Process Control and Efficiency Improvements of Industrial Boiler

The efficiency of improvement of the boiler is identified as the main priority of this
project. This can be done by studying and suggest the ways to enhance the process
control of the steam generating system and its instrumentation. Boiler with the
closest specifications recommended is taken as the case study. Therefore, the
suggested recommendation can be assumed as have been implemented. The
recommendation is assumed to be implemented and efficiency calculations using
mathematical programming approach has been done.
The first phase of the project is the study on boiler in terms fuel characteristics, firing
system and combustion control to enhance the efficiency calculation at the later
stage. The suggestions on ways to improve have led to the installment of Air preheater
(APH) unit at a small capacity refinery boiler. Energy savings calculation has
been done and resulting output was satisfactory. Therefore, the first phase of the
study has been successful.
The second phase of the project is the mathematical programming approach to
determine the efficiency of the boiler by assuming suggested improvements in fuel
combustion has be implemented. The MATLAB program takes into account of the
variation in gas constituents in fuel and gives the most accurate heating values and
flue gas analysis based on the theoretical combustion. The efficiency of the boiler is
determined to be above satisfactory level thus making the second phase of the project
a major success.