DEMOSOFC project data analysis: development of a Visual Basic tool for import, evaluation and visualization of plant parameters and performance indicators

The DEMOSOFC project, part of the Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme funded by the European Union, is the first example in Europe of a high-efficiency cogeneration plant revolving medium size fuel cell modules fed by biogas. The scope of this work has been to develop a user friendly tool based on the Visual Basic for Applications environment implemented in the Microsoft Office suite. The tool comprises several routines and user interfaces integrated into an Excel file, with a couple of Word report templates. The available commands are meant to be employed by the plant operators to automatically perform operations and manipulate the data files generated by the Programmable Logic Controller installed on site. Plant parameters contained therein can be imported, arranged and stored. From this information, Key Performance Indicators and the operation mode of each module can be evaluated. Other commands allow to visualize significant information over customizable time periods, both graphically and numerically, with the possibility to respectively export them as images or reports. The designed tool will help plant operators and authorized personal that might want to monitor the performances of the main equipment of the project: the clean-up section, the fuel cell modules and the heat recovery system. It will expectantly provide useful information for the future improvement and employment of this kind of high-efficiency cogeneration system, both on a technical and economic point of view.