Abstract: A method and apparatus for optimizing the operation of a power generating plant using artificial intelligence techniques. One or more decisions D are determined for at least one consecutive time increment, where at least one of the decisions D is associated with a discrete variable for the operation of a power plant device in the power generating plant. In an illustrated embodiment, the power plant device is a soot cleaning device associated with a boiler.

Abstract: A system for determining performance characteristics of a combustion heating process. The system uses input parameters that are controllable by an operator or control system to determine a set of controllable loss components. The controllable loss components may be summed to produce an efficiency index value.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for estimating and/or controlling mercury emissions in a steam generating unit. A model of the steam generating unit is used to predict mercury emissions. In one embodiment of the invention, the model is a neural network (NN) model. An optimizer may be used in connection with the model to determine optimal setpoint values for manipulated variables associated with operation of the steam generating unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for optimizing the operation of a power generating plant using artificial intelligence techniques. One or more decisions D are determined for at least one consecutive time increment, where at least one of the decisions D is associated with a discrete variable for the operation of a power plant device in the power generating plant. In an illustrated embodiment, the power plant device is a soot cleaning device associated with a boiler.

Abstract: An attribute-enhanced scroll bar is presented. A selected portion of a stored data file, for example a document, is displayed in a window, and a scroll bar field including a scroll bar is used to indicate the position of the displayed portion relative to the entire data file. In addition, maps of significant task-specific attributes of the data file, for example particular character strings within a document, are displayed in the scroll bar field of the display along with the scroll bar. The attribute maps indicate the location of the significant attributes within the data file. In addition, the attributes are highlighted within the portion of the data file that is displayed in the window.

Abstract: An attribute-enhanced scroll bar is graphically displayed. A selected portion of a stored data file, for example a document, is displayed in a display field, and a scroll bar field including a scroll bar is used to indicate the position of the displayed portion relative to the entire data file. In addition, maps of significant task-specific attributes of the data file, for example particular character strings within a document, are displayed in the scroll bar field of the display along with the scroll bar. The attribute maps indicate the location of the significant attributes within the data file. In addition, the attributes are highlighted within the portion of the data file that is displayed in the display field.