PROPOSAL FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SERVO DRIVES IN WASTE HEAT RECOVERY SYSTEMS (WHRU) OF TURBOGENERATORS IN FPSOs
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69609/1516-2893.2026.v32.n3.a4402Keywords:
Industrial automation, Energy efficiency, FPSO, Servo-drive system, WHRUAbstract
This research focuses on the technical analysis of replacing a conventional electropneumatic instrumentation system which controls the dampers of waste heat recovery units (WHRUs) coupled to 25 MW turbogenerators on offshore Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading (FPSO) units, with an electromechanical servomechanism system featuring closed-loop digital control. The study aimed to evaluate the impact of this upgrade on the system's dynamic performance, process thermal stability, and the plant's overall energy efficiency. The methodology involved a literature review of articles and technical manuals to develop a dynamic model and simulation of the thermal-energy system; this model was calibrated using operational parameters representative of actual field conditions, specifically for a 25 MW rated-power turbogenerator (fueled by gas and diesel) operating under typical partial-load conditions. The results indicated significant improvements in the control system's dynamic behavior, including an actuator response time reduction of over 80% and increased damper positioning accuracy. A reduction in thermal oscillations within the WHRU heat exchanger was also observed, alongside an estimated 3% increase in system thermal efficiency, contributing to lower specific fuel consumption. Furthermore, the servomechanism-based architecture demonstrated the potential to enhance system reliability and operational availability by eliminating pneumatic components prone to systemic delays and recurring failures over time. The study concludes that replacing electropneumatic instrumentation with servo-driven systems is a technically viable alternative for modernizing heat recovery systems on offshore units, contributing to improved energy efficiency, operational stability, and integration with modern industrial automation architectures.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Aroldo Carlos da Silva Junior , Ivair Alves dos Santos, Arcione Ferreira Viagi, Roque Antônio Moura
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