NeuCo, a leading provider of power plant optimization software systems, is scheduled to present at the 2011 EPRI Heat Rate Improvement Conference, which will take place in St. Petersburg, Florida, on 25-27 January 2011. Ray Johnson, VP business development at NeuCo, will discuss the use of NeuCo’s BoilerOpt™ software at several coal-fired power plants, including ones owned by Xcel Energy and DTE Energy, and the resulting improvements in boiler efficiency, steam temperatures and sprays, sootblowing-related tube erosion, and slag management.

The presentation will demonstrate the value of integrating combustion and sootblowing process optimization and how NeuCo’s integrated BoilerOpt package applies adaptive neural networks, model-predictive control, and condition-based expert rules to their best advantage. Examples of how BoilerOpt works with advanced instrumentation to deliver even greater heat rate and emissions value will also be discussed.

The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) is an independent, non-profit company performing research, development and demonstration in the electricity sector for the benefit of the public. The EPRI Heat Rate Conference is a forum for plant personnel to review new technologies geared to improve plant heat rate, identify plant efficiency problems and to provide additional research and development to improve overall power plant performance. The event is held every two years.

To request a copy of ‘Boiler Optimization and Advanced Instrumentation for Heat Rate & Reliability Improvements’ visit the company’s website.