Expert system for boiler operation guidance

Present operation guidances and equipment diagnosis techniques were reviewed for boilers of thermal power plants, from the standpoint of a plant manufacturer, and the trend for introducing expert systems into guidances was also discussed. The guidance was examined by each function as monitoring and control, trouble diagnosis or optimum operation, and the correction of troubles related to automation was pointed out to be most important. Features of boiler plants were considered, and the future whole configuration of the guidance system was presented as well as opinions obtained from operators at the site and persons in charge of maintenance and control. After the boiler diagnosis was examined by each function as monitoring or cause diagnosis, functions required for large scale plants were summarized, and the conceptual diagram of the diagnosis system supported by an expert system was illustrated. The tool for developing the diagnosis expert system was figured, and the construction and verification of the knowledge base were pointed out to be most important for practical use, presenting its developmental conditions. 3 refs., 9 figs., 2 tabs.