IECM 12.0 beta User Manual > Using the IECM > Setting Parameters > Parameter Screens > Database Button >

Fuel Databases

Clicking the database button on a Fuel Properties screen brings up this dialog:

The Fuel Database Lookup Dialog

This dialog allows you to look up fuels in a database. It contains the following controls, starting from the top:

•Mode: This menu allows you to switch between viewing and editing. It has the following options:

•Add/Edit: This option allows you to edit all of the fuel properties except the rank and total, which are calculated. The new or modified fuel may be saved in a database for future use.

•View: This option allows you to select one of the fuels in the database. The dialog comes up in this mode by default.

•Fuel Type: This menu allows you to select the type of fuel you want to see. Coal is the default option, and the only option for Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) plants. If you are using a Pulverized Coal (PC) plant , you may also choose Biomass or Waste Coal.

•Fuel Selection:

•Database: This menu allows you to choose which database you want to use. This is a list of all open fuel databases. "model_default_fuels.db" is the fuel database included with the IECM. It is opened read-only and cannot be modified. If you want to change or add fuels, you will need to save them in a different database.

•Name: This menu will contain all of the fuels of the specified type in the selected database. If you are in Add/Edit mode, this will be a text box where you can set the fuel name rather than a menu.

•Fuel Properties / Ash Properties / Proximate Analysis / Other: This row of tabs allows you to switch between viewing the Fuel Properties, Ash Properties, Proximate Analysis and Other properties. If you are in Add/Edit mode, these will be editable; otherwise they will be read-only.

The remainder of the dialog displays the Fuel Properties, Ash Properties, Proximate Analysis or Other properties depending on your selection above. There are also several buttons on the right side of the dialog. Starting from the top:

•Ok: This exits the dialog and imports the selected fuel into the IECM.

•Cancel: This exits the dialog without importing the selected fuel into the IECM. It does not undo any changes that were made, e.g., adding, modifying or deleting coals.

•Fuel:

•Add/Save: In Add/Edit mode, click this to add or save the fuel you have entered. If the fuel name matches one that is already in the database, you will be asked if you want to replace it.

•Default Ash: In Add/Edit mode, click this button to use a default set of ash properties based on the coal rank, for Coal, or other properties, e.g. category, for Biomass and Waste Coal.

•Show Errors: In Add/Edit mode, if the Add/Save button is grayed out, click this button to find out why.

•Delete: In View mode, if the fuel you are viewing is in a writable database, you will have the option of deleting it. Click this button to delete the current fuel.

•Database:

•Create: Click this button to create a new fuel database. The procedure is very similar to the one for opening a session database, except that in this case you are creating a new database rather than opening an existing one. The default file type is IECM Fuel Database (*.edb).

•Open: Click this button to open an existing fuel database. The procedure is the same as the one for opening a session database. The default file type is IECM Fuel Database (*edb).

•Close: Click this button to close the current database. You are not allowed to close the model default fuels database.

•Show Path: Click this button to view the full path of the current database in the file system. If you end up with two databases that have the same name, this can help you distinguish between them.

The procedure for adding or modifying a fuel is:

1.Locate the fuel that you want to edit. If you're adding a new fuel, it doesn't matter which one you start with.

2.Switch to Add/Edit mode.

3.Choose the correct Fuel Type.

4.Enter the fuel name and type.

5.Click the Fuel Properties tab and enter the fuel properties.

6.Click the Ash Properties tab and enter the ash properties, or click the Default Ash button.

7.Click the Proximate Analysis tab, indicate whether or not you have proximate analysis data, and enter the wt% of Volatile Matter if you have it. (Moisture and Ash are taken from the Fuel Properties tab, and Fixed Carbon is calculated by subtracting the other properties from 100%.)

8.Click the Other tab and enter the default cost. If the fuel is a biomass, there may be some biomass-specific properties above the default cost; enter those properties as well.

9.If you're adding a new fuel, select the database you want to use, opening or creating it if necessary.

10.If the Add/Save button is grayed out, click Show Errors and correct the problem.

11.Click the Add/Save button. You should receive confirmation that your changes have been saved.

12.At this point your changes are saved, and you can exit the dialog using either the Ok or the Cancel button, depending on whether you want to import the new/modified fuel into your session.

Note:

•All properties are as-received.

•For biomass with a moisture content > 20%, we recommend drying prior to use.