Auxiliary guidance system for supplying nitrogen

Abstract

An auxiliary guidance system for supplying nitrogen is provided. The auxiliary guidance system comprises a processing unit and an auxiliary guidance unit, wherein the processing unit is electrically connected to an energy consumption database of a nitrogen production unit, a nitrogen database of a nitrogen use unit, and an information integration unit. The auxiliary guidance unit is electrically connected to the processing unit and the energy consumption database. Using the auxiliary guidance system, a predicted compression demand and a unit power consumption are used to calculate the load combination and nitrogen demand of multiple nitrogen compressors, thereby reducing the energy consumption of nitrogen production.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an auxiliary guidance system, and more particularly to an auxiliary guidance system for supplying nitrogen. Prior Technology

[0002] Steel mills and ironworks require extremely high temperatures to melt metals in smelting furnaces to produce the desired products. Current practices utilize multiple oxygen production systems to generate oxygen, which is then stored in oxygen tanks. These tanks supply oxygen to downstream smelting equipment according to operator settings, ensuring sufficient oxygen for combustion and maintaining a constant temperature for continuous operation. Nitrogen is also used in the production of the desired products, generated by a nitrogen production system.

[0003] However, in the nitrogen production system, the nitrogen compression output system relies on on-site personnel to observe the downstream real-time pressure, manually determine the load and quantity of the nitrogen compressor, and control the corresponding output. If the control is not properly adjusted, the downstream pressure may be too high or too low, or the power consumption per unit of nitrogen may fluctuate, resulting in an increase in the power consumption per unit of nitrogen.

[0004] Therefore, in order to overcome the shortcomings and deficiencies of the existing technology, it is necessary to provide an improved auxiliary guidance system for supplying nitrogen to solve the problems existing in the above-mentioned conventional technology. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The main objective of this invention is to provide an auxiliary guidance system for supplying nitrogen, which uses predicted compression demand and unit power consumption to calculate the load combination and nitrogen demand of multiple nitrogen compressors, thereby reducing nitrogen energy consumption.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides an auxiliary guidance system for supplying nitrogen. The auxiliary guidance system includes a processing unit and an auxiliary guidance unit. The processing unit is electrically connected to an equipment energy consumption model database of a nitrogen production unit, a nitrogen usage model database of a nitrogen usage unit, and an information integration unit. The processing unit is configured to perform calculations based on real-time information provided by the information integration unit, nitrogen production records from the energy consumption information in the equipment energy consumption model database, and nitrogen demand estimated from the nitrogen usage model database to generate a predicted compression demand corresponding to a storage tank pressure of a storage tank unit. The auxiliary guidance unit is electrically connected to the processing unit and the equipment energy consumption model database. The auxiliary guidance unit is configured to perform calculations based on the predicted compression demand of the storage tank pressure and the unit power consumption from the energy consumption information in the equipment energy consumption model database to generate a load combination and a nitrogen demand corresponding to a nitrogen production unit's energy-consuming equipment, consisting of multiple nitrogen compressors.

[0007] In one embodiment of the present invention, the multiple nitrogen compressors include multiple medium-pressure compressors and multiple high-pressure compressors, and the predicted compression demand corresponds to the total nitrogen demand of the multiple medium-pressure compressors and the multiple high-pressure compressors.

[0008] In one embodiment of the present invention, the auxiliary guidance unit is configured to first determine the number of medium-pressure units in the load combination based on the total nitrogen demand.

[0009] In one embodiment of the present invention, the auxiliary guidance unit is configured to determine the number of high-pressure machines in the load combination based on the high-pressure demand of nitrogen.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present invention, the auxiliary guidance unit uses a differential evolutionary algorithm to perform calculations to generate the load and nitrogen demand corresponding to the multiple nitrogen compressors.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present invention, the differential evolution algorithm includes an initialization population step, which randomly generates the start-stop status and flow rate of the multiple medium-voltage generators and the multiple high-voltage generators according to constraints, including load requirements, operating range restrictions and maintenance restrictions.

[0012] In one embodiment of the present invention, after the population initialization step, the differential evolution algorithm further includes a mutation operation step, which corrects the start / stop states and flow rates that do not meet the constraints when a mutation is generated.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present invention, after the mutation operation step, the differential evolution algorithm further includes a crossover operation step, which updates the start / stop status and flow according to a crossover rate and satisfies maintenance constraints.

[0014] In one embodiment of the present invention, after the crossover operation step, the differential evolution algorithm further includes a selection operation step, which uses a penalty function to evaluate the fitness of multiple results in order to retain the better result.

[0015] In one embodiment of the present invention, the auxiliary guidance system further includes a user interface electrically connected to the auxiliary guidance unit, and the user interface is configured to display a mode of recommended operation based on the load combination and nitrogen demand.

[0016] As described above, the auxiliary guidance system of the present invention performs calculations based on the predicted compression demand and unit power consumption to determine the load combination and nitrogen demand of the multiple nitrogen compressors, which can assist in the planning of nitrogen production demand, thereby achieving the effect of reducing nitrogen production energy consumption. Simple Explanation of the Diagram

[0017] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the auxiliary guidance system for supplying nitrogen according to the present invention.

[0018] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing the high-pressure and medium-pressure nitrogen requirements of an embodiment of the auxiliary guidance system for supplying nitrogen according to the present invention.

[0019] Figure 3 is a user interface of an embodiment of the auxiliary guidance system for supplying nitrogen according to the present invention.

[0020] Figure 4 is a comparison chart of actual nitrogen production and optimal production in an embodiment of the auxiliary guidance system for supplying nitrogen according to the present invention. Implementation

[0021] To make the above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Furthermore, the directional terms used in this invention, such as up, down, top, bottom, front, back, left, right, inside, outside, side, surrounding, center, horizontal, transverse, vertical, longitudinal, axial, radial, uppermost, or lowermost, are merely for reference to the directions in the accompanying drawings. Therefore, the directional terms used are for illustrating and understanding the present invention, and not for limiting the present invention. It should be noted that the drawings are simplified schematic diagrams; therefore, only elements and combinations related to the present invention are shown to provide a clearer description of the basic structure or implementation method of the present invention, while the actual elements and layout may be more complex. In addition, for ease of explanation, the elements shown in the various drawings of the present invention are not drawn to scale according to the actual number, shape, and size; the detailed scale can be adjusted according to design requirements.

[0022] Please refer to Figure 1, which is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the auxiliary guidance system for supplying nitrogen according to the present invention. The auxiliary guidance system includes a processing unit 5, an auxiliary guidance unit 8, and a user interface 6. The detailed structure, assembly relationship, and operating principle of each component will be described in detail below.

[0023] Processing unit 5 is electrically connected to an equipment energy consumption model database 22 of nitrogen production unit 2, a nitrogen usage model database 32 of nitrogen usage unit 3, and an information integration unit 4. Specifically, nitrogen production unit 2 further includes an energy-consuming device 21 configured to compress nitrogen, and equipment energy consumption model database 22 configured to store energy consumption information of energy-consuming device 21. Nitrogen usage unit 3 further includes a nitrogen-using device 31 configured to use nitrogen during operation, and nitrogen usage model database 32 configured to analyze nitrogen consumption in production mode or shutdown mode of nitrogen-using device 31 during operation to generate a nitrogen usage model to predict nitrogen demand. Storage tank unit 7 is configured to receive nitrogen compressed by energy-consuming device 21 of nitrogen production unit 2 and supply nitrogen used by nitrogen-using device 31 of nitrogen usage unit 3, and generate storage tank pressure. The information integration unit 4 is electrically connected to the energy-consuming device 21 of the nitrogen production unit 2, the nitrogen-using device 31 of the nitrogen usage unit 3, and the storage tank unit 7. The information integration unit 4 is configured to store real-time information on nitrogen production by the energy-consuming device 21 of the nitrogen production unit 2, real-time information on nitrogen usage by the nitrogen-using device 31 of the nitrogen usage unit 3, and real-time information on the storage tank pressure of the storage tank unit 7.

[0024] In this embodiment, the processing unit 5 is configured to perform calculations based on the real-time information provided by the information integration unit 4, the nitrogen production record of the energy consumption information in the equipment energy consumption model database 22, and the nitrogen demand estimated by the nitrogen model database 32, to generate a predicted compression demand corresponding to a storage tank pressure of the storage tank unit 7. Specifically, the processing unit 5 uses a recurrent neural network algorithm to generate the future trend of the predicted compression demand of the storage tank pressure.

[0025] The auxiliary guidance unit 8 is electrically connected to the processing unit 5 and the equipment energy consumption model database 22. The auxiliary guidance unit 8 is configured to perform calculations based on the predicted compression demand of the storage tank pressure and the unit power consumption of the energy consumption information in the equipment energy consumption model database 22 to generate a load combination and a nitrogen demand for multiple nitrogen compressors corresponding to the energy-consuming equipment 21 of the nitrogen production unit 2.

[0026] As shown in Figure 2, the multiple nitrogen compressors include multiple medium-pressure compressors and multiple high-pressure compressors. The low-pressure nitrogen supply is output from the storage tank unit 7. Then, the high-pressure nitrogen demand is allocated to the multiple high-pressure compressors, and the medium-pressure nitrogen demand is allocated to the multiple medium-pressure compressors. The predicted compression demand corresponds to the total nitrogen demand of the multiple medium-pressure compressors and the multiple high-pressure compressors. In this embodiment, the auxiliary guidance unit 8 is configured to first determine the number of medium-pressure compressors in the load combination based on the total nitrogen demand, and then determine the number of high-pressure compressors in the load combination based on the high-pressure nitrogen demand.

[0027] As shown in Figure 3, the user interface 6 is electrically connected to the auxiliary guidance unit 8, and the user interface 6 is configured to display suggested operating modes based on the load combination and nitrogen demand. Additionally, the user interface 6 can simultaneously display the operating status of the multiple medium-pressure units and the multiple high-pressure units.

[0028] In this embodiment, the auxiliary guidance unit 8 employs a Differential Evolution (DE) algorithm to generate the load and nitrogen demand corresponding to the multiple nitrogen compressors. It should be noted that the multiple nitrogen compressors have different power consumption and output capacity ranges and given load requirements. The purpose of this invention is to find the nitrogen compressor combination that meets the requirements while minimizing power consumption. To this end, the differential evolution algorithm is used to select the optimal number of compressors and output quantity for the multiple nitrogen compressors under different load requirements in real time, thus assisting in achieving the optimal production mode. The differential evolution algorithm is a population-based stochastic optimization algorithm, particularly suitable for solving continuous or mixed optimization problems. The basic idea of ​​the algorithm is to use the differences between individuals to generate new candidate solutions, guiding the population to converge towards the global optimal solution. The advantage of this invention lies in its simple implementation through the algorithm and its good adaptability to nonlinear and nonconvex objective functions.

[0029] Specifically, the differential evolution algorithm includes a population initialization step, a mutation operation step, a crossover operation step, a selection operation step, a repeated iteration step, and an output result step.

[0030] First, each individual in the algorithm population represents a selection of nitrogen compressors (i.e., nitrogen gas compressors, such as medium-pressure or high-pressure compressors). A vector of length 2N represents the start / stop state and flow rate allocation of each compressor, for example, X = [x = x1, x2, …, xN, u1, u2, …, uN], where xi is the flow rate of the i-th compressor, N is the number of compressors, and ui is the start / stop state (binary value) of the i-th compressor. The objective function is to minimize the total power consumption: f(x) = Total Power Consumption(x) = ,in Let be the flow rate of the i-th nitrogen compressor (decision variable). Let be the unit energy consumption of the i-th nitrogen compressor.

[0031] In the initialization population step, the start / stop status and flow rate of the multiple medium-voltage and high-voltage generators are randomly generated according to constraints, including load demand, operating range limitations, and maintenance restrictions. Specifically, the initial flow rate is... Random values ​​within the operable range ∈[L i,l,L i,u], only valid for units with maintenance status ri=1, and forces ui=0 to be applied to units with ri=0; where maintenance status ri is set as a Boolean variable, defined as: ri = 0 (indicating that the i-th nitrogen compressor is under maintenance and unavailable) or ri = 1 (the i-th nitrogen compressor is available).

[0032] In this embodiment, the load requirement is: ≥ Load requirement; Operation range limit: = [L i,l*ui, Li,u*ui], where Li,l is the minimum operable flow rate of the i-th nitrogen compressor, Li,u is the maximum operable flow rate of the i-th nitrogen compressor, and ui indicates whether the i-th nitrogen compressor is in use (0 or 1); maintenance restrictions: if the i-th nitrogen compressor is under maintenance, then: ui=0, xi=0.

[0033] During the mutation process, when a mutation is generated, start / stop states and flow rates that do not meet the constraints are corrected. Specifically, during mutation, decision variables need to be checked and corrected:

[0034] During the crossover operation, the start / stop status and flow are updated according to a crossover rate, while maintaining maintenance constraints. Specifically, ui is only allowed to vary between {0, 1}; if ri = 0, then ui is forced to = 0, and flow xi = 0.

[0035] In selecting the operational steps, a penalty function is used to evaluate the fitness of multiple outcomes to retain the best result. Specifically, a penalty term is added to handle constraints based on the objective function f(x):

[0036] Among them , : Penalty term coefficient. I: Indicator function, used to detect violations of constraints.

[0037] In the iterative steps, mutation, crossover, and selection operations are continuously performed until the convergence condition is met. Finally, in the output results step, the optimal solution is returned: start / stop state u∗ (load combination of the multiple nitrogen compressors) flow allocation x∗ (nitrogen demand of the multiple nitrogen compressors).

[0038] For example, as shown in Figure 3, the current operating status is displayed on the left side of the user interface 6. The current nitrogen production capacity is 135,434 Nm³ / hr, with high-pressure and medium-pressure demands of 21,364 Nm³ / hr and 100,887 Nm³ / hr, respectively. Corresponding to this production capacity demand, medium-pressure units 4 and 9 in the nitrogen medium-pressure unit group and high-pressure units 3, 4, 5, and 6 in the nitrogen high-pressure unit group operate in coordination. At this time, the unit power consumption of nitrogen is 0.877 kWh / HCH. Medium-pressure unit 2 in the nitrogen medium-pressure unit group is under maintenance and will be automatically excluded during the calculation by the auxiliary guidance unit 8.

[0039] On the other hand, the right side of the user interface 6 displays a predicted production status for a suggested operating mode (e.g., a prediction for two hours later). At this time, the nitrogen production capacity is 143,516 Nm³ / hr, and the high-pressure and medium-pressure demands are 18,765 Nm³ / hr and 110,281 Nm³ / hr, respectively. Based on the calculation results of the auxiliary guidance unit 8, medium-pressure compressors 7, 8, and 9 in the nitrogen medium-pressure compressor group and high-pressure compressors 3, 4, and 5 in the nitrogen high-pressure compressor group are operated in coordination. At this time, the unit power consumption of nitrogen is 0.881 kWh / HCH, meeting the minimum energy consumption requirement. As shown in Figure 4, under the same load and based on the minimum energy consumption requirement, the auxiliary guidance unit 8 calculates the optimal production for the load combination (i.e., the number of compressors) and nitrogen demand (i.e., the output) of the multiple nitrogen compressors. This optimal production reduces the unit power consumption of nitrogen by at least 2.29% compared to the actual production.

[0040] As described above, the auxiliary guidance system of the present invention performs calculations based on the predicted compression demand and unit power consumption to determine the load combination and nitrogen demand of the multiple nitrogen compressors, which can assist in the planning of nitrogen production demand, thereby achieving the effect of reducing nitrogen production energy consumption.

[0041] Although the present invention has been disclosed by way of embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art may make various modifications and alterations without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention shall be determined by the appended claims.

[0042] 2: Nitrogen Production Unit 21: Energy-consuming equipment 22: Equipment Energy Consumption Model Database 3: Nitrogen usage unit 31: Nitrogen-based equipment 32: Using the nitrogen model database 4: Information Integration Unit 5: Processing Unit 6: User Interface 7: Storage tank unit 8: Auxiliary guidance unit

Claims

1. An auxiliary guidance system for supplying nitrogen, comprising: a processing unit electrically connected to an equipment energy consumption model database of a nitrogen production unit, a nitrogen consumption model database of a nitrogen consumption unit, and an information integration unit, the processing unit being configured to perform calculations based on real-time information provided by the information integration unit, nitrogen production records from the energy consumption information in the equipment energy consumption model database, and estimated nitrogen demand from the nitrogen consumption model database, to generate a predicted compression demand corresponding to a storage tank pressure of a storage tank unit; and an auxiliary guidance unit electrically connected to the processing unit and the equipment energy consumption model database, the auxiliary guidance unit being configured to perform calculations based on the predicted compression demand of the storage tank pressure and the unit power consumption from the energy consumption information in the equipment energy consumption model database, to generate a load combination and a nitrogen demand corresponding to a plurality of nitrogen compressors of an energy-consuming device of the nitrogen production unit; wherein the nitrogen compressors include a plurality of medium-pressure compressors and a plurality of high-pressure compressors, and the predicted compression demand corresponds to the total nitrogen demand of the medium-pressure compressors and the high-pressure compressors.

2. The auxiliary guidance system for supplying nitrogen as described in claim 1, wherein the auxiliary guidance unit is configured to first determine the number of medium-pressure units in the load combination based on the total nitrogen demand.

3. The auxiliary guidance system for supplying nitrogen as described in claim 2, wherein the auxiliary guidance unit is configured to determine the number of high-pressure generators in the load combination based on the high-pressure demand for nitrogen.

4. The auxiliary guidance system for supplying nitrogen as described in claim 3, wherein the auxiliary guidance unit uses a differential evolutionary algorithm to calculate the load and nitrogen demand corresponding to the nitrogen compressor.

5. The auxiliary guidance system for supplying nitrogen as described in claim 4, wherein the differential evolution algorithm includes an initialization population step that randomly generates the start-stop status and flow rate of the intermediate-pressure and high-pressure units according to constraints including load requirements, operating range limits, and maintenance restrictions.

6. The auxiliary guidance system for supplying nitrogen as described in claim 5, wherein after the initialization population step, the differential evolution algorithm further includes a mutation operation step, which, when a mutation is generated, corrects start / stop states and flow rates that do not conform to the constraints.

7. The auxiliary guidance system for supplying nitrogen as described in claim 6, wherein after the mutation operation step, the differential evolution algorithm further includes a crossover operation step to update the start / stop status and the flow rate according to a crossover rate and to satisfy the maintenance constraints.

8. The auxiliary guidance system for supplying nitrogen as described in claim 7, wherein after the crossover operation step, the differential evolution algorithm further includes a selection operation step that uses a penalty function to evaluate the fitness of multiple outcomes in order to retain the better outcome.

9. The auxiliary guidance system for supplying nitrogen as described in claim 1, wherein the auxiliary guidance system for supplying nitrogen further includes a user interface electrically connected to the auxiliary guidance unit, and the user interface is configured to display a mode of recommended operation based on the load combination and the nitrogen demand.

Images