Method for increasing net power of power plant based on operation optimization of circulating cooling water system

• Published in: Energy (Oxford) Vol. 282; p. 128392
• Main Authors: Wang, Huijie, Qiu, Baoyun, Zhao, Fangling, Yan, Tianxu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2023
• Subjects: ANN algorithm; Circulating cooling water system; Net power; Operation optimization; SA-IPSO algorithm; Thermal power plant; SA-IPSO algorithm; ANN algorithm; Operation optimization; Thermal power plant; Net power; Circulating cooling water system
• ISSN: 0360-5442
• DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2023.128392

Due to the low power generation performance caused by the unreasonable regulation of the circulating cooling water system (CCWS), a method for increasing the net power of a thermal power plant by optimizing the CCWS operation points was proposed. First, an iterative solver was developed to calculate the stable heat transfer parameters of water circulation processes. Then, the net power model of power plants was established according to the relationship between the CCWS operating points and steam turbine power. Considering the constraints of water flow and the number of pumps in operation, an optimization model with the objective of maximum net power was established. A joint program for solving the objective considering environmental parameters was developed based on artificial neural networks and a hybrid improved particle swarm algorithm. The joint solver could obtain the stable operating temperature of cooling water, the optimal operating point of CCWSs, and the maximum net power of power plants. In addition, the influence of steam load and environmental parameters on optimal solutions was summarized. After executing the operation optimization for a CCWS, the results showed that the net power of typical operating conditions in different seasons increased by 35.85–1423.64 kW, indicating a remarkable effect. •A method for calculating the operation water temperature of the CCWS is proposed.•The CCWS operation optimization model of thermal power plants is established.•A joint solver for the model is developed to obtain the maximum plant net power.•The influence of different factors on optimal solutions is summarized.