The results were sufficiently positive to warrant further development towards on-line implementation and commercialization. A major output of the PDES prototype is to inform the user when the steam and condensate system is wasting energy and to quantify thermodynamic performance. It achieves this by comparing the actual amount of condensate and the current U-factor with established standards for the specific machine. A major feature is its knowledge base maintenance interface that eliminates the need for code modification.
Plans are to test it in a paper mill with several on-line measurements.
Abitibi-Consolidated will provide the test sites, and NRC will focus mainly on research aspects.