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PROCESS ANALYTICS

Combined Cycle Power Plants

Combined Cycle Power Plants

Many modern power plants are operated as combined cycle power plants. In the first step, a gas turbine generates electricity. The hot exhaust gas from the gas turbine is conducted to a conventional boiler system with an additional steam turbine, which ensures excellent overall efficiency. In the schematic below, the measuring loops for pH, conductivity, and DO are highlighted.

Key Facts About the Application

Sector

Power plants in combined cycle operation

Application

3 applications (1. Checking dissolved oxygen (DO), 2. Checking pH value and conductivity, 3. Checking conductivity) at multiple measuring loops

Measured Parameters

pH, conductivity, and dissolved oxygen

Main Requirements

Measurements in difficult, tight areas are required in order to prevent the following:

  • Deposits in the steam circuit
  • Damage to the pipe system and turbines/rotor
  • Formation of biofilms

Measurement in Boiler Feed Water, Steam, and Condensate

Description of application

Monitoring boiler feed water limit values in accordance with guidelines from EPRI (Electric Power Research Institute/USA), ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers/USA), NEM (NEM Energy (Siemens)/Netherlands), VGBE (Energy is us), TÜV (Technical Inspection Association)

Requirement for the application

In this process, conductivity must be monitored in a very low measuring range, which places maximum demands on the measuring technology. In the case of pH values, it is necessary to monitor compliance with a very narrow value range. Dissolved oxygen is a key indicator for preventing corrosion in the circuit since it can cause considerable, extremely expensive damage.
For these reasons, accurate measurement of all three parameters is the key factor for efficient, damage-free operation.

Why Knick?
Supported by many years of experience in process analysis in the energy sector and a wide range of Matching Products like flow-through fittings and compact transducers for DIN rails, as well as multi-faceted options for using its devices, Knick is able to easily and affordably adapt its solutions to the requirements of individual measuring loops.

Associated Products

Associated Industries and Applications

In power plants, water is used in many processes with completely different requirements: for example, for steam generation, cooling, and flue gas scrubbing.
Measurement of pH values, dissolved oxygen, and conductivity in boiler feed water, steam, and condensate in combined gas turbines in power plants.
Measurement of pH values, dissolved oxygen, and conductivity as key parameters in the boiler feed water circuit.
Measurement of pH value, redox potential, and conductivity in cooling water, which has to be continuously treated with acid and biocides.
Since steam generators fulfill application-critical functions and the cost of their downtime or replacement is extremely high, damage caused by wear should be prevented by monitoring water quality.
pH value measurement in the pre-scrubber, the neutralization phase, and the lime scrubber as part of the flue gas desulfurization process in power plants.
Measurement of pH value, dissolved oxygen, and redox potential in various applications during the water treatment process of power plant wastewater.
Energy Industry Brochure


Overview of specific applications and product solutions in different areas of power plants.

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