Performance characteristic calculation and comparison

• US 8,738,326 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2011
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology, LLC (GE Vernova, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Gurijala, Phani Raghavender, Fisher, William Theadore, Gupta, Rajan, Pastrana, Ryan Margate, Pool, Eric Thomas, Sastry, Subramaniam Krishnakumar, Walsh, Janna Christiaanse, Wang, Difei, Narayanpur, Mallikarjan Puttappa
• Primary Examiner(s): Breene, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zhang, Haihui
• Application Number:
  US13/070,161
• Publication Number:
  US 20120245892A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,161 Days
• Field of Search: 702/182, 701/100
• US Class Current: 702/182
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0294 Optimizing process, e.g. process efficiency, product quality

Abstract

A method of performance calculation and comparison is provided and includes collecting, at a central location, data relating to a performance characteristic of a machine, calculating at the central location and from the collected data, the performance characteristic of the machine and comparing the calculated performance characteristic with a target performance characteristic.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium configured to implement a method of performance calculation and comparison, comprising:

regularly scheduling on-site inspections of a machine by a test engineer;

collecting, at a central location, data relating to a performance characteristic of a machine, the collecting being conducted at a substantially shorter interval than an interval defined by the regularly scheduling;

calculating at the central location and from the collected data, the performance characteristic of the machine; and

comparing the calculated performance characteristic with a target performance characteristic.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the performance characteristic calculation relates to performance degradation of the machine.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

generating an alarm in accordance with a result of the calculating, the alarm being indicative of an issue associated with an increase or change in the calculating result and/or a predefined number of anomalous calculating results;

requesting a root cause analysis of the issue; and

providing recommendations for correcting the issue.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the calculating comprises accounting for site specific correction factors, raw data from a database associated with the central location, performance characteristic test methodology and baseline test information, wherein the raw data comprises data reflective of contract degradation values and bonus liquidated damages caps.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the calculating further comprises:

validating the collected data;

identifying inappropriate values of certain sensors operably coupled to the machine; and

replacing the inappropriate values or identifying alternate sensors for substitute use.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the target performance characteristic is defined in accordance with a contractually guaranteed performance characteristic and the method further comprises:

identifying whether the target performance characteristic for a predefined period is met or exceeded;

determining that an economic benefit is due to a manufacturer or operator of the machine in accordance with a result the identifying of whether the target performance characteristic for the predefined period is met or exceeded; and

determining that a cost can be charged in accordance with the result of the identifying of whether the target performance characteristic for the predefined period is met or exceeded.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable medium configured to implement a method of performance calculation and comparison, comprising:

scheduling at a first interval on-site inspections by a test engineer of a machine disposed remotely from a central location;

collecting, at the central location and at a second interval, which is substantially shorter than the first interval, data relating to a performance characteristic of the machine;

calculating at the central location, at the second interval, and from the collected data, the performance characteristic of the machine; and

comparing the calculated performance characteristic with a target performance characteristic.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the performance characteristic calculation relates to performance degradation of the machine.

9. The method according to claim 7, further comprising enabling monitoring of the machine by operably disposing a plurality of sensors at the machine to sense operational conditions thereof and to generate the data.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the operational conditions comprise at least one or more of power generation measurements, machine temperatures, machine pressures and fluid flow through the machine.

11. The method according to claim 7, further comprising generating an alarm in accordance with a result of the calculating, the alarm being indicative of an issue.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the issue is associated with an increase or change in the calculating result and/or a predefined number of anomalous calculating results.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

requesting a root cause analysis of the severe issue; and

providing recommendations for correcting the severe issue.

14. The method according to claim 7, wherein the calculating comprises accounting for site specific correction factors, raw data from a database associated with the central location, performance characteristic test methodology and baseline test information, wherein the raw data comprises data reflective of contract degradation values and bonus liquidated damages caps.

15. The method according to claim 7, wherein the calculating comprises:

validating the collected data;

identifying inappropriate values of certain sensors operably coupled to the machine; and

replacing the inappropriate values or identifying alternate sensors for substitute use.

16. The method according to claim 7, wherein the target performance characteristic is defined in accordance with a contractually guaranteed performance characteristic.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

identifying whether the target performance characteristic for a predefined period is met or exceeded;

determining that an economic benefit is due to a manufacturer or operator of the machine in accordance with a result the identifying of whether the target performance characteristic for the predefined period is met or exceeded; and

determining that a cost can be charged in accordance with the result of the identifying of whether the target performance characteristic for the predefined period is met or exceeded.

18. The method according to claim 7, further comprising:

storing data reflective of the calculated performance characteristic; and

issuing a report relating to the stored data.

19. The method according to claim 7, further comprising conducting the calculating and the comparing on demand.

20. A system to perform a performance calculation and comparison, comprising:

a computing device operably disposed at a central location;

a machine operably disposed at a location remote from the central location; and

a plurality of sensors operably disposed at the machine to sense operational conditions thereof and to generate data reflective of a performance characteristic of the machine in accordance with the operational conditions,

the computing device being configured to collect the generated data at a substantially shorter interval than an interval defined by regularly scheduled on-site inspections of the machine by a test engineer, to calculate the performance characteristic and to compare the calculated performance characteristic with a target thereof,

the target being defined in accordance with a contractually guaranteed performance characteristic and the computing device being further configured for;

identifying whether the target for a predefined period is met or exceeded;

determining that an economic benefit is due to a manufacturer or operator of the machine in accordance with a result the identifying of whether the target for the predefined period is met or exceeded; and

determining that a cost can be charged in accordance with a result of the identifying of whether the target for the predefined period is met or exceeded.