Plant Engineering

ECO|RAM
Changing market requirements like deregulation have generated a high cost pressure on power producers. To maintain competitiveness, it is necessary to find new measures to reduce costs and increase revenues, which can be realised at the actual market conditions. ECO|RAM has been created to identify tangible improvement measures by systematically analyzing the power plant. This results in a portfolio of improvement measures regarding plant equipment, operation and maintenance.

Methodology
During the development of ECO|RAM, technical material regarding the design, the operation and maintenance of a plant have been prepared. Comprehensive technical and operational benchmark data as well as a catalogue of potential improvement measures support the systematic analysis of plants. For that purpose, key-data and properties have been compiled in the assessment documents. Linking the detailed cost structure of a power plant to component specific features of design, operation and maintenance has been another prerequisite for establishing the methodology.

Process
Before the start of an ECO|RAM project, the project goals and criteria for financial evaluation are defined by the customer i.e. the desired payback period, the parameters for financial evaluation or the interest/discount rate. etc. The project is carried out in close cooperation with the customer in a joint team. This makes sure that all relevant boundary conditions of the power plant and its operation are considered and that the feasibility of the proposed improvement measures is secured. The process is divided in two phases: In Phase 1 the actual status and performance of the plant is determined by a site assessment. New improvement ideas are generated, which are reviewed, grouped & selected as Potentials.

Each Potential is investigated to determine technical feasibility and expected benefit. Based on the results of Phase 1 the customer decides which potentials shall be further elaborated in the second phase. Phase 1 is typically executed within 8 to 10 weeks In Phase 2, each selected potential is analyzed in greater detail. A comprehensive technical review is undertaken. Costs and benefits including initial investment, ongoing operating costs, projected payback and technical benefits are quantified. In this way an implementation/investment decision can be prepared. The time frame of Phase 2 strongly depends on the findings of Phase 1, considering the number and complexity of the Potentials, and takes 16 to 20 weeks

Customer Benefits
Fast first results Enhanced profitability Comprehensive analysis Identification of viable improvement measures

THERMAL POWER
INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS

Typical Results
Typical potentials generated include:

Projects
To date, 13 ECO|RAM projects have been carried out at various plants in Germany, Denmark, South Africa, Serbia, Spain and the United Kingdom. Of these projects, 8 have been carried out to the conclusion of Phase 2, each providing demonstrable benefits for the customer. Many of the improvement measures could be realized with minor investment costs. Overall, more than 450 improvement ideas have been identified, of which more than 150 Potentials were both technically and economically viable according to the customers specific criteria and were carried through to Phase 2 for detailed analysis. In total, a benefit of more than 400 Million could be identified for the customers.

Our Experience
ECO|RAM offers access to the substantial know-how and experience of ALSTOM:

Modification of components/systems Optimisation of operation modes Alterations to maintenance strategies.

Worldwide network of experience in assessing power plants covering all technologies Experience in operation and maintenance of plants worldwide covering all technologies Access to historical as well as up-to-date plant equipment costs and benchmark data Experienced engineering staff with proven track record of developing solutions for existing equipment.

Expected benefits are:

Improvement of availability Increase of efficiency Increase of capacity Reduction of auxiliary power consumption n Greater operational flexibility.

The improvement measures are summarized and ranked based on the specific boundary conditions set by the customer e.g. budget, outage schedule, and payback period etc.

Customer Technical Targets

Performance Performance
Power PowerOutput, Output,Efficiency Efficiency

Customer Customer Economic Economic Targets Targets

Max MaxInvestment, Investment,NPV, NPV,Payback PaybackDuration Duration

Plant Basis Data Original Original Design Design Actual Actual Condition Condition Maintenance Maintenance Concept Concept Operation Operation History History Remaining Remaining Lifetime Lifetime

Availability Availability / / Reliability Reliability

Power PowerOutput, Output,Operation Operation

Environmental Environmental Impact Impact

Efficiency, Efficiency, SOx SOx,, NOx NOx,,Dust, Dust, Noise, Noise,Waste WasteWater Water

Flexibility Flexibility
Operation, Operation,Maintenance Maintenance

Lifetime Lifetime Extension Extension

Design, Design,Operation, Operation,Maintenance Maintenance

Future Future Operation Operation

GKWG903136 - ALSTOM 2011. ALSTOM, the ALSTOM logo and any alternative version thereof are trademarks and service marks of ALSTOM. The other names mentioned, registered or not, are the property of their respective companies. The technical and other data contained in this document is provided for information only. Neither ALSTOM, its officers and employees accept responsibility for or should be taken as making any representation or warranty (whether express or implied) as to the accuracy or completeness of such data or the achievement of any projected performance criteria where these are indicated. ALSTOM reserves the right to revise or change this data at any time without further notice.

THERMAL POWER
INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS