Remote tuning for gas turbines

• US 6,839,613 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2001
• Issued: 01/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Mattison, Scott Campbell, McCarthy, John Patrick, Grant, Milton Lewiston III, Russo, Victor Franz, Butterfield, Eric Gardner, Williams, George Edward, Shapiro, Andrew Philip
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kasenge, Charles R
• Application Number:
  US09/906,001
• Publication Number:
  US 20030018394A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,267 Days
• Field of Search: 700/287, 700/288, 700/286, 700/290, 60/392.7, 60/392.81, 607/25, 607/73, 431/114
• US Class Current: 700/287
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 9/00 Controlling gas-turbine plants; Controlling fuel supply in air- breathing jet-propulsion plants controlling air intakes F02C7/057; controlling turbines F01D; controlling compressors F04D27/00; controlling in general G05
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2270/07 to improve fuel economy
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2270/08 to produce clean exhaust gases
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/024 in which a parameter or coefficient is automatically adjusted to optimise the performance
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric

Abstract

A system and method for tuning a turbine comprises a turbine controller coupled to the turbine, a first computer system coupled to the turbine controller and located locally to the turbine, and a second computer system for exchanging data with the first computer system. The second computer system is located remotely from the turbine and exchanges data with the first computer system via a network connection such as the internet, an intranet or a virtual private network (VPN). Data relating to a characteristic such as turbine combustion dynamics and/or emissions is transmitted by the first computer system to the second computer system. The second computer system transmits control data over the network connection to the first computer to tune the turbine.

Claims

1. A system for tuning a gas turbine comprising:

a turbine controller operatively coupled to the gas turbine;

a first computer system operatively coupled to the turbine controller and located locally to the gas turbine; and

a second computer system for exchanging data with the first computer system, the second computer system being located remotely from the gas turbine;

wherein the first computer system is capable of transmitting data relating to combustion dynamics and/or emissions of the gas turbine to the second computer system, and the second computer system is capable of receiving user input in response to the data transmitted from the first computer system and transmitting control data reflecting the received user input to the first computer system to enable the turbine controller to tune fuel split settings of the gas turbine.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the first computer system and the second computer system exchange data over a network connection.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the network connection comprises an intranet, an internet or a virtual private network.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the first computer system comprises an on-site monitor and the second computer system comprises a local area network having a workstation, the first computer system being capable of exchanging data with the workstation via the on-site monitor.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the on-site monitor exchanges data with the turbine controller using a first protocol and the on-site monitor exchanges data with the second computer system using a second protocol different than the first protocol.

6. A method of tuning a gas turbine comprising:

providing a turbine controller that is operatively coupled to the gas turbine;

operatively coupling a first computer system to the turbine controller and locating the first computer system locally to the turbine;

transmitting data relating to combustion dynamics and/or emissions of the gas turbine from the first computer system to a second computer system that is located remotely from the gas turbine;

transmitting control data from the second computer system to the first computer system, the control data reflecting user input to the second computer system; and

processing the control data received by the first computer system to enable the turbine controller to tune fuel split settings of the gas turbine.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein exchanging data between the first computer system and the second computer system is accomplished over a network connection.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the network connection comprises an intranet, an internet or a virtual private network.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the first computer system exchanges data with the turbine controller using a first protocol and exchanges data with the second computer system using a second protocol different than the first protocol.

10. A system comprising:

a first gas turbine;

a first turbine controller operatively coupled to the first gas turbine; and

a first computer system operatively coupled to the first turbine controller for transmitting data relating to combustion dynamics and/or emissions of the first gas turbine to a remote location over a network connection, and processing control data received over the network connection in response to the transmitted data relating to the combustion dynamics and/or emissions of the first gas turbine and processing the control data to enable the first turbine controller to tune fuel split settings of the first gas turbine.

11. The system of claim 10 further comprising a second computer system located at the remote location from the gas turbine for receiving data transmitted from the first computer system over the network connection.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the network connection comprises an intranet, an internet or a virtual private network.

13. The system of claim 10 further comprising a second gas turbine and a second turbine controller operatively coupled to the second gas turbine and to the first computer system.

14. A method of tuning at least one gas turbine utilizing a first computer system comprising:

providing a first gas turbine;

operatively coupling a first turbine controller to the first turbine;

transmitting data relating to combustion dynamics and/or emissions of the first gas turbine to a location remote from the first turbine over a network connection;

receiving control data over the network connection in response to the transmitted data relating to the combustion dynamics and/or emissions of the gas turbine; and

processing the received control data to enable the first gas turbine controller to tune fuel split settings of the first gas turbine.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein transmitting the data to the location remote from the first gas turbine comprises transmitting the data to a second computer system located remotely from the first gas turbine.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving the transmitted data relating to combustion dynamics and/or emissions of the first gas turbine at the second computer system;

evaluating the processed data to determine any changes that need to be made to an operation of the first gas turbine;

communicating any necessary changes to a person located on-site of the first gas turbine; and

changing a setting of the first gas turbine in accordance with the necessary changes communicated to the person on-site of the first gas turbine.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein transmitting the data over the network connection comprises transmitting data over one of an intranet, an internet and a virtual private network.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

providing a second gas turbine;

operatively coupling a second turbine controller to the second gas turbine; and

transmitting data relating to combustion dynamics and/or emissions of the second gas turbine to the location remote from the first gas turbine over the network connection, the location remote from the first gas turbine also being remote from the second gas turbine.

19. A system comprising:

a first gas turbine;

a first turbine controller operatively coupled to the first gas turbine;

a first computer system operatively coupled to the first turbine controller and located locally to the first gas turbine;

a second gas turbine;

a second turbine controller operatively coupled to the second gas turbine;

a second computer system operatively coupled to the second turbine controller and located locally to the second gas turbine;

a third computer system for exchanging data with the first computer system and the second computer system, the third computer system being located remotely from the first and second gas turbines;

wherein the first computer system transmits data relating to combustion dynamics and/or emissions of the first gas turbine to the third computer system and the second computer system transmits data relating to combustion dynamics and/or emissions of the second gas turbine to the third computer system; and

the third computer system receives user input and transmits control data to the first computer system and the second computer system corresponding to the received user input, and the first computer system processes the control, data to enable the first turbine controller to tune fuel split settings of the first gas turbine and the second computer system processes the control data to enable the second turbine controller to tune fuel split settings of the second gas turbine.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the first and second gas turbines are located remotely from each other.

21. The system of claim 19 wherein the third computer system exchanges data with the first computer system and the second computer system via a network connection.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the network connection comprises an intranet, an internet or a virtual private network.