Session: 09-05 Energy Storage Based on CO2

Paper Number: 129317

129317 - Use of Performance Models for Powerplant Performance Testing 

Performance testing of power plants is a critical aspect of assuring that the plant and its components and subsystems meet contractual guarantees.  A performance test may be necessary for acceptance by the owner, with any shortfalls in performance requiring correction and/or the payment of liquidated damages to the owner, or in some cases, a bonus payment from the owner to the vendor.  Performance tests are typically conducted in accordance with contractual requirements that may specify testing according to a Performance Test Code (PTC).  The various PTCs published by ASME provide for adjustment of test conditions to the guaranteed condition to reflect variations such as ambient temperature, pressure and relative humidity, fuel heating value, operating voltage, frequency, and power factor, and so forth.  These adjustments are made by means of ‘correction factors’ which must be accepted in advance by the parties to the test, including the vendors and owner.  In addition, the ASME PTCs require calculation of the test uncertainty, which may also be a criterion for acceptance. 

A performance model can aid the performance testing process by more accurately correcting test measurements for variations from the design or guarantee point and by preparing a stochastic ‘uncertainty cloud’ based on the uncertainty of the primary instruments used to correct the measured performance.  ASME’s most recent Performance Test Code, PTC53-2022 for Mechanical and Thermal Energy Storage Systems, permits the use of a performance model for correcting test results. Non-mandatory appendix A of PTC-53-2022 illustrates the customary approach of using correction curves for correcting performance of an Energy Storage Combined Cycle, where thermal energy storage is coupled with gas turbine exhaust heat. This paper shows the use of Ebsilon Professional to correct test measurements more accurately than the customary correction curves and illustrates the development of the uncertainty cloud based on the accuracy of individual instruments.

By incorporating a performance model into the contractual guarantees, both vendor and owner can benefit from a more accurate understanding of the impact of off-design conditions on performance.  The instrument accuracy required for the performance test can also be evaluated in advance to facilitate the plant’s acceptance.

Presenting Author: Milton Venetos Wyatt Enterprises LLC

Presenting Author Biography: Mr. Milton J. (Milt) Venetos is a globally recognized expert on energy systems performance with direct experience in combined cycle, coal, IGCC, oil & gas, renewable, nuclear, and advanced energy systems. He is a highly skilled technical consultant specializing in heat transfer and thermodynamics ranging from conceptualization and modeling to equipment design and selection to on-site troubleshooting. Milt was instrumental in bringing four commercially successful products and companies with first of a kind technology (GateCycle/Enter Software, Blue Pumpkin/Onward, Greenlight HPS/Laserscope and Linear Fresnel Solar/Ausra) to market.

At Ausra, he held key roles as Director of Performance Engineering and Senior Vice President for Product Management and represented the company with investors, strategic and financial partners, customers, and potential acquirers.

Milt was a key member of the team that developed the GateCycle heat and mass software package and as an executive at AREVA Solar was a leader in hybrid integration of solar thermal with fossil generation. He has consulted on the design, development and operation of dozens of power plants around the world using EBSILON Professional and GateCycle. He also served as a CSP project evaluation chairperson and reviewer for several DOE Solar Energy Technology Office (SETO) funding opportunities.

Authors:

William Conlon Pintail Power
Milton Venetos Wyatt Enterprises LLC
Peter Pechtl ENEXSA GmbH