Steam Cycle Solutions: Technology Meets Experience

GE Works

When you flip the switch, you expect the lights to turn on. Simple. But what goes on behind the scenes is far more complex.

Unlike your light switch, power generation is a tricky business. Inefficiencies can be expensive and translate into both poor performance for utilities and higher prices for energy.

As a result, utilities and industrial operators face increasing pressure to improve performance, meet environmental regulations, and overcome rising energy. This prompts the question: is there a way to make the process faster, easier, and more efficient?”

The answer is a resounding “yes”.

Steam Cycle Solutions

GE has developed Steam Cycle Solutions, an advanced boiler system that can reduce fuel consumption and improve the process of generating power.

Targeted at power plants with less than 300 MW output, GE’s Steam Cycle Solutions can improve the performance of plant boilers and turbines, resulting in reduced fuel consumption and associated CO2 emissions. But just as important as the solution itself is the story of how GE got there.

Steam Cycle Solutions gives customers the ongoing benefits of reduced fuel use and emissions, lessening the impact of their energy production on the environment.

When GE Intelligent Platforms took a look at existing power generation control systems they discovered an exciting opportunity. They realized that while these systems provide a wealth of informatics and controls, they do not provide much in the way of insight or guidance for operators.

That information opened the door for a new generation of software that fuses the best of digital technology and human innovation, allowing customers to quickly and easily bring their power generation performance up to world-class operational efficiency.

Expert optimization

For expertise, GE turned to one of the most respected voices in power generation—Rick Davis, an expert with over 30 years of experience in the design and implementation of boiler control systems. Davis’ domain knowledge and experience allow him to quickly identify how to improve the operations and efficiencies of customers’ boilers.

Working closely with Davis, this new solution optimizes the operation of utility boilers. This gives customers the ongoing benefits of reduced fuel use and emissions, lessening the impact of their energy production on the environment.

To comply with emissions regulations and reduce the environmental footprint, combustion factors and emissions levels can easily be captured and analyzed in real-time.

“The Steam Cycle Solutions packages more than 30 years of experience in advanced control systems for boilers, delivering optimized operation and savings in the running of customers’ boilers,” said Rick Davis. “With increasing pressure to improve operational performance, meet environmental specifications, and overcome rising energy costs, Steam Cycle Solutions is the answer Facility Managers are looking for.”

Economics meet environment

Once installed, the advanced boiler system can reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by three to five percent compared to plants without comparable technology. For example, in a 15-MW biomass power plant operating 8,000 hours per year, GE’s control method can reduce CO2 emissions by as much as 11,600 metric tons a year—equivalent to the annual CO2 emissions of approximately 2,280 cars on U.S. roads.

And to comply with emissions regulations and reduce the environmental footprint, combustion factors and emissions levels can easily be captured and analyzed in real-time.

What’s more, because the system saves fuel usage per year, it can provide an ROI payback in 12 to 15 months or, in some cases, as little as six months.

With energy costs rising and demand continuing to skyrocket, the ability to quickly and easily bring efficiency to power generation makes Steam Cycle Solutions not only a smart economic choice, but also a better choice for the environment. And that’s the business model of the future.