Safety instrumented system (SIS) for a turbine system

• US 8,744,634 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2010
• Issued: 06/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology, LLC (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Purani, Hardik Ashok, Kleen, Randall John, Shakeel, Tabrez, Tymus, Shahriar
• Primary Examiner(s): Padmanabhan, Kavita
• Assistant Examiner(s): Everett, Christopher E
• Application Number:
  US12/950,909
• Publication Number:
  US 20120130553A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,292 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 700/287
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/26 Starting; Ignition
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 9/28 Regulating systems responsive to plant or ambient parameters, e.g. temperature, pressure, rotor speed F02C9/30 - F02C9/38, F02C9/44 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/80 Diagnostics
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/85 Starting
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2270/094 by using back-up controls
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2270/304 Spool rotational speed

Abstract

A retrofit kit for a turbine system is provided that includes a safety instrumented system (SIS) controller having a first plurality of functions and the SIS controller is configured to be coupled to a turbine-generator controller, wherein the SIS controller permits a startup function of the turbine-generator controller based on a plurality of inputs from a turbine.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a turbine coupled to a generator, wherein the turbine has at least one input fluid flow and at least one output fluid flow;

a turbine-generator controller comprising a first plurality of functions and coupled to the turbine, wherein the turbine-generator controller controls operation of the turbine, and the first plurality of functions comprises a shutdown function and a startup function for the turbine; and

a second controller comprising a second plurality of functions and coupled to the turbine and the turbine-generator controller, wherein the second controller is configured to control the turbine-generator controller with at least one function of the second plurality of functions that is different than the first plurality of functions, wherein the second controller is functionally independent from the turbine-generator controller, wherein the first and second pluralities of functions each include control functions to control the at least one input fluid flow or the at least one output fluid flow, wherein the at least one function of the second plurality of functions comprises at least one startup permitting function that permits the turbine-generator controller to startup the turbine, a shutdown causing function that causes the turbine-generator controller to shutdown the turbine, or a combination thereof.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the second controller comprises a safety instrumented system (SIS) controller.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the second plurality of functions comprises monitoring the startup function of the turbine-generator controller.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the second controller sends an emergency shutdown signal to the turbine-generator controller based on the plurality of conditions.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the plurality of conditions comprises completion of a self-test of the second controller.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the plurality of conditions comprises monitoring of a valve coupled to the turbine, a rotor speed of a compressor of the turbine, exhaust temperature of the turbine, and status of an emergency shutdown of the turbine.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the turbine comprises a gas turbine.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the second controller comprises a testing facility that provides testing of each of the second plurality of functions.

9. A system, comprising:

a controller, comprising;

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor, and

a first plurality of functions, wherein at least one function of the first plurality of functions comprises monitoring initialization and permitting startup of a turbine by a turbine-generator controller if a set of conditions are met or blocking startup if the set of conditions are not met, wherein the controller is configured to couple to the turbine-generator controller and the turbine-generator controller comprises a second plurality of functions, and the at least one function of the first plurality of functions is different from the second plurality of functions to enable the controller to control the turbine-generator controller, wherein the turbine-generator controller controls the turbine using the second plurality of functions, wherein the second plurality of functions comprises a startup function and a shutdown function for the turbine.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the first plurality of functions comprise monitoring a fuel system monitoring function of the turbine-generator controller, and an exhaust purge and light-off function of the turbine-generator controller.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the controller and the turbine-generator controller receive a plurality of inputs from the turbine.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of inputs comprise a rotor speed of the compressor of the turbine, a flame detector of the turbine, and an exhaust temperature of the turbine.

13. The system of claim 9, comprising a plurality of outputs coupled to a plurality of control components coupled to the turbine, wherein the control components comprise a plurality of valves.

14. A system comprising:

a retrofit kit for a turbine-generator system, comprising;

a safety instrumented system (SIS) controller having a first plurality of functions, wherein the SIS controller is configured to be coupled to a turbine-generator controller having a second plurality of functions, the SIS controller conditionally permits or blocks a startup function of the turbine-generator controller based on a plurality of inputs from a turbine, and at least one function of the first plurality of functions is different from the second plurality of functions to enable the SIS controller to control the turbine-generator system via the turbine-generator controller, wherein the turbine-generator controller controls the turbine using the second plurality of functions, wherein the second plurality of functions comprises a startup function and a shutdown function for the turbine.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the startup function of the turbine-generator controller starts operation of the turbine coupled to the SIS controller and the turbine-generator controller.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of inputs comprise a fuel operation, a rotor speed of a compressor of the turbine, an exhaust temperature of the turbine, a flame detection of the turbine, and a status of an emergency shutdown of the turbine.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the SIS controller comprises a network connection coupled to the turbine-generator controller.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the first plurality of functions conform to International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 61508, IEC 61522, and Standards Australia (AS) 3814.