Accurate control improves heat delivery efficiency by decreasing heat losses in
the network, and it also enables a plant to maintain optimal operation
conditions during fast changes in electricity and heat consumption.
Fortum's Suomenoja CHP plant in Espoo is the first power plant in Finland to
optimize the dynamics of its district heating network using multivariable model
predictive control. This development work builds on the optimization work
carried out at the Fortum Suomenoja plant during 2012. Commissioning of the new
control is planned for 2014.
The district heating network in the Espoo, Kauniainen and Kirkkonummi areas is a
large and complex network, consisting of the production of district heat and
cooling, a delivery network, pumping stations and thousands of end users. Until
now, optimal operating conditions in the district heating network have been
maintained manually, and operators have had to run the network with more heat
than necessary.
"With the new automatic district heat delivery control system, it is possible to
efficiently control the pressure and temperature of the district heating network
in different parts of the network. Accurate control improves heat delivery
efficiency by decreasing heat losses in the network, and it also enables us to
maintain optimal operation conditions during fast changes in electricity and
heat consumption. Both improvements reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions,
making CHP production an even more environmentally friendly form of heating,"
says Timo Aaltonen, Production Director, Fortum Heat and Power Oy.
"The new advanced optimization solution will provide district heat producers
with both economic and environmental benefits through better network control.
Metso has developed a performance solution that is based on customer needs and
enables customers to better cope with their challenges now and in the future,"
says Sami Pitkänen, Vice President, EMEA Services, Automation, Metso.
According to Pitkänen, Metso's control solution will benefit energy companies in
all countries where district heating is a widely used form of heating, such as
Finland, the Baltic countries, Sweden, Germany and Poland.
Located in Espoo, the Suomenoja power plant produces heat for the inhabitants of
Espoo, Kauniainen, and Kirkkonummi, and electricity for the national grid. The
power plant produces approximately 1,800 gigawatt-hours of electricity and
2,200 gigawatt-hours of district heat per year.
Based on successful steam network optimization
The new district heating network optimization solution is a continuation of
Metso's pioneering work on steam network optimization, which has proven to be a
success around the world at CHP plants. Core to both solutions are Metso's
optimization experts who design, implement and configure the optimization
solution based on each customer's requirements, steam network and systems.
The solution is built on multivariable model predictive control, which is
capable of simultaneously controlling several network variables, predicting
primary variables and handling control constraints. At the Suomenoja plant, the
optimization package will be integrated into the existing Metso DNA automation
system, but it can be integrated into any automation system used at a power
plant.
"Better control of temperature and pressure fluctuations at the heat plant
minimizes heat stress to district heat piping, and thus is one tool to avoid
severe disturbances," points out Juha-Pekka Jalkanen, Director, Plant
Performance Solutions, Automation, Metso. "Better control of the pressure
difference throughout the network also removes the need to produce any
additional heat, resulting in higher energy efficiency."
Fortum's purpose is to create energy that improves life for present and future
generations. The company provides sustainable solutions that fulfill the needs
for low emissions, resource efficiency and energy security, and deliver
excellent value to its shareholders. The activities cover the generation,
distribution and sales of electricity and heat as well as related expert
services.
Fortum's operations focus on the Nordic countries, Russia, Poland and the
Baltics. In the future, the integrating European and fast-growing Asian energy
markets provide additional growth opportunities. In 2012, Fortum's sales totaled
EUR 6.2 billion and comparable operating profit was EUR 1.7 billion. It employs
approximately 10,400 people.
The Automation segment's process automation and flow control solutions meet the
growing needs of Metso's customer industries to improve production process
efficiency as raw materials and energy sources become scarcer and their costs
increase. Our global network of service experts delivers business solutions to
our customers that improve their productivity, lower risks and optimize costs.
www.metso.com, www.twitter.com/metsoautomation
Metso is a global supplier of technology and services to customers in the
process industries, including mining, construction, pulp and paper, power, and
oil and gas. Our 30,000 professionals based in over 50 countries contribute to
sustainability and deliver profitability to customers worldwide. Metso's shares
are listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki Ltd.
www.metso.com, www.twitter.com/metsogroup
For further information, please contact:
Sami Pitkänen, Vice President, EMEA Services, Automation, Metso,
sami.pitkanen(at)metso.com, tel. +358 20 483 8282 or mobile +358 40 504 6970
Juha-Pekka Jalkanen, Director, Plant Performance Solutions, Automation, Metso,
juha-pekka.jalkanen(at)metso.com, tel. +358 20 483 8106 or mobile
+358 40 831 0398
