Method and apparatus for optimizing performance of a kaplan turbine
First Claim
1. A method for optimizing performance of a Kaplan turbine power generating unit, the unit including wicket gates movable to desired positions and runner blades movable to desired tilt positions, the runner blades being coupled through a drive shaft to an electrical power generator, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) monitoring a set of operating parameter levels including desired power generation level, flow rate through the unit, head across the unit and at least one other operating parameter capable of affecting efficiency of the turbine unit;
(b) comparing the monitored levels to reference levels of the same parameters;
(c) based upon a predetermined relationship between the reference levels and the monitored levels, identifying whether an optimization search should be performed for gate and blade position settings for the set of operating parameter levels;
(d) when the decision in step (c) is affirmative, performing a search identifying optimal gate and blade positions for the set of operating parameter levels;
(e) storing the optimal gate and blade positions identified by the set of operating parameters in an N-dimensional optimal virtual cam matrix reference, where N is the number of operating parameters in the set of operating parameters; and
(f) maintaining the gates and blades in positions identified by the matrix reference.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for optimizing performance of a Kaplan turbine power generating unit are provided wherein an optimal "N-dimensional" virtual cam is populated with gate and blade positional settings producing maximum power output for a set of N operating parameters. The preferred parameters include head, flow, power generation level, physical situation of the unit, operating state of neighboring units, trash rack loss and a parameter indicative of cavitation (such as relative submersion level). When the system detects a unique set of operating conditions for which optimization is needed, an iterative optimization search is performed for the best gate and blade positional settings, which are then saved in memory (populating the cam matrix) for subsequent use when the same operating conditions are encountered. The optimal matrix divides parameters having ranges into range segments and treats other parameters as having discrete states. The optimization search is preferably performed while maintaining flow constant, and a flow characteristic search is performed to determine candidate gate and blade settings resulting in constant flow.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method for optimizing performance of a Kaplan turbine power generating unit, the unit including wicket gates movable to desired positions and runner blades movable to desired tilt positions, the runner blades being coupled through a drive shaft to an electrical power generator, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) monitoring a set of operating parameter levels including desired power generation level, flow rate through the unit, head across the unit and at least one other operating parameter capable of affecting efficiency of the turbine unit; (b) comparing the monitored levels to reference levels of the same parameters; (c) based upon a predetermined relationship between the reference levels and the monitored levels, identifying whether an optimization search should be performed for gate and blade position settings for the set of operating parameter levels; (d) when the decision in step (c) is affirmative, performing a search identifying optimal gate and blade positions for the set of operating parameter levels; (e) storing the optimal gate and blade positions identified by the set of operating parameters in an N-dimensional optimal virtual cam matrix reference, where N is the number of operating parameters in the set of operating parameters; and (f) maintaining the gates and blades in positions identified by the matrix reference. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for optimizing performance of a Kaplan turbine power generating unit, the unit including wicket gates movable to desired positions and runner blades movable to desired tilt positions, the runner blades being coupled through a drive shaft to an electrical power generator, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) monitoring a set of operating parameter levels including desired power generation level, flow rate through the unit, head across the unit and at least one other operating parameter capable of affecting efficiency of the turbine unit; (b) comparing the monitored levels to reference levels of the same parameters to identify a location of the set of operating parameters in an N-dimensional optimal virtual cam matrix, where N is the number of operating parameters in the set of operating parameters, locations in the matrix identifying desired gate and blade positions for the set of operating parameters; and (c) maintaining the gates and blades in positions identified by the location of the set of operating parameters in the matrix. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for optimizing performance of a Kaplan turbine power generating unit, the unit including wicket gates movable to desired positions and runner blades movable to desired tilt positions, the runner blades being coupled through a drive shaft to an electrical power generator, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) monitoring a set of operating parameter levels including at least desired power generation level, flow rate through the unit, and head across the unit; (b) comparing the monitored levels to reference levels of the same parameters; (c) based upon a predetermined relationship between the reference levels and the monitored levels, identifying whether an optimization search should be performed for optimal gate and blade position settings for the set of operating parameter levels; (d) when the decision in step (c) is affirmative, performing a flow characteristic search to identify gate and blade positions resulting in substantially constant flow rate through the unit and performing a search identifying optimal gate and blade positions for the set of operating parameter levels, while maintaining flow rate through the unit substantially constant; (e) storing the optimal gate and blade positions identified by the set of operating parameters in an N-dimensional optimal virtual cam matrix reference, where N is the number of operating parameters in the set of operating parameters; and (f) maintaining the gates and blades in positions identified by the matrix reference. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for optimizing performance of a Kaplan turbine power generating unit, the unit including wicket gates movable to desired positions and runner blades movable to desired tilt positions, the runner blades being coupled through a drive shaft to an electrical power generator, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) monitoring a set of operating parameter levels including at least desired power generation level, flow rate through the unit, and head across the unit; (b) comparing the monitored levels to reference levels of the same parameters; (c) based upon a predetermined relationship between the reference levels and the monitored levels, identifying whether an optimization search should be performed for optimal gate and blade position settings for the set of operating parameter levels; (d) when the decision in step (c) is affirmative, performing a flow characteristic search, the flow characteristic search including the steps of monitoring a parameter indicative of flow rate and varying gate and blade positions to identify the influence of gate and blade positions on the parameter indicative of flow rate; (e) performing a search identifying optimal gate and blade positions for the set of operating parameter levels, while maintaining flow rate through the unit substantially constant based upon results of the flow characteristic search of step (d); (f) storing the optimal gate and blade positions identified by the set of operating parameters in an N-dimensional optimal virtual cam matrix reference, where N is the number of operating parameters in the set of operating parameters; and (g) maintaining the gates and blades in positions identified by the matrix reference. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A system for optimizing performance of a Kaplan turbine power generating installation including wicket gates movable to desired positions and runner blades movable to desired tilt positions, the runner blades being coupled through a drive shaft to an electrical power generator, the system comprising:
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sensors disposed in the installation for detecting a set of operating parameters including power generation level, flow rate through the unit, head across the unit and at least one other operating parameter capable of affecting efficiency of the turbine unit, the sensors generating sensed parameter signals representative of the operating parameters; a memory circuit storing reference levels of the operating parameters; a comparison circuit coupled to the sensors and to the memory circuit, the comparison circuit comparing the sensed parameter signals to the reference levels; and an optimization circuit coupled to the comparison circuit and to the memory circuit, the optimization circuit executing an optimization search based upon a predetermined relationship between the sensed parameter signals and the reference levels to identify optimal gate and blade positions for the sensed operating parameters and updating the reference levels stored in the memory circuit with the identified optimal gate and blade positions; wherein the memory circuit stores an N-dimensional virtual optimal cam matrix reference, where N is the number of operating parameters in the set of operating parameters. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification