Decision Tree  決策過程: 不脫硫 / 脫硫   Networking Opportunities 
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This new system allows a utility or consultant to make all the decisions regarding SO2 reduction efficiently and ensures that all the alternatives will be considered and the best chosen. Each of the following unique features makes this possible:

 

  1. Provides the facts and insights to make each of the many necessary decisions regarding SO2 reduction from power plants

Hundreds of major and thousands of minor decisions need to be made in purchasing an FGD system. Millions of man-years of experience based on operation of over 1000 systems has resulted in a large body of knowledge.

 

New knowledge is substantial as many new systems are being completed and suppliers are developing new ways to increase cost effectiveness. The McIlvaine Company has been analyzing and gathering this information since 1974 when it began publishing the Scrubber Manual , Newsletter and Abstracts.

 

This effort evolved into the FGD Knowledge System which is available separately or as part of the Power Plant Knowledge System. This system provides the four knowledge needs: Alerts, Answers, Analysis, and Advancement.

 

This system best serves the expert who is devoting his career to FGD. However, a significant learning curve is necessary for a utility or A/E engineer who is faced with making a series of FGD decisions, but is not making FGD his life work.

 

FGD Decisions combines the Knowledge System with a decision tree program which makes it easy for the utility and A/E personnel to utilize all the relevant facts and insights while making their decisions

 

  1. Provides the complete decision making program on a step by step basis

Whether the plant is in the U.S., China, or Poland, the decision to scrub or not scrub depends on regulatory, cost, and, certain other factors. If the decision is to scrub, then a large number of procedural, physical, and informational choices have to be identified and decisions made. Each of these choices is analyzed in the most logical order in FGD Decisions.

 

The program allows the user to move sequentially through each step or to easily select any point and move backward or forward. It also allows instant identification of decisions which should not be made unilaterally.

 

An example would be a decision on slurry recycle pumps. On a sequential basis, the user works down the branches until he is provided with details on Weir, KSB, and other recycle pump offerings. There are other pumps to be purchased and it may make sense to consider buying all pumps from one vendor. The program user can then query using the “pump” category and see all the pump requirements or options.

 

This query even shows pump requirements for different types of scrubber designs. Certain designs require larger pumps. These pumps are only made by three companies. So the user quickly sees that his choice of pump vendors depends heavily on his choice of scrubber designs.

 

  1. Streamline communications with vendors and consultants

At the end of many branches of the decision tree there is an analysis of the suppliers of products and services to be considered. The system provides profiles, product descriptions, experience, and contacts. But it also provides a unique new resource: access to experts

 

Experts at supplier and consultant companies are providing input in their narrow areas of high competence. These experts are continually reviewing the data in the FGD Decision Tree and can communicate with the inquirer about the specifics. The system provides background data on the expert as well as extracts from papers he has presented or his direct input to the system

 

Direct communication with the expert and discussion based on the specific choices and facts already conveyed in FGD Decisions means that great insight can be achieved in a very streamlined manner.

 

Discussions with the supplier sales personnel are streamlined and enhanced if the sales personnel are also working with FGD Decisions. For example, cost and performance comparison to the competitor’s products are already detailed in the system. Questions and discussions should be based on this body of information.

 

Just as FGD Decisions makes it possible for the utility engineer to function as an expert, it does the same for the vendor sales personnel. It identifies the key aspects of decision making and eliminates the extraneous information. A good salesman will be able to function at a higher level with this system.

 

  1. Maximize the value of conferences and exhibitions

The experts identified above attend conferences, give speeches and are available at exhibition stands. The problem is that there has been no organized way to facilitate direct communication between these experts and the FGD purchasers.

 

FGD Decisions facilitates this direct communication by identifying the specific speeches to be given in the coming months along with the exhibition schedule for each supplier. Direct and indirect options will link the supplier expert with the utility questioner.

  

McIlvaine attends and exhibits at many of these conferences. Company personnel also conduct high level discussions as part of the formal program at some of them. These provide additional direct contact links for utility personnel.