Fact Sheet
ALMA - IT Solution for
Leakage Detection in
the Steam Generator
With ALMA – Advanced Leakage Monitoring & Alerting, STEAG Energy Services
GmbH has developed a system for early and reliable notification about boiler
leakages, as an add-on to acoustic sensor systems. ALMA reduces false alarms
of acoustic sensor systems and even can detect leakages before other systems
detect them.
Boiler tube leakages are a frequent cause of plant downtimes ALMA combines an (existing) acoustic sensor system with
and generation losses in thermal power plants. The indepen- additional operating data, neural networks, and statistical
dent statistic show, that depending on a steam generator’s filtering methods. This intelligent combination of various
operation time, fuel and design, between two and 15 tube systems allows to drastically reduce the number of false
„
leakages per year will occur. To prevent secondary damages alarms. Often, leakages are indicated by ALMA before
on pressure parts like water wall tubes, superheater tubes, acoustic systems detect them.
and reheater tubes, the operating engineers constantly have
to watch out for leakages. A leakage may damage further
tubes; therefore damage increases over the time. The costs
caused by consequential damage can be very high as the ALMA is characterized
repairs take time - this means losses in the sale of the Customer as a system relevant in terms
generated electricity. Where acoustic sensors are applied statement: of the availability that reliably
“
ensures the early detection of
for detecting leakages these systems may cause a relatively leakages. False alarms occur
high number of false alarms. ALMA is a solution based on very rarely.
(Niederaußem
SR::SPC, software for predictive analytics and statistical
Power Plant of RWE)
filtering developed by STEAG Energy Services GmbH, that
is designed to provide alarms only if statistically significant.
www.steag-systemtechnologies.com
IT-Solutions
Analysis of events in the ALMA Visualization Status overview in the ALMA Visualization
Only in the event of concrete indications of a leakage, the plant operators are
informed by ALMA. This happens via a graphic display in the dashboard, in the
corresponding system for data visualization and analysis, and by sending an
„
alarm signal into the distributed control system (DCS).
The use of ALMA for
leakage detection in the
In a pilot project at Neurath Power Plant of RWE Power, boiler is indispensable on a
ALMA was tested with the goal to eliminate false alarms from daily basis. It is a necessary
Customer tool that is deeply rooted in the
an acoustic leakage detection system. The trial operation was
statement: workflow of the personnel /
“
very successful and meanwhile ALMA is permanently applied of the generation department /
for leakage detection at two sites of RWE in six power plant of the control room staff.
units altogether. (Neurath Power
Plant of RWE)
ALMA’s strong points Increasing the plant availability by applying ALMA:
• Detection and immediately alarming in the event of • Early alarming
a sudden increase of acoustic signals, as supporting • Smaller primary damage
information in the sensor data interpretation for the • Less consequential damage on adjacent pipes
exclusion of other operational causes • Shorter downtimes
• Detection of leakages that cannot be detected by • Reliable alarming supports the decision to
means of evaluation/balancing in the DCS shut down or continue operation
– for example in the reheater bundles • Automatic notification by e-mail
• Early detection of creeping changes • Long-term data archive with comfortable user interface
enables easy analysis of the history
Your contact person:
Heino Zimmermann
Phone +49 201 801 4032
[email protected]STEAG Energy Services GmbH
System Technologies
Rüttenscheider Str. 1-3
45128 Essen
Germany
www.steag-systemtechnologies.com
