System and a method to visually simulate subsystems in a fossil fuel power plant simulator

Claim 2

A simulation system in real time for visually simulating a firebox of a fossil fuel power plant including a plurality of alternate levels of flame sources, the simulation system comprising: means for generating simulated firebox images corresponding to the firebox images of a particular fossil fuel power plant; means for displaying in real time sequences of simulated firebox images including images of different operating levels and characteristics of the flame sources; and means for controlling said displaying means to display selected sequences of said firebox images to simulate in real time the changes to the flame sources in the firebox caused by changes in the operation of a simulated power plant.

Claim 3

A simulation system according to claim 1 wherein said displaying means comprises: a cathode ray tube; and a video recorder for storing said sequences of simulated firebox images, said video recorder for supplying said firebox images to said cathode ray tube under the control of said controlling means to display in real time the simulated operation of selected ones of said flame sources.

Claim 4

A simulation system according to claim 2 wherein said controlling means comprises a computer for supplying control signals to said video recorder to cause the display in real time of selected firebox images corresponding to the operation level of the simulated power plant.

Claim 5

A simulation system according to claim 3 further including a control console having a plurality of operation mode simulator switches for selecting a simulated operation level for said flame sources, said computer generating said control signals in response to the actuation of said operation mode simulator switches to cause a display in real time of simulated firebox images corresponding to a simulated operation mode selected by said actuation of said operation mode simulator switches.

Claim 6

A simulation system according to claim 1, further including means for recording said simulated firebox images for later use in said display means.

Claim 7

A simulation system according to claim 1 wherein said display of said simulated firebox images corresponds to normal plant transients of the simulated power plant.

Claim 8

A simulation system according to claim 1 wherein said display of said simulated firebox images corresponds to malfunctions in the simulated power plant.

Claim 9

A simulation system according to claim 1 wherein said display of said simulated firebox images corresponds to the actions or inactions by an operator on the simulated power plant.

Claim 10

A simulation system in real time for visually simulating a steam drum level indicator in a fossil fuel power plant having a water/steam level in a steam drum responsive to the operating condition of a simulated power plant comprising: means for generating simulated water/steam level images of the steam drum level corresponding to the water/steam level images of a particular fossil fuel power plant; means for displaying in real time simulated water/steam level images of the steam drum level indicator to display simulated levels of water/steam in the steam drum; and means for controlling said displaying means to display selected water/steam level images of the steam drum level indicator to simulate in real time the effect of changes in the operation level of the simulated power plant on the water/steam level in the steam drum.

Claim 11

A simulation system in real time for visually simulating a steam drum level indicator in a fossil fuel power plant having a water/steam level in a steam drum responsive to the operating condition of a simulated power plant comprising: means for generating simulated water/steam level images of the steam drum level corresponding to the water/steam level images of a particular fossil fuel power plant; means for displaying in real time simulated water/steam level images of the steam drum level indicator to display simulated levels of water/steam in the steam drum; and means for controlling said displaying means to display selected water/steam level images of the steam drum level indicator to simulate in real time the effect of changes in the operation level of the simulated power plant on the water/steam level in the steam drum.

Claim 12

A simulation system according to claim 9 wherein said displaying means comprises: a cathode ray tube; and a video recorder for storing a plurality of said water/steam level images indicating different levels of water/steam in said steam drum, said video recorder for supplying said stored images to said cathode ray tube under the control of said controlling means to display in real time the simulated water steam level in the steam drum.

Claim 13

A simulation system according to claim 10 wherein said controlling means comprises a computer for supplying control signals to said video recorder to cause the display in real time of selected water/steam level images corresponding to the operation level of the simulated power plant.

Claim 14

A simulation system according to claim 11 further including a control console having a plurality of operation mode simulator switches for selecting a simulated operation level for said steam drum, said computer generating said control signals in response to the actuation of said operation mode simulator switches to cause a display in real time of simulated water/steam level images corresponding to a simulated operation mode selected by said actuation of said operation mode simulator switches.

Claim 15

A simulation system according to claim 9 further including means for recording said simulated water/steam level images for later use in said displaying means.

Claim 16

A simulation system according to claim 9 wherein said display of said simulated water/steam level images of the steam drum level indicator corresponds to normal plant transients of the simulated power plant.

Claim 17

A simulation system according to claim 9 wherein said display of said simulated water/steam level images of the steam drum level indicator corresponds to malfunctions in the simulated power plant.

Claim 18

A simulation system according to claim 9 wherein said display of said simulated water/steam level images of the steam drum level indicator corresponds to the actions or inactions by an operator on the simulated power plant.

Claim 19

A simulation system in real time for visually simulating the emissions from a fossil fuel power plant comprising: means for generating simulated emission density images corresponding to the emission density images of a particular fossil fuel power plant; means for displaying in real time simulated emission density images of the fossil fuel plant at different levels of operation of a simulated power plant; and means for controlling said displaying means to display selected emission density images simulating in real time the effect of changes in the operation level of the simulated power plant on the emissions.

Claim 20

A simulation system in real time for visually simulating the emissions from a fossil fuel power plant comprising: means for generating simulated emission density images corresponding to the emission density images of a particular fossil fuel power plant; means for displaying in real time simulated emission density images of the fossil fuel plant at different levels of operation of a simulated power plant; and means for controlling said displaying means to display selected emission density images simulating in real time the effect of changes in the operation level of the simulated power plant on the emissions.

Claim 21

A simulation system according to claim 17 wherein the power plant includes a smokestack for discharging emissions and wherein said displaying means comprises: a cathode ray tube; and a video recorder for storing a plurality of sequence images of different densities of simulated emissions superimposed upon an image of said smokestack and for supplying said sequences of stored emission density images to said cathode ray tube under the control of said controlling means in accordance with the level of operation to display in real time the simulated emissions for the simulated power plant.

Claim 22

A simulation system according to claim 12 wherein said controlling means comprises a computer for supplying control signals to said video recorder to cause the display in real time of selected emission density images corresponding to the operation of the simulated power plant.

Claim 23

A simulation system according to claim 19 further including a control console having a plurality of operation mode simulator switches for selecting a simulated operation level of the power plant, said computer generating said control signals in response to the actuations of said operation mode simulator switches to cause a display in real time of simulated emission density images corresponding to a simulated operation mode selected by said actuation of said operation mode simulator switches.

Claim 24

A simulation system according to claim 17, further including means for recording said simulated emission density images for later use in said displaying means.

Claim 25

A simulation system according to claim 17 wherein said display of said simulated emission density images corresponds to malfunctions in the simulated power plant.

Claim 26

A simulation system according to claim 17 wherein said display of said simulated emission density images corresponds to normal plant transients of the simulated power plant.

Claim 27

A simulation system according to claim 17 wherein said display of said simulated emission density images corresponds to actions or inactions by an operator on the simulated power plant.

Claim 28

A simulation system in real time for a fossil fuel power plant including a smokestack and a firebox with a plurality of alternating levels of flame sources, the simulation system comprising: a first displaying means; a first video recorder for storing simulated firebox images corresponding to the firebox images of a particular fossil fuel power plant, the simulated firebox images including different ones of the flame sources being operative for different levels of operation of a simulated power plant and for supplying said stored firebox images to said first displaying means; means for controlling said first displaying means to display selected sequences of said stored simulated firebox images to show on said first displaying means real time simulated visual changes in the firebox corresponding to the changes of the simulated power plant from one operation level to another; a second displaying means; and a second video recorder for storing simulated emission density images corresponding to the emission density images of a particular fossil fuel power plant, the simulated emission density images being superimposed on an image of the smokestack, and for supplying said simulated emission density images to said second displaying means, said second video recorder device being controlled by said controlling means to supply to said displaying means the simulated emission density images to show on said second displaying means real-time simulated visual changes in the emission density corresponding to said simulated firebox images being displayed by said first displaying means and to the changes in the operation level of the simulated power plant.

Claim 29

A simulation system in real time for a fossil fuel power plant including a smokestack and a firebox with a plurality of alternating levels of flame sources, the simulation system comprising: a first displaying means; a first video recorder for storing simulated firebox images corresponding to the firebox images of a particular fossil fuel power plant, the simulated firebox images including different ones of the flame sources being operative for different levels of operation of a simulated power plant and for supplying said stored firebox images to said first displaying means; means for controlling said first displaying means to display selected sequences of said stored simulated firebox images to show on said first displaying means real time simulated visual changes in the firebox corresponding to the changes of the simulated power plant from one operation level to another; a second displaying means; and a second video recorder for storing simulated emission density images corresponding to the emission density images of a particular fossil fuel power plant, the simulated emission density images being superimposed on an image of the smokestack, and for supplying said simulated emission density images to said second displaying means, said second video recorder device being controlled by said controlling means to supply to said displaying means the simulated emission density images to show on said second displaying means real-time simulated visual changes in the emission density corresponding to said simulated firebox images being displayed by said first displaying means and to the changes in the operation level of the simulated power plant.

Claim 30

A simulation system according to claim 25 wherein said fossil fuel power plant further includes a steam drum having a steam drum level indicator for indicating the water/steam level in the steam drum, and wherein the simulation system further comprises: a third displaying means; and a third video recorder for storing water/steam level images of the steam drum level indicator simulating different levels of water/steam within the steam drum of a particular fossil fuel power plant, said third video recorder for supplying said water/steam level images to said third displaying means in a sequence to simulate in real time the effect said simulated operation level of the power plant has on the water/steam level in the steam drum.

Claim 31

A simulation system according to claim 26 further including a control console having a plurality of switches for selecting the operation level of the power plant to be simulated.

Claim 32

A simulation system according to claim 27 wherein said controlling means comprises a simulation computer connected to said switches, said simulation computer for generating control signals to control said first, second and third video recorders to display in real time simulated firebox images, emission density images, and water/steam level images corresponding to said simulated operation levels of the simulated power plant as selected by said switches.

Claim 33

A simulation system according to claim 28 wherein said first, second and third displaying means each comprises a cathode ray tube.

Claim 34

A simulation system according to claim 29 wherein said first, second and third video recorders each comprises a video disc machine.