SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ADAPTIVE POSSIBLE POWER DETERMINATON IN POWER GENERATING SYSTEMS

• US 20130096856A1
• Filed: 10/12/2011
• Published: 04/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology, LLC (GE Vernova, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Caffrey, Paul Oliver, Galbraith, Anthony William, Rackmales, James David, Kuruvilla, Kuruvilla Pallathusseril
• Granted Patent: US 9,160,172 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/61
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/048 using a predictor
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/20 The dispersed energy generation being of renewable origin
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/24 of photovoltaic origin
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/28 The renewable source being wind energy
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/76 Power conversion electric or electronic aspects

Abstract

A system for determining the output capacity of a power generating system including a sensor that monitors at least one condition of the power generating system and outputs the monitored condition data, and a power capability determination device that dynamically determines a full capacity of the power generating system based upon the outputted environmental data from the electronic controller.

Claims

1. A system for determining the output capacity of a power generating system, comprising:

a sensor configured to monitor at least one condition of the power generating system and output the monitored condition data; and

a power capability determination device configured to receive the outputted monitored condition data and dynamically determine a full capacity of the power generating system based upon the received monitored condition data.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said power capability determination device is configured to apply a correction factor to the determined full capacity for non-measured data.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein the non-measured data comprises at least one of power generation module soiling data and power generation module degradation data.

4. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a power measuring device in communication with the power generating system, said power measuring device configured to determine an instantaneous power output level of the power generating system.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein the power capability determination device comprises:

a theoretical performance module configured to output a theoretical full capacity of the power generating system; and

an adaptive learning module configured to determine performance metrics based upon the instantaneous power values accumulated over a time period and output a correction factor configured to adjust the theoretical full capacity based upon the performance metrics.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein said adaptive learning module is selectably activated and resettable.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein said adaptive learning module is configured to be reset after completion of a maintenance operation.

8. A method for determining an output capacity of a power generating system, said method comprising:

monitoring at least one condition of the power generating system and outputting the monitored condition data to a power capability determination device; and

determining, by the power capability determination device, a full capacity of the power generating system based upon the monitored condition data.

9. A method according to claim 8, further comprising applying a correction factor based on non-measured data to said determined full capacity.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the non-measured data comprises power generation module soiling data and/or power generation module degradation data.

11. A method according to claim 8, further comprising measuring an instantaneous power output level of the power generating system.

12. A method according to claim 11, further comprising:

determining a theoretical performance of the power generating system;

accumulating the instantaneous power values over a time period;

determining performance metrics based upon the instantaneous power values accumulated over the time period, and

applying a correction factor that adjusts the theoretical performance based upon the performance metrics.

13. A method according to claim 12, further comprising selectively determining the performance metrics for a time during which the power generating system is operating without an equipment malfunction.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program comprising computer instructions for performing a method for determining the output capacity of a power generating system, said method comprising:

monitoring at least one condition of the power generating system and outputting the monitored condition data; and

determining a full capacity of the power generating system based upon the outputted monitored condition data.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 14, said method further comprising applying a correction factor based on non-measured data to the determined full capacity.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 15, wherein the non-measured data comprises power generation module soiling data and/or power generation module degradation data.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 14, said method further comprising measuring an instantaneous power output level of the power generating system and comparing the full capacity of the power generating system and the instantaneous power of the power generating system.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 14, said method further comprising:

measuring an instantaneous power output level of the power generating system;

determining a theoretical performance of the power generating system;

accumulating instantaneous power values over a time period;

determining performance metrics based upon the instantaneous power values accumulated over the time period, and

applying a correction factor that adjusts the theoretical full capacity based upon the performance metrics.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 18, said method further comprising selectively determining the performance metrics for a time during which the power generating system is operating without an equipment malfunction.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 18, said method further comprising storing the monitored condition data and full capacity data in a data storage device.