A Guide to Advanced Sensors for Structural Condition and Environmental Monitoring in Fossil-Fired Power Plant

Power companies have increased the accuracy of their plant control systems, and the consequent continuous monitoring has become a major factor in the reliable, safe and cost-effective operation of power stations.

This guide focuses on the advances being made in sensors used for plant monitoring in two critical areas: structural integrity and environmental monitoring, where they play a major role for on- and off-line.

To complete the picture the review is carried out in the context of what is currently available.

The guide is divided into two parts. First, it provides an overview of the technologies and sensors, which may become state-of-the-art in the next five years.

The parameters covered for structural integrity are - temperature, pressure, flow, vibration, strain, residual stress, crack detection, corrosion and erosion; and for environmental sensors - smoke/dust, gas, and trace elements and compounds.

Each measurand is discussed in terms of importance, current options and, finally, the techniques being developed and their potential importance.

Possible future directions are offered for some of the measurands. The major part of the report (180 pages) is made up of 12 appendices, one for each of the above parameters.

Each self-contained appendix justifies briefly the importance of measuring tht parameter.

This is followed by a short description of existing sensors and more extensive information on the techniques under development.

Manufacturers or developers are identified non-exculsively, and contact details, products and agents are tabulated.

Useful references and/or bibliographies are provided throughout the report.

Although applied in this instance to fossil-fired plant, the structural integrity sensors are relevant to all high-temperature plant, and the environmental ones to all industries concerned with gaseous emissions.

This is a companion volume to 93-1051R, "Optical Sensors for Power Industry Applications".