ASME PTC 46-2015

This Code applies to any plant size. It can be used to measure the performance of a plant in its normal operating condition, with all equipment in a clean and fully functional condition. This Code provides explicit methods and procedures for combined cycle power plants and for most gas, liquid, and solid fueled Rankine cycle plants. There is no intent to restrict the use of this Code for other types of heat cycle power plants, providing the explicit procedures can be met. For example, the performance equations and test methods herein are applicable to the steam cycle portion of a solar plant, or of a nuclear plant steam cycle. Refer to ASME PTC 47 for power block thermal performance test procedures associated with an IGCC plant (Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle). This Code does not apply to component testing, for example, gas turbines (ASME PTC 22) or steam turbines (ASME PTC 6 or ASME PTC 6.2) or other individual components. To test a particular power plant or cogeneration facility in accordance with this Code, the following must be met: (a) a means must be available to determine, through either direct or indirect measurements, all of the heat inputs entering the test boundary and all of the electrical power and secondary outputs leaving the test boundary; (b) a means must be available to determine, through either direct or indirect measurements, all of the parameters to correct the results from the test to the base reference condition; (c) the test result uncertainties should be less than or equal to the uncertainties given in subsection 1-3 for the applicable plant type; and (d) the working fluid for vapor cycles must be steam. This restriction is imposed only to the extent that other fluids may require measurements or measurement methods different from those provided by this Code for steam cycles. Tests addressing other power plant performance-related issues are outside the scope of this Code. These include the following: (a) emissions tests: testing to verify compliance with regulatory emissions levels (e.g., airborne gaseous and particulate, solid and wastewater, noise, etc.), or required for calibration and certification of emission-monitoring systems. (b) operational demonstration tests: the various standard power plant tests typically conducted during startup, or periodically thereafter, to demonstrate specified operating capabilities (e.g., minimum load operation, automatic load control and load ramp rate, fuel switching capability, etc.). (c) reliability tests: tests conducted over an extended period of days or weeks to demonstrate the capability of the power plant to produce a specified minimum output level or availability. The measurement methods, calculations, and corrections to design conditions included herein may be of use in designing tests of this type; however, this Code does not address this type of testing in terms of providing explicit testing procedures or acceptance criteria.