Method and system for analyzing performance of a turbine

• US 7,275,025 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2000
• Issued: 09/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Chan, Jeffrey, Sharma, Suresh, Reinker, John Karl
• Primary Examiner(s): Knight; Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): STEVENS, THOMAS H
• Application Number:
  US09/749,303
• Publication Number:
  US 20020123870A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,463 Days
• Field of Search: 703/7, 703/8, 60/393.4, 60/393.7, 700/287
• US Class Current: 703/7
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/024 in which a parameter or coefficient is automatically adjusted to optimise the performance
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0294 Optimizing process, e.g. process efficiency, product quality

Abstract

A method and system for analyzing performance of a turbine. The turbine optimizer allows a user to evaluate the current performance of their turbine with its current configuration and the future performance of their turbine with a modified configuration. The turbine optimizer determines the current performance characteristic of the turbine based on the current configuration information. Upon receiving from a user a request to display the future performance characteristics, the turbine optimizer calculates the performance characteristics for that turbine if various modifications are made to its configuration. The turbine optimizer may provide a graph that illustrates the current performance characteristics and future performance characteristics with those modifications. The turbine optimizer may also calculate various financial estimates based on the current operating characteristics or future operating characteristics of the turbine.

Claims

1. A method in a computer system for determining performance of an installed power generating turbine, the method comprising:

receiving from an operator installed turbine manufacturer identification information relating to the installed turbine to be analyzed;

retrieving configuration information for the identified installed turbine;

determining current performance characteristics of the installed turbine based on the retrieved configuration information;

sending to the operator a display page for displaying the determined current performance characteristics;

receiving from the operator an indication of a modification to the configuration of the identified installed turbine;

determining future performance characteristics of the identified installed turbine based on the indicated modification to its configuration; and

sending to the operator a display page for displaying the determined future performance characteristics.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining of the current performance characteristics includes simulating the current performance characteristics based on plural readings collected from the identified installed turbine.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the simulating of the current performance characteristics includes estimating fuel flow by repeatedly simulating the current performance characteristics with a varying fuel flow until a desired combustor efficiency is achieved.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining of the current performance characteristics includes adjusting initial performance characteristics based on length of time the identified turbine has been in operation.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining of the current performance characteristics includes measuring the performance characteristics of the installed turbine.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the display page includes an indication of average performance characteristics for other turbines.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the display page includes a graph illustrating performance characteristics.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the graph includes a background with colors that transition from a shade of red to a shade of yellow to a shade of green.

9. The method of claim 1 including receiving financial information relating to operation of the identified installed turbine and estimating revenue generated from the identified installed turbine with the indicated modification.

10. A method in a computer system for determining performance of an installed power generating turbine, the turbine having a configuration, the method comprising:

receiving from an operator installed turbine manufacturer identification information relating to the installed turbine to be analyzed;

simulating a current performance characteristic based on a plurality of readings collected from the installed identified turbine;

receiving from an operator of the installed turbine an indication of a modification to the configuration of the identified installed turbine;

determining a future performance characteristic of the identified installed turbine based on the indicated modifications to its configuration; and

sending to the operator a display page for displaying the determined future performance characteristic.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the simulating of the current performance characteristic includes estimating fuel flow by repeatedly simulating the current performance characteristic with a varying fuel flow until a desired combustor efficiency is achieved.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the display page includes an indication of an average for the current performance characteristic for other turbines.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the display page includes a graph illustrating performance characteristics.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the graph includes a background with colors that transition from a shade of red to a shade of yellow to a shade of green.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the display page is a web page.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein the display page is sent via Internet.

17. The method of claim 10 including receiving financial information relating to operation of the identified installed turbine and estimating revenue generated from the identified installed turbine with the indicated modification.

18. A method in a computer system for displaying a performance characteristic of an installed power generating turbine, the method comprising:

sending an identification of the installed turbine to a manufacturer of the turbine; and

receiving a display page indicating a performance characteristic of the identified installed turbine relative to the said performance characteristic for other power generating turbines.

19. The method of claim 18 including:

sending an indication of a modification to the identified installed turbine; and

receiving a display page indicating the performance characteristic of the identified installed turbine with the indicated modifications.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the display page includes financial information relating to possible modifications to the identified installed turbine.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein the performance characteristic of the identified installed turbine is displayed as a graph.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the graph indicates the performance characteristic for other turbines.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the graph includes an indication of an average performance characteristic for other turbines.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein the graph includes a background with colors that transition from a shade of red to a shade of yellow to a shade of green.

25. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to determine a performance characteristic of an installed turbine, the installed power generating turbine having a configuration, by a method comprising:

receiving from an operator installed turbine manufacturer identification information relating to the installed turbine to be analyzed;

simulating a current performance characteristic based on a plurality of readings collected from an identified installed power generating turbine;

receiving an indication of a modification to the configuration of the identified installed turbine; and

determining a future performance characteristic of the identified installed turbine based on the indicated modifications to the configuration.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 25 wherein the simulating of the current performance characteristic includes estimating fuel flow by repeatedly simulating the current performance characteristic by varying fuel flow until a desired combustor efficiency is achieved.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 25 including receiving financial information relating to operation of the identified installed turbine and estimating revenue generated from the identified installed turbine with the indicated modification.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 25 including sending a display page for displaying the determined future performance characteristic.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 28 wherein the display page includes an indication of an average for the performance characteristic for other turbines.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 28 wherein the display pages includes a graph illustrating the performance characteristics.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 30 wherein the graph includes a background with colors that transition from a shade of red to a shade of yellow to a shade of green.

32. The computer read-able medium of claim 28 wherein the display page is a web page.

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 28 wherein the display page is sent via Internet.

34. A computer system for determining a performance characteristic of an installed power generating turbine, the turbine having a configuration, comprising:

means for receiving manufacturer identification information and an indication of a modification to the configuration of the identified installed turbine; and

means for determining a future performance characteristic of the identified installed turbine based on the indicated modifications to its configuration.

35. The computer system of claim 34 including:

means for simulating a current performance characteristic based on various readings collected from the identified installed turbine.

36. The computer system of claim 35 wherein the means for simulating the current performance characteristic includes means for estimating fuel flow by repeatedly simulating the current performance characteristic by varying fuel flow until a desired combustor efficiency is achieved.

37. The computer system of claim 34 including means for receiving financial information relating to operation of the identified installed turbine and means for estimating revenue generated from the identified installed turbine with the indicated modification.