Assessment of Boiler Units’ Technical State Based on Quality Indicators

Abstract—

Results from elaborating methodical approaches to assessing the technical state of boiler units based on quality indicators, including assessments based on two groups of indicators—environmental safety and technical and economic efficiency—are presented. The procedure of assessing the technical state based on the considered indicators is given. The main indicators (parameters) of boiler units determining their environmental safety and characterizing their technical effectiveness and economic efficiency are presented. The weighting coefficients of indicators that reflect the extent in relative units to which each individual indicator influences the technical state are given. The basic indicators (basic values of boiler unit parameters) with respect to which the technical state of units is assessed are suggested. Technological standards for specific emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere are adopted as the basic values of indicators determining environmental safety. For the indicators of technical effectiveness and economic efficiency, it is possible to take the standardized values reflecting the actually achievable technical effectiveness and economic efficiency of the operating equipment or the target values of indicators determining the modern and prospective technically achievable requirements for equipment. Point and indexed assessments of state are considered; reference values of score assessments are pointed out, and functional dependences for carrying out point and indexed assessments of state are given. An interpretation of the assessment system with determining the technical state levels is given, using which it is possible to establish a correspondence between the considered quality indicators and existing standards for harmful emissions and to determine the ability of equipment to perform its prescribed functions. Depending on the values of technical state indices, versions of technical measures taken for the main equipment and aimed at maintaining and improving its effectiveness and economic efficiency are considered. Results from assessing the current technical state of operating boilers, namely, their technical effectiveness and economic efficiency with respect to the standardized and prospective target indicators, are given.