Modern Pumping Today November 2024 - 18

MOTOR SOLUTIONS
MAXIMIZING POWER
PLANT FLEXIBILITY
How to support producer profitability
during the energy transition. Part 3 of 3
BY MATTHIAS NICKL, THORSTEN WOLF, ROBERT HOSTETLER, NICOLA ERHARD-WINTERBERG,
DAVID FERNANDES, AND CRISTINA BECLE, SIEMENS ENERGY
O
ver the first two parts of this series, we have
illustrated how combined cycle power producer,
or CCPP, operating models have changed to
accommodate a rise in renewables, thus bringing about
the inclusion of ancillary services. Below, we walk through
some of the improvement opportunities that operators are
already incorporating. Making the most of this transition
leads CCPPs to increased power outputs and operating
efficiencies, faster starts and shutdowns, improved
load ramp gradient, low-load operation, and expanded
operating ranges.
FAST, FLEXIBLE OPERATIONAL CONCEPTS
As illustrated in figure 6, these improvement opportunities
include increased power outputs and operating
efficiencies, faster starts and shutdowns, improved
load ramp gradient, low-load operation, and expanded
operating ranges.
These advanced flexible operational concepts could
potentially result in faster dispatch times, reduced
fuel consumption, and lower carbon emissions, while
also enhancing the capability of CCPP operators to
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See
Parts
1 & 2
Figure 7: Advanced CCPP flexibility spans five key operating dimensions-all
affecting asset utilization, compliance, margins, and profitability.
help maintain emission targets for both nitrous oxide
and carbon. These strategies have been successfully
implemented by Siemens Energy in combined cycle
power plants around the world, particularly in Europe.
Most of these concepts can be implement ed via logic
upgrades to the CCPP's control software while some may
require modifications to plant and auxiliary equipment.
OPERATIONAL FLEXIBILITY IMPROVEMENT
CONCEPTS
The transition from a CCPP base load operating model
to a cycling operating model requires producers to
consistently achieve fast, efficient, and reliable start-ups
of their generating assets regardless of how long those
assets have been offline. For this paper, hot, warm, and
cold starts can be defined as follows:
* Hot start: Up to eight hours post-shutdown.
* Warm start: Between eight and forty-eight hours
post-shutdown.
Figure 6: Potential for improved plant operational performance compared to
standard plant operational performance after enhancements using Siemens
Energy Flex-Power Services and Omnivise Performance Solutions.
18 | NOVEMBER 2024
MPT
* Cold start: Between forty-eight hours post- shutdown
and up to two weeks post-shutdown.
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Modern Pumping Today November 2024

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