-if tool will enable users to test other ambient conditions and equipment availability scenarios.

Generation Forecast used the VirtualPlant first principles-based model to determine expected plant performance in terms of capacity and heat rate data. The model is initially based on the design heat balance and then tuned and verified to agree with actual plant performance. Tools for routine tuning of the model are provided.