Case Study: Optimization of the combustion process at Vattenfall Värme, Uppsala district heating plant in Sweden

Case Study (39 KB PDF)

Summary

A process optimization system was implemented by applying the MultiSimplex software in the combustion process at the Uppsala district heating plant in Uppsala, Sweden. This project was carried out during 1998 - 2002 and was funded by the plant owners. To date, the optimization project has yielded two important results:

1. Automation of the combustion process.
2. Substantial emission reductions, 30% lower NOx emissions, when the combustion process is controlled by MultiSimplex in automation mode.

Results

Saving energy was not the objective of the project and only automation and emission reduction issues were considered.

The plant emission cost is based on EURO/ton NOx emitted and liters of NH₃ consumed. The installation of the MultiSimplex® system has resulted in a 30% lowering of the NOx emissions with unchanged NH₃ consumption. Since the first year of the installation (1998) costs for NOx pollution taxes were decreased by 200,000 EURO, annually. Hence, the economical benefits were considerable and the project was paid off in less than one year. If the savings from the automation of the process had been considered, the total savings probably would have turned out to be greater.

The environmental benefits were substantial with a reduction of 30% of the NOx emissions.

The work required for implementation of this particular application of the software tool can be translated into 0.5 "man-years" /application.

The implementation and utilization of the tool changes the plant operation in several ways. It drives a systemized handling of all available control and output signals. This simplifies the process of adding new control signals to be included in the optimization routine. It also simplifies the maintenance of the signals and the sources of those signals (motors, sensors, etc). The utilization of the tool also highlights important relationships and enhances understanding of the plant itself. The automation of the plant results in freed resources for "higher level" work, for example, experimentation and considerations regarding possible introduction of new measurement. Another field that was explored was possible connections between process systems.

The energy savings were not evaluated. However, a lower emission is a good indication of more efficient fuel usage. The Energy in this particular plant is produced from incinerating domestic waste "fuel".

To find similar reports, click on a keyword below:
Biomass & Bioenergy : District Heating : ESCOs : Industry : ManagEnergy : Renewable Energy Sources & Systems

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Grabitech Solutions AB

Stora Enso Nymölla Mill

Vattenfall värme Uppsala AB