Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
A method of identifying a parameter (a i ) of a model for a rate of loss of boiler efficiency due to a sootblowing operation in one of a plurality of heat traps in the boiler, comprising: measuring a time (θ bi ) since a last sootblowing operation in the i th heat trap; measuring an overall boiler efficiency (E) at a beginning of a sootblowing operation for the i th heat trap; measuring the change in efficiency (ΔE i ) in the boiler due to the sootblowing operation in the i th heat trap; and calculating the parameter (a i ) using the equation: for i-1, ##EQU6## where, N i =a coefficient for fouling rate in the model of the i th heat trap M is the number of heat traps in the boiler θ ci =time for sootblowing in the i th heat trap a i =a model parameter for the i th heat trap, and T h =the time since sootblowing in the j th heat trap.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
170 words
A method of identifying a parameter (a i ) of a model for a rate of loss of boiler efficiency due to a sootblowing operation in one of a plurality of heat traps in the boiler, comprising: measuring a time (θ bi ) since a last sootblowing operation in the i th heat trap; measuring an overall boiler efficiency (E) at a beginning of a sootblowing operation for the i th heat trap; measuring the change in efficiency (ΔE i ) in the boiler due to the sootblowing operation in the i th heat trap; and calculating the parameter (a i ) using the equation: for i-1, ##EQU6## where, N i =a coefficient for fouling rate in the model of the i th heat trap M is the number of heat traps in the boiler θ ci =time for sootblowing in the i th heat trap a i =a model parameter for the i th heat trap, and T h =the time since sootblowing in the j th heat trap.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
71 words
A method accordinng to claim 1, wherein the model for a rate of loss of boiler efficiency is of the form above and rises from the termination of the sootblowing operation to the beginning of a subsequent sootblowing operation over the sootblowing time (θ bi ) and falls from the beginning of a subsequent sootblowing operation to the end of the subsequent sootblowing operation during a sootblowing time (θ ci ).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the overall efficiency and change in efficiency is a composite of the boiler efficiency for each of the plurality of heat traps.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
177 words
A device for identifying a parameter (a i ) of a model for a rate of loss of boiler efficiency due to a sootblowing operation in one of a plurality of heat traps in a boiler, comprising: means for measuring the time since a last sootblowing operation in the i th heat trap ended (θ bi ); means for measuring an overall boiler efficiency (E) at a beginning of a sootblowing operation for the i th heat trap; means for measuring a change in efficiency (ΔE 1 ) in the boiler due to the sootblowing operation in the i th heat trap; and means for calculating the parameter (a i ) using the equation: for i=1, ##EQU7## where, N i =a coefficient for fouling rate in the model of the l th heat trap M=the number of heat traps in the boiler θ ci =time for sootblowing in the i th heat trap a i =a model parameter for the i th heat trap, and T j =the time since sootblowing in the j th heat trap.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
177 words
A device for identifying a parameter (a i ) of a model for a rate of loss of boiler efficiency due to a sootblowing operation in one of a plurality of heat traps in a boiler, comprising: means for measuring the time since a last sootblowing operation in the i th heat trap ended (θ bi ); means for measuring an overall boiler efficiency (E) at a beginning of a sootblowing operation for the i th heat trap; means for measuring a change in efficiency (ΔE 1 ) in the boiler due to the sootblowing operation in the i th heat trap; and means for calculating the parameter (a i ) using the equation: for i=1, ##EQU7## where, N i =a coefficient for fouling rate in the model of the l th heat trap M=the number of heat traps in the boiler θ ci =time for sootblowing in the i th heat trap a i =a model parameter for the i th heat trap, and T j =the time since sootblowing in the j th heat trap.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of optimizing a sootblowing operation in a boiler having a plurality of heat traps lying in series along a gas flow path by sootblowing only one heat trap at one time comprising; selecting a set time (θ bi ) between sootblowing operations of each heat trap; calculating an optimum time (θ opt ) between sootblowing operations of each heat trap based on scaling parameters and a cost factor for the sootblowing operation; obtaining a difference value between set and optimum time for each heat trap; comparing the difference value for each heat trap with a selected value which is indicative of the desirability for initiating a sootblowing operation for each heat trap; and initiating the sootblowing operation only in the heat trap having the lowest difference value between heat traps indicated as desirable for initiating a sootblowing operation.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of optimizing a sootblowing operation in a boiler having a plurality of heat traps lying in series along a gas flow path by sootblowing only one heat trap at one time comprising; selecting a set time (θ bi ) between sootblowing operations of each heat trap; calculating an optimum time (θ opt ) between sootblowing operations of each heat trap based on scaling parameters and a cost factor for the sootblowing operation; obtaining a difference value between set and optimum time for each heat trap; comparing the difference value for each heat trap with a selected value which is indicative of the desirability for initiating a sootblowing operation for each heat trap; and initiating the sootblowing operation only in the heat trap having the lowest difference value between heat traps indicated as desirable for initiating a sootblowing operation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 5, including initiating sootblowing in a heat trap only when sootblowing is not taking place in any other heat trap.