Performance Monitoring Systems for Power Plants: General Features and Application Models

The general features and benefits of a performance monitoring system (PMS) and its capabilities on plant auditing and management are illustrated. The criteria for the validation and reconciliation of the measured data are tackled and the energetic diagnosis of components, by means the comparison between current performance and expected one, is shown. A “on line–real time” monitoring system evaluates the current performance of the power plant immediately and realistically, as well as it informs the operator of problems as soon as they occur and provides diagnostic information so that the operator can remedy the problem. After generals about PMS, two application models are shown: the first one deals with the reconciliation of measured data and it has been numerically developed with reference to a heat recovery steam generator; the second one deals with the energetic diagnosis of plant components and it has been developed with reference to a steam condenser.