Blogi

Lue uusimmat blogikirjoituksemme.

All articles

Is your power plant running in the optimal way?

At power plants, the process data generated by control automation is widely collected and stored, but is the collected data utilised to its full extent?

Data should not be collected just for the sake of operating history. The data received from automation can be used for the real-time optimisation of the plant’s operation, converting the collected data into euros saved. It is a question of utilising digitalisation and the IoT, which are not mere things of the future but already an integral part of the present.

The core idea of real-time operational control is to promote the stability of the operation and to reduce deviations from optimal operation in all operating conditions irrespective of the shift or person. The nature of qualitative optimisation of energy production (e.g. efficiency, power-to-heat ratio and specific heat consumption) and quantitative optimisation differ from one another. For example, in district heat production, an hour of underproduction can be compensated by an hour of overproduction, or vice versa. A qualitatively non-optimal hour cannot be compensated by an optimal hour, as energy has already been wasted. Real-time graphics-based operation control supports the user, enabling optimal operation, constantly good efficiency and, consequently, a better operating economy. This, of course, is only possible if the plant operators are committed to abiding by the principles of optimal operation. Motivating people to continuous improvement is not always easy. It is difficult at least in the absence of proper tools and methods, in which case the operators’ shared view of the process is also missing.

Operation control also supports the plant’s operational reliability. Monitoring can often be used for identifying the early signs of future failures. A failure may appear in the form of slow changes in characteristic parameters or repeated deviations that do not yet stop the plant and that are very difficult to notice in daily operating situations.

The operation control solution defines plant-specific optimal operation pipelines for critical parameters in different operating situations. This is done by modelling based on the measurement data from previous operating periods. The operation pipelines and the operation trends of the collected process data are displayed graphically in clear views. The operators see to it that the operation stays within the desired pipeline. Automatic reminders and alerts can be generated in response to operating deviations as desired by production management.

The modelling of operation control is based on partial process balances, the top level of which includes boiler efficiency, power-to-heat ratio and specific heat consumption.
SyncPower, an operation control solution developed by Syncron Tech Oy, is capable of connecting to different information and automation systems to collect the necessary data. A power plant’s operation control can be provided in the form of a cloud service to minimise the IT footprint at the plant. The user interface is a regular web browser that can nearly always be used from existing computers and also from mobile devices.

 

Jari Jurvanen - Sales Manager at Syncron Tech

You could be interested about these

CxO Industry 2024 event in Tampere

Syncron Tech participates at CxO Industry 2024 event, which will be held at Tampere Hall on September 4, 2024. The event has already reached its sixth year and brings together hundreds of decision-makers as well as respected international speakers from pioneering organizations. The event offers a unique opportunity to network and share ideas with the most influential decision-makers. International speakers from industry-leading organizations will take the stage to share their views and best practices, and will deal with the hottest topics throughout the day, which will provide valuable information and insights for business development. Some of the interesting topics of this year's event include utilizing big data and artificial intelligence to achieve competitive advantage, strategic investments and sustainable growth. We at Syncron Tech are looking forward to the event's interesting discussions and new insights. See you in Tampere in September! Read more about the CxO Industry 2024 event here.

Vaasa EnergyWeek 2024 March 11-14

Vaasa EnergyWeek is one of the key energy industry events in the Nordics, bringing together energy industry professionals from several different countries to exchange the latest insights, get inspired, and build valuable connections. This year's event will be held on March 11-14 at Vaasa City Hall. Each day of the event has its own focus: Energy & Climate, Wind & Renewable Energy, Energy Storage and Gas Energy. The event's exhibitors change according to the day's theme, and this year's themes include batteries and storage, circular economy, future smart cities, digitalization, energy sector regulation, as well as business and innovations. There will also be seminars and opportunities for networking. Syncron Tech will be there every day of the event - Welcome to visit our booth B9! See you at the event!

Renewable energy for the reserve market - 5 tips for those considering it

Participating in the electricity reserve market can be beneficial for renewable energy power plants that produce a lot of electricity, as it provides an opportunity to support the electricity grid and be compensated for providing the reserve. With the help of the reserve market, you can diversify the earning models of the production unit and make more versatile use of the investment. In this blog, I discuss a little about how renewable energy sites and electricity storages can be utilized in accordance with the latest technologies and how to get familiar with the matter.