CONTROL OF COMBINED CYCLE POWER GENERATION SYSTEM

• US 20090292436A1
• Filed: 05/21/2008
• Published: 11/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gambro Lundia AB (Baxter International Inc.), GE Infrastructure Technology, LLC (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Long, Christopher Eugene, Baker, Dean Alexander, Kirchhof, Darrin Glen, Holzhauer, Daniel Francis, D'Amato, Fernando Javier, Chandra, Ramu Sharat
• Granted Patent: US 8,352,148 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/100
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/048 using a predictor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 20/16 Combined cycle power plant [CCPP], or combined cycle gas turbine [CCGT]

Abstract

A control system for a combined cycle power generation system including a gas turbine engine (GT), a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG), and a steam turbine (ST) includes a display wherein an operator may observe information about predicted operating parameters; a user interface wherein an operator may provide additional operating constraints; and a controller configured to generate input profiles of the GT, the HRSG, and the ST that satisfy the nominal constraints and any additional constraints and to generate the information about the predicted operating parameters. The controller may be configured to detect a stage transition of power generation system operation and update the input profiles. The controller may be configured to generate alternative operating scenarios by mapping alternative control actions to an operating constraint of at least one of the system components.

Claims

1. A control system for a combined cycle power generation system comprising a gas turbine engine (GT), a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG), and a steam turbine (ST), the combined cycle power generation system having nominal operating constraints, the control system comprising:

a display wherein an operator may observe information about predicted operating parameters of the power generation system;

a user interface wherein an operator may provide additional operating constraints of the power generation system;

a controller configured (a) to receive input corresponding to any additional operating constraints and to obtain component operating parameters of the power generation system, (b) to generate input profiles of the GT, the HRSG, and the ST that satisfy the nominal constraints and any additional constraints, and (c) to generate the information about the predicted operating parameters of the power generation system.

2. The control system of claim 1 wherein the controller is further configured, while generating the input profiles, to optimize at least one power generation system operating parameter.

3. The control system of claim 1 wherein the predicted operating parameter comprises a predicted GT load, a rotor stress values of the ST, a GT exhaust temperature, a partial start up time, a total start up time, an emissions production, fuel consumption, an expense, ambient temperature, available steam, a component temperature, a component pressure, or a combination thereof.

4. The control system of claim 1 wherein the GT comprises a plurality of GTs, the HRSG comprises a plurality of HRSGs, and the controller is configured to generate input profiles for each of the GTs and the HRSGs.

5. The control system of claim 4 wherein the user interface is configured so that an operator may provide commands regarding a number of GTs to start, an order of starting the GTs, blending types of HRSGs to the ST, load levels for blending of the GTs, or a combination thereof.

6. The control system of claim 5 wherein the user interface is configured so that an operator may provide commands regarding a performance requirement, and wherein the controller is configured to receive the performance requirement and use the performance requirement when generating the input profiles.

7. The control system of claim 6 wherein the performance requirement comprises an emissions production, fuel consumption, a net heat rate, a GT load, a rotor stress value of the ST, a GT exhaust temperature, a partial start up time, a total start up time, available steam, an expense, a component temperature, a component pressure, or a combination thereof.

8. The control system of claim 4 wherein the controller is configured to generate information regarding alternative scenarios and the display is configured to show the information regarding the alternative scenarios.

9. The control system of claim 4 wherein the predicted operating parameter comprises a time to reach a blending point, a time to complete a blending, a time to reach a desired load, an isotherm condition, or a combination thereof.

10. The control system of claim 4 wherein the controller is configured to detect a stage transition of power generation system operation and use information regarding the stage transition when generating the input profiles.

11. A control system for a combined cycle power generation system comprising gas turbines (GTs), heat recovery steam generators (HRSGs), and a steam turbine (ST), the system comprising:

a user interface wherein an operator may provide commands regarding a number of GTs to start, an order of starting the GTs, blending types of HRSGs to the ST, or a combination thereof;

a model for the GTs, the HRSGs, and the ST configured to represent dynamics and constraints using a plurality of parameters;

an optimizer configured to receive input corresponding to the parameters and to generate input profiles of the GTs, the HRSGs and the ST that satisfy the constraints and optimize at least one power generation system operating parameter,

wherein the optimizer is further configured to detect a stage transition of power generation system operation and update the input profiles.

12. The control system of claim 11 wherein a stage transition comprises a connecting or a disconnecting of an HRSG to the ST.

13. The control system of claim 12 wherein the user interface is configured so that an operator may provide commands regarding a performance requirement, and wherein the controller is configured to receive the performance requirement and use the performance requirement when generating the input profiles.

14. A control system for a combined cycle power generation system comprising gas turbines (GTs), heat recovery steam generators (HRSGs), and a steam turbine (ST), the control system comprising:

a controller configured

(a) to obtain component parameters of the power generation system,

(b) to generate input profiles of the GTs, the HRSGs, and the ST, and

(c) to generate alternative operating scenarios by mapping alternative control actions to an operating constraint of at least one of the GTs, at least one of the HRSGs, the ST, or a combination of any of the foregoing.

15. The control system of claim 14 wherein the alternative control actions include actions relating to HRSG blending.

16. The control system of claim 14 wherein the alternative control actions include actions relating to GT loading across an isotherm.

17. The control system of claim 14 wherein the controller is configured to

simulate the alternative control actions,

predict effects of the multiple alternative control actions on the operating constraint;

and

discriminate which of the multiple alternative control actions would and would not violate the operating constraint.

18. The control system of claim 17 wherein the controller is further configured to rank the alternative control actions.

19. The control system of claim 17 further comprising a display configured to display the alternative operating scenarios of the power generation system and the predicted effects of the alternative control actions.

20. The control system of claim 19 further comprising a user interface wherein an operator may provide a command regarding a number of GTs to start, an order of starting the GTs, blending types of HRSGs to the ST, or combinations thereof, and wherein the controller is configured to use the command to generate the input profiles.

21. The control system of claim 19 wherein the controller is further configured to determine a recommended control action, a not-recommended control action, or a combination thereof and wherein the display is configured to display the recommended control action, the not-recommended control action, or the combination thereof.

22. The control system of claim 19 wherein the controller is configured to prevent any initiation of an operator command that would violate the operating constraints.