Control method and apparatus for a turbine generator

• US 5,321,308 A
• Filed: 07/14/1993
• Issued: 06/14/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tri/West Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Tri/West Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Johncock, Allan W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellinen, A. D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOOVER, ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US08/091,769
• Time in Patent Office: 335 Days
• Field of Search: 290/40 R, 290/40 C, 290/52, 310/68 C, 361/24, 322/34
• US Class Current: 290/40.00C
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/30 using semiconductor devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 174/15 in a power generation system, e.g. prime-mover dynamo, generator system

Abstract

A control method and apparatus for a gas turbine generator is disclosed having multiple modes of operation dependent on generator output components including real power generated, reactive power generated, and power factor. The apparatus provides for selecting a high priority output component, a low priority output component, and a variable output component. Depending on the priority selected, stator temperature is controlled with either a var limiter controller or a MW limiter controller. Rotor temperature is controlled by limiting excitation current substantially independently of priority selection. Setpoint selection may be variable and includes desired MW, MVAR'"'"'s, and Power factor. This invention allows control of the generator to produce the maximum MVAR'"'"'s the generator is capable of producing while at the same time utilizing the remainder of the gas turbine output capability for MW generation.

Claims

1. A control apparatus for a turbine generator, comprising:

priority selection means for selecting a high priority output component, a low priority output component, and a variable output component from output components including real power generated, power factor, and reactive power generated;

setpoint selection means for selecting a setpoint for said high priority component and said low priority component;

a generator rotor for producing a rotating magnetic field;

a field current controller for regulating field current in said generator rotor; and

turbine control means for controlling turbine horsepower, said turbine control means being responsive to said setpoint selection means and said priority selection means with respect to said real power generated output component.

2. The control apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

stator temperature means for measuring stator temperature,

reactive output limiter means responsive to said stator temperature for limiting reactive power output by altering field current with respect to said field current controller,

said turbine control means being responsive to said stator temperature for limiting real power output by reducing turbine power, and

means for disabling said reactive output limiter means responsive to said priority selection means.

3. The control apparatus of claim further comprising:

rotor temperature limiting means responsive to the temperature of said generator rotor, said rotor temperature limiting means restricting said field current controller operation by limiting field current when said temperature of said generator rotor reaches a rotor temperature limit.

4. The control apparatus of claim further comprising:

a reactive output controller for altering field current from said field current controller, said reactive output controller being responsive to said priority selection means and said setpoint selection means.

5. The control apparatus of claim 4, wherein:

said reactive output controller is responsive to said priority selection means and said setpoint selection means for said power factor output component and said reactive power output component.

6. The control apparatus of claim 5, further comprising:

stator temperature means for measuring stator temperature,

lagging reactive power limiter means responsive to said stator temperature means, and

a leading reactive power limiter means responsive to said stator temperature means, said leading and lagging reactive power limiter means restricting operation of said reactive output controller.

7. A control method for a turbine generator comprising the following steps:

selecting an operation mode for said turbine generator, said operation mode having a high priority output component, a low priority output component, and a variable output component selected from output components including real power generated, power factor, and reactive power generated;

selecting an output setpoint for said high priority output component and said low priority output component;

said high priority and low priority output components for producing said high priority and said low priority output setpoints while allowing said variable output component to vary;

determining if said high priority output setpoint and said low priority output setpoint are within the capability of said turbine generator;

varying said low priority output component to produce said high priority output setpoint when said high priority setpoint and said low priority output setpoint are not within the capability of said turbine generator;

determining if said high priority output setpoint is within the capability of said turbine generator; and

varying said high priority output component when said high priority output setpoint is not within the capability of said turbine generator.

8. The control method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining stator temperature,

ascertaining if stator temperature is within the capability of said turbine generator, and

reducing stator temperature when stator temperature is not within the capability of said turbine generator by selecting either a decrease in turbine horsepower output or a change in field current, said selection of either a decrease in turbine horsepower output or a change in field current being dependent on said operation mode.

9. The control method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining rotor temperature,

ascertaining if rotor temperature is within the capability of said turbine generator, and

overriding said operation mode by varying the magnitude of field current when said determined rotor temperature is not within the capability of said turbine generator.

10. The control method of claim 9, further comprising:

measuring rotor voltage,

measuring rotor current, and

calculating rotor temperature from said measured rotor voltage and said measured rotor current.

11. The control method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining turbine firing temperature, and

comparing said determined turbine firing temperature with a maximum firing temperature limit.

12. The control method of claim 7, further comprising:

selecting real power generated as said low priority output component,

measuring stator temperature,

determining if said stator temperature is within the capability of said turbine generator, and

reducing real power generated when said stator temperature is not within the capability of said turbine generator responsive to said step of selecting real power as said low priority output component.

13. The control method of claim 7, further comprising:

measuring megawatts generated,

selecting a desired power factor setting,

calculating reactive power generated utilizing said desired power factor and said measured megawatts generated.

14. The control method of claim 7, further comprising:

selecting real power generated as said high priority output component,

measuring stator temperature,

determining if said measured stator temperature is within the capability of said turbine generator,

selecting to vary field current to limit the magnitude of reactive power generated responsive to said step of selecting real power generated as said high priority output component when said measured stator temperature is outside the capability of said turbine generator.

15. The control method of claim 7, further comprising,

selecting real power generated as said high priority output component,

measuring stator temperature,

determining if said measured stator temperature is within the capability of said turbine generator,

varying field current to reduce the magnitude of reactive power generated as necessary up to a limit of approximately zero when said measured stator temperature is outside the capability of said turbine generator, and

after said step of varying field current has reduced the magnitude of said reactive power generated to a limit of approximately zero then limiting the magnitude of said real power generated when said measured stator temperature is outside the capability of said turbine generator.

16. The control method of claim 7, further comprising:

measuring stator temperature, and

comparing said measured stator temperature with a stator limit temperature to determine if said low or high priority output setpoint is within the capability of said turbine generator.

17. The control method of claim 16, further comprising:

taking the maximum temperature from a plurality of stator temperature sensors for said measured stator temperature.

18. A control method for a turbine generator, comprising the following steps:

selecting real power generated as a high priority output component for said turbine generator;

selecting reactive power generated as a low priority output component for said turbine generator;

selecting power factor as a variable output component for said turbine generator;

selecting a real power generated setpoint and a reactive power generated setpoint;

controlling said real power generated and said reactive power generated while allowing said power factor to vary for producing said real power generated setpoint and said reactive power generated setpoint;

determining if said real power generated setpoint and said reactive power generated setpoint are within the capability of said turbine generator;

reducing the magnitude of said reactive power generated when said real power generated and said reactive power generated are not within the capability of said turbine generator.

19. The control method of claim 18, further comprising:

setting the real power generated setpoint so the turbine will produce the maximum real power up to the turbine firing temperature limit.

20. The control method of claim 19, further comprising:

determining rotor temperature,

ascertaining if rotor temperature is within the capability of said turbine generator, and

overriding said reactive power output setpoint by varying the magnitude of field current when said determined rotor temperature is not within the capability of said turbine generator.

21. A control method for a turbine generator, comprising the following steps:

selecting real power generated as a high priority output component for said turbine generator;

producing maximum megawatt output for said real power generated up to the turbine firing temperature limit;

selecting reactive power generated as a low priority output component; and

controlling excitation to produce maximum MVAR output up to generator capacity while still producing said maximum megawatt output up to the turbine firing temperature limit.

22. The control method of claim 21, wherein:

said step of controlling excitation includes varying excitation to reduce stator temperature below a stator temperature limit.

23. The control method of claim 21, wherein:

said step of controlling excitation includes varying excitation to reduce rotor temperature below a rotor temperature limit.