Steam and Power Utility Optimization With Thermodynamic Validation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial steam and power utility systems face challenges in optimizing energy management due to inaccurate real-time data from missing instrumentation or uncalibrated measurements, which affects operational efficiency and increases carbon dioxide emissions.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method that uses real-time operational data and thermodynamic properties to validate equipment and system operations by determining mass and energy balance parameters, allowing for adjustments to optimize performance and reduce emissions, even with incomplete measurements, and provides recommendations through user interfaces for operators to adjust operational parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If real-time operational data is used for energy management optimization, then operational efficiency can be improved, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to missing instrumentation or uncalibrated measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements multi-level validation feedback loops that continuously verify measured operational parameters against thermodynamic laws (mass balance and energy balance equations). When measurements deviate from expected ranges, the system generates feedback signals to either adjust measurements or trigger alerts, ensuring data quality while maintaining continuous operation. This feedback mechanism allows the system to achieve accurate energy management optimization even with imperfect measurement instruments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces thermodynamic validation models as intermediary layers between raw measurements and optimization decisions. These models act as mediators that process, validate, and reconcile measurement data before it is used for energy management. The intermediary validation layer filters out measurement errors and fills gaps from missing instrumentation, transforming inaccurate raw data into reliable optimization inputs.
2Measurement precision
If complete measurement instrumentation is installed to ensure accurate data, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial validation - not all parameters require full thermodynamic validation. The multi-level validation process selectively applies rigorous mass and energy balance checks only to critical parameters where measurement accuracy most impacts optimization results. This partial action approach achieves sufficient data accuracy for effective energy management without installing complete instrumentation or implementing exhaustive validation for every parameter.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermodynamic validation models serve multiple functions simultaneously: they validate measurement accuracy, detect missing data, identify instrumentation errors, and provide basis for optimization decisions. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve comprehensive data validation without adding proportional complexity, as the same validation framework handles multiple measurement and control tasks.
3Measurement precision
If manual validation of operational parameters is performed, then measurement accuracy can be verified, but time consumption and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The validation system operates autonomously without requiring manual intervention. The computer system automatically performs multi-level validation of all operational parameters against thermodynamic models, continuously monitors measurement quality, and self-corrects or flags issues. This self-service capability eliminates time-consuming manual validation while maintaining high measurement accuracy, as the automated system processes data in real-time without human delay.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual validation processes with automated computational validation. Instead of human operators manually checking measurements against thermodynamic principles, computer-executable algorithms automatically perform mass and energy balance validations. This substitution of mechanical (manual) processes with automated computational systems dramatically reduces validation time while maintaining or improving accuracy through consistent application of validation rules.
Data Source
AI summary
Operational optimization of an industrial plant that implements steam and power systems and that includes multiple equipment including a cogeneration system and a steam turbine includes, for each equipment, a computer system receives, during operation of each equipment, measured operational physical parameter values output by the equipment during operation. The computer system determines mass balance and energy balance parameters associated with the equipment using the received operational physical parameter values. The computer system validates an operation of the equipment using the determined mass balance and energy balance parameters. After validating mass balance and energy balance parameters for all the equipment, the computer system determines mass balance and energy balance parameters associated with the industrial plant using the parameters for each equipment. The computer system validates an operation of the plant using the determined mass balance and energy balance parameters associated with the industrial plant.