Validation of working fluid parameter indicator sensitivity in system with centrifugal machines

• US 8,302,625 B1
• Filed: 06/23/2011
• Issued: 11/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology, LLC (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Runkle, Mark Andrew, Block, Frederick William
• Primary Examiner(s): RIVELL, JOHN A
• Application Number:
  US13/167,231
• Time in Patent Office: 502 Days
• Field of Search: 137/565.33, 72/15.7, 702/50, 702/138, 702/182, 702/183
• US Class Current: 137/565.33
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 13/12 Combinations of two or more pumps combinations with priming pumps or booster pumps to counteract vapour-lock F04D9/04
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 15/0088 Testing machines
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/166 using fans
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 27/001 Testing thereof; Determination or simulation of flow characteristics; Stall or surge detection, e.g. condition monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86163 Parallel

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an approach that validates the sensitivity of a working fluid parameter indicator in a system using centrifugal machines. In one aspect, a lead centrifugal machine and a lag centrifugal machine supply a working fluid to a distribution conduit. A working fluid parameter indicator measures a process parameter associated with the working fluid supplied to the distribution conduit by the lead centrifugal machine and the lag centrifugal machine. A controller validates the sensitivity of the working fluid parameter indicator to measure the process parameter associated with the working fluid as a function of operation of the lag centrifugal machine relative to the lead centrifugal machine during an operational test performed on the centrifugal machines.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a distribution conduit;

at least two centrifugal machines configured to supply a working fluid to the distribution conduit, wherein one of the at least two centrifugal machines comprises a lead centrifugal machine and a second of the at least two centrifugal machines comprises a lag centrifugal machine;

a working fluid parameter indicator that measures a process parameter associated with the working fluid supplied to the distribution conduit by the at least two centrifugal machines; and

a controller that validates the sensitivity of the working fluid parameter indicator to measure the process parameter associated with the working fluid, the controller validating the sensitivity of the working fluid parameter indicator as a function of operation of the lag centrifugal machine relative to the lead centrifugal machine during an operational test of the centrifugal machines.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the operational test includes turning on the lag centrifugal machine while the lead centrifugal machine is on to contribute in sharing a load of supplying the working fluid to the distribution conduit, and turning off the lag centrifugal machine after operating in conjunction with the lead centrifugal machine for a predetermined period of time to transfer the load back to the lead centrifugal machine.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the controller receives a plurality of process parameter measurements from the working fluid parameter indicator during the operational test.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the controller compares the plurality of process parameter measurements to a baseline of previously obtained process parameter measurements.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the controller validates the sensitivity of the working fluid parameter indicator in response to determining that the plurality of process parameter measurements obtained during the operational test are within an acceptable range of deviation to the baseline of previously obtained process parameter measurements.

6. The system according to claim 3, wherein the controller forms an operational test signature from the plurality of process parameter measurements, wherein the operational test signature is characterized by a peak portion indicative of when the lag centrifugal machine turned on, a trough portion indicative of when the lag centrifugal machine turned off, a middle portion between the peak portion and the trough portion that is indicative of a stable state in which the lead centrifugal machine and the lag centrifugal machine share the load.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the controller compares the operational test signature to a baseline operational test signature having a baseline peak portion indicative of a turn-on event for the lag centrifugal machine, a baseline trough portion indicative of a turn-off event for the lag centrifugal machine, a baseline middle portion between the baseline peak portion and the baseline trough portion that is indicative of a stable operational running event in which the lead centrifugal machine and the lag centrifugal machine share the load.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the controller validates the sensitivity of the working fluid parameter indicator in response to determining that the peak portion, middle portion and trough portion of the operational test signature are within an acceptable range of deviation to the baseline peak portion, the baseline middle portion and the baseline trough portion of the baseline operational test signature, respectively.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the lead centrifugal machine and the lag centrifugal machine operate in parallel sharing the supply of the working fluid to the distribution conduit.

10. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a working fluid regulator that regulates the flow of the working fluid according to the process parameter measured by the working fluid parameter indicator.

11. A system, comprising:

a distribution conduit;

at least two redundant centrifugal machines configured to supply a working fluid to the distribution conduit, wherein one of the at least two redundant centrifugal machines comprises a lead centrifugal machine and a second of the at least two redundant centrifugal machines comprises a lag centrifugal machine;

a flow splitter conduit that splits the flow of the working fluid from the at least two redundant centrifugal machines to the distribution conduit into different flow paths;

one or more working fluid parameter indicators that measures a process parameter associated with the working fluid as supplied from the flow splitter conduit to the distribution conduit;

a working fluid regulator located between the flow splitter conduit and the distribution conduit that regulates the flow of the working fluid therebetween according to the process parameter measured by the one or more working fluid parameter indicators; and

a controller that validates the operational health of at least one of the working fluid parameter indicators and the working fluid regulator based on an operational test performed on the lead centrifugal machine and the lag centrifugal machine.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the operational test includes turning on the lag centrifugal machine while the lead centrifugal machine is on to contribute in sharing a load of supplying the working fluid to the distribution conduit, and turning off the lag centrifugal machine after operating in conjunction with the lead centrifugal machine for a predetermined period of time to transfer the load back to the lead centrifugal machine.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the controller receives a plurality of process parameter measurements from each of the working fluid parameter indicators during the operational test.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the controller compares the plurality of process parameter measurements to a baseline of previously obtained process parameter measurements.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the controller validates the operational health of at least one of the working fluid parameter indicators and the working fluid regulator in response to determining that the plurality of process parameter measurements obtained during the operational test are within an acceptable range of deviation to the baseline of previously obtained process parameter measurements.

16. The system according to claim 13, wherein the controller forms an operational test signature from the plurality of process parameter measurements, wherein the operational test signature is characterized by a peak portion indicative of when the lag centrifugal machine turned on, a trough portion indicative of when the lag centrifugal machine turned off, a middle portion between the peak portion and the trough portion that is indicative of a stable state in which the lead centrifugal machine and the lag centrifugal machine share the load.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the controller compares the operational test signature to a baseline operational test signature having a baseline peak portion indicative of a turn-on event for the lag centrifugal machine, a baseline trough portion indicative of a turn-off event for the lag centrifugal machine, a baseline middle portion between the baseline peak portion and the baseline trough portion that is indicative of a stable operational running event in which the lead centrifugal machine and the lag centrifugal machine share the load.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the controller validates the operational health of at least one of the working fluid parameter indicators and the working fluid regulator in response to determining that the peak portion, middle portion and trough portion of the operational test signature are within an acceptable range of deviation to the baseline peak portion, the baseline middle portion and the baseline trough portion of the baseline operational test signature, respectively.

19. The system according to claim 11, wherein the lead centrifugal machine and the lag centrifugal machine operate in parallel sharing the supply of the working fluid to the distribution conduit.

20. The system according to claim 11, further comprising an orifice valve located between the flow splitter conduit and the distribution conduit, wherein the orifice valve is located along a first flow path between the flow splitter conduit and the distribution conduit and the working fluid regulator is located along a second flow path between the flow splitter conduit and the distribution conduit.