Biomass

In this area, an industrial development program was set up in 2019. In 2020 the Flemish Agency for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (VLAIO) granted subsidies, which strengthened our research efforts. The research resulted in software tools to improve power plant processes. The main research outcomes include sootblow optimisation, the detection of gradual degradation and the estimation of process value based on data analysis.

• Sootblow optimisation entails real-time optimisation of sootblow operations. The optimisation takes into account thermal degradation, fuel, and costs related to the production of heat and electricity.
• Degradation prediction: slow degradations of valves, pumps, heat exchangers, measurements, control loops, etc. are detected before alarms are raised. This allows plant operation and maintenance staff to plan a preventive action rather than undergo a corrective action at a bad timing.
• Explosion detection: data analysis can be used to predict the presence of an explosive atmosphere before an explosion has occurred. Operators can take action to prevent the conditions under which explosions are more likely.
• Process value estimation: data analysis allows to use the many links between parameters to estimate process values. This can be used to improve the accuracy of measurement results. It even can be used to determine which measurement is defect.
• Patents are pending for our sootblow optimisation solution and for our degradation prediction engine.