Taiwanese coal power plant's AI pivot may yield $1m in annual savings

Using AI during combustion tuning can significantly boost efficiency.

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the second unit of Taiwan Power Company’s Linkou Thermal Power Plant in its operations could save the plant as much as $1m a year, according to tests of an upgraded boiler combustion tuning system.

The AI system, a component from from MHPS-TOMONI by Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, took into account boiler efficiency, auxiliary power and other fiscal factors to streamline performance at the coal-fired power plant.

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The combustion tuning process requires a series of adjustment to certain parameters like flue-gas emission characteristics, combustion balance, steam temperature and boiler efficiency.

Tapping on AI during the combustion tuning process can enable to system to better analyse changes in operating conditions and recommend changes, which could significantly fast-track operations.