Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090112374 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR POWER PLANT BLOCK LOADING - Block loading may occur during the process of restoring an electrical grid after a blackout. A method and system for coordinating the loading of a combined cycle power plant to support block loading is provided. The power plant may include a gas turbine and a steam turbine. The method and system may provide load control loops, for the gas and steam turbine, which support block loading. | 04-30-2009 |
20090271168 | Systems and Methods for Stimulating Engineering Projects - Methods and systems for simulating engineering projects are disclosed. A plurality of networked processing devices operable to execute respective software components are provided, wherein the respective software components facilitate the simulation of respective components of the engineering project. A respective memory is associated with each of the plurality of networked processing devices. Each of the respective memories is operable to store simulation data associated with the engineering project that is shared among a plurality of the respective memories. A simulation of the engineering project is initiated by initiating the execution of the respective software components by the plurality of networked processing devices. The simulation is managed based at least in part on synchronizing the execution of the respective software components and updating at least a portion of the shared simulation data stored in the respective memories. | 10-29-2009 |
20090271169 | Training Simulators for Engineering Projects - Methods and systems for providing a training simulator for an engineering project are disclosed. A simulator operable to simulate the engineering project is provided. The simulator includes at least one component operable to simulate a control system that controls one or more operations associated with the engineering project. A training simulator component is incorporated into the simulator. The training simulator component is operable to facilitate the training of personnel on suitable operation of the engineering project. | 10-29-2009 |
20100100248 | Methods and Systems for Neural Network Modeling of Turbine Components - Embodiments of the invention can include methods and systems for controlling clearances in a turbine. In one embodiment, a method can include applying at least one operating parameter as an input to at least one neural network model, modeling via the neural network model a thermal expansion of at least one turbine component, and taking a control action based at least in part on the modeled thermal expansion of the one or more turbine components. An example system can include a controller operable to determine and apply the operating parameters as inputs to the neural network model, model thermal expansion via the neural network model, and generate a control action based at least in part on the modeled thermal expansion. | 04-22-2010 |
20100139392 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING LIQUID LEVEL IN A VESSEL - A level control system for controlling a liquid level in a vessel containing a two-phase fluid includes a plurality of sensors configured to measure parameters related to the vessel. The parameters include liquid level in the vessel, vapor flow rate leaving the vessel, pressure in the vessel, temperature of the vessel, and feed-liquid flow rate entering the vessel indicative of a state of the vessel. A predictive controller is configured to receive output signals from the plurality of sensors and predict a volume of liquid over a predetermined time period in the vessel based on output signals from the plurality of sensors and a variation in pressure, thermal load, or combinations thereof in the vessel. The controller is configured to generate a liquid level set point of the vessel based on the predicted volume of liquid in the vessel; and further control a liquid level in the vessel based on the generated liquid level set point by manipulating one or more control elements coupled to the vessel. | 06-10-2010 |
20100236241 | SINGLE LOOP ATTEMPERATION CONTROL - A heat recovery steam generation system is provided. The heat recovery steam generation system includes at least one superheater in a steam path for receiving a steam flow and configured to produce a superheated steam flow. The system also includes an inter-stage attemperator for injecting an attemperation fluid into the steam path. The system further includes a control valve coupled to the inter-stage attemperator. The control valve is configured to control flow of attemperation fluid to the inter stage attemperator. The system also includes a controller coupled to the control valve and the inter-stage attemperator. The controller further includes a feedforward controller and a trimming feedback controller. The feedforward controller is configured to determine a desired amount of flow of the attemperation fluid and the trimming feedback controller is configured to compensate for inaccuracies in the determined amount of flow of the attemperation fluid to determine a net desired amount of flow of attemperation fluid through the control valve into an inlet of the inter-stage attemperator based upon an outlet temperature of steam from the superheater. The controller also determines a control valve demand based upon the flow to valve characteristics. The controller further manipulates the control valve of the inter-stage attemperator, and injects the desired amount of attemeration flow via the inter-stage attemperator to perform attemperation upstream of an inlet into the superheater. | 09-23-2010 |
20110048119 | MECHANICAL DRIVE TRAIN FOR TESTING FULL SCALE COMPRESSOR RIGS AND GAS TURBINES - A mechanical drive train for testing a full scale compressor rig is disclosed. The drive train can include an electric motor, a gear box, and a gas turbine. The compressor rig is coupled to the drive train between the gear box and gas turbine. The drive train can further include a torque converter for transferring torque from the electric motor to the compressor rig. The drive train is configured to test a full scale compressor rig over the entire speed and load operating range, allowing for full compressor mapping from choke to stall at full load, part load (power turn down) and partial speed conditions. The drive train can also be used to test a compressor rig or gas turbine over the full range of operability for the compressor rig or gas turbine without having to connect the gas turbine to the power grid at the power generation site. | 03-03-2011 |
20120225750 | TURBINE DRIVE-TRAIN APPARATUS - An apparatus configured to increase the operational range of a turbine is disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes: a turbine coupled to a driveshaft; a drive-train coupled to the driveshaft; a first torque convertor coupled to the drive-train, the first torque convertor being configured to deliver an operational torque to the drive-train; a second torque convertor coupled to the first torque convertor, the second torque convertor being configured to deliver a torque to the first torque convertor; a first motor coupled to the second torque convertor, the first motor being configured to deliver a power input to the second torque convertor; and a control system operably connected to at least one of the first torque convertor and the second torque convertor, the control system configured to monitor and adjust a speed of the drive-train by controlling at least one of the operational torque provided by the first torque converter and the torque provided by the second torque converter. | 09-06-2012 |
20120259528 | CONTROL OF COMPRESSION SYSTEM WITH INDEPENDENTLY ACTUATED INLET GUIDE AND/OR STATOR VANES - A compression system includes a compressor with adjustable inlet guide vanes (IGVs) and variable stator vanes (VSVs) that are adjustable independently of each other. IGV and VSV control units produce respective IGV and VSV reference commands responsive to respective first and second inputs that may be responsive to measured properties of the compression system. The second input may be provided by a model of the compressor or of the compression system responsive to measured properties. The second input may particularly be an estimate of a property not directly observable, such as stall margin or efficiency. | 10-11-2012 |
20130061601 | CONTROL APPARATUS FOR ANGLING GUIDE VANES OF A TORQUE CONVERTER - A control apparatus for angling guide vanes of a torque converter is provided and includes a modeling unit configured to receive current condition data, to determine a current input power supplied by a starting motor from the current condition data and to output a result of the determination as a control signal and a controller, which is coupled to the modeling unit and thereby receptive of the control signal. The controller is configured to execute a comparison of the current input power with a rating of the starting motor and to angle the guide vanes of the torque converter at an angle in accordance with a result of the comparison. | 03-14-2013 |
20140123624 | GAS TURBINE COMBUSTOR CONTROL SYSTEM - In one embodiment, a gas turbine system includes a controller configured to receive fuel composition information related to a fuel used for combustion in a turbine combustor; receive oxidant composition information related to an oxidant used for combustion in the turbine combustor; receive oxidant flow information related to a flow of the oxidant to the turbine combustor; determine a stoichiometric fuel-to-oxidant ratio based at least on the fuel composition information and the oxidant composition information; and generate a control signal for input to a fuel flow control system configured to control a flow of the fuel to the turbine combustor based on the oxidant flow information, a target equivalence ratio, and the stoichiometric fuel-to-oxidant ratio to enable combustion at the target equivalence ratio in the presence of an exhaust diluent within the turbine combustor. | 05-08-2014 |
20140182298 | STOICHIOMETRIC COMBUSTION CONTROL FOR GAS TURBINE SYSTEM WITH EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION - In one embodiment, a system includes at least one sensor configured to communicate a signal representative of a gas turbine operations. The system further includes a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor. The system additionally includes a stoichiometric model configured to receive one or more inputs representative of the gas turbine operations and a measured equivalence ratio, wherein the controller is configured to transform the signal into the one or more inputs and to use the stoichiometric model to derive an actuation signal based on a target equivalence ratio. | 07-03-2014 |
20150033749 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING COMBUSTION AND EMISSIONS IN GAS TURBINE ENGINE WITH EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION - In one embodiment, a system includes a turbine combustor having a combustor liner disposed about a combustion chamber, a head end upstream of the combustion chamber relative to a downstream direction of a flow of combustion gases through the combustion chamber, a flow sleeve disposed at an offset about the combustor liner to define a passage, and a barrier within the passage. The head end is configured to direct an oxidant flow and a first fuel flow toward the combustion chamber. The passage is configured to direct a gas flow toward the head end and to direct a portion of the oxidant flow toward a turbine end of the turbine combustor. The gas flow includes a substantially inert gas. The barrier is configured to block the portion of the oxidant flow toward the turbine end and to block the gas flow toward the head end within the passage. | 02-05-2015 |