Thermal diagnostics of operating the power unit

To evaluate energy consumption of the electricity generation process in conventional power units, a specific heat consumption indicator is applied. Operating parameters, for which energy losses and values of that indicator are minimal, for each loading of a power unit, can be determined. Such an operating state is called a reference state and is assumed as a reference level for evaluation of the actual operating state. During standard operation, the parameters of the power unit diverge from the reference ones. For the maintenance services important is information about the influence of the deviations of the operating parameters for a change of the mentioned indicator. Such information could be determined basing on correction curves or a simulation model of power unit. The paper presents methodology and calculation results of the influence of the operating parameters deviations on the reference values of the specific heat consumption indicator. There are correction curves and a simulation model of a steam-water cycle applied to the computations. An elaborated simulation model of a steam-water cycle comprises: a model of a turbine, a model of regenerative heat exchangers, a model of a condenser, a model of a steam expansion line in a turbine. The correction curves are used to determine the influence of the operating parameters deviations from the nominal values for electric power, and for the indicators which characterise energy consumption in the power generation process. The correction curves are provided by a producer of a turbine.