Biomass-fired orc cogeneration plant operation support by expert system

Resource efficient, price competitive and low-carbon energy conversion at cogeneration plants requires rational decisions on operation of generation assets and networks as well as on repairs and modernizations. This paper presents preliminary results of the IntBioCHP project-System integration of biomass fired cogeneration plants, that has been launched under Polish-German Sustainability Research Programme STAIR. The research and development works is carried out at two commercial scale cogeneration plants based on the ORC technology: in Krosno (Poland) and in Ostfildern (Germany). The work is focused on using new hardware as well as on development of software tool for plant operation support and improvement of economic performance. The key functionalities of the decision support system (DSS) are optimal control of plant operation and on-line diagnostics. The tool is going to extend the existing Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system. Collection of long-term historical data together with online measurements available within the SCADA have allowed identification of energy conversion processes and development of mathematical models. The paper shows the concept of the DSS tool as well as preliminary results of its implementation. Model calculations have been compares against measurement data. Potential benefits, such as optimal dispatch of heating units, improved energy conversion efficiency and online system diagnostics have been demonstrated.