Automated tuning of gas turbine combustion systems

• US 9,328,670 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2013
• Issued: 05/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gas Turbine Efficiency Sweden AB
• Original Assignee: Gas Turbine Efficiency Sweden AB
• Inventors: Chandler, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): MOYER, DALE S
• Application Number:
  US13/855,220
• Publication Number:
  US 20130219906A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,127 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/057 Control or regulation conjointly with fuel supply control F02C9/50, with nozzle area control F02K1/16
• 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: F02C 9/26 Control of fuel supply F02C9/48 takes precedence; fuel valves F02C7/232
• 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 2220/32 in gas turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2240/35 Combustors or associated equipment
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/80 Diagnostics
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2270/08 to produce clean exhaust gases
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2270/082 with as little NOx as possible
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2270/14 to control thermoacoustic behaviour in the combustion chambers counteracting noise or vibration F05D2260/96
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2270/44 active, predictive, or anticipative

Abstract

A system for tuning the operation of a gas turbine is provided based on measuring operational parameters of the turbine and directing adjustment of operational controls for various operational elements of the turbine. A controller is provided for communicating with sensors and controls within the system. The controller receiving operational data from the sensors and comparing the data to stored operational standards to determining if turbine operation conforms to the standards. The controller then communicates selected adjustment in an operational parameter of the turbine. The controller then receives additional operational data from the sensors to determine if an additional adjustment is desired or is adjustment is desired of a further selected operational parameter.

Claims

1. A controller system for tuning the operation of a gas turbine, the turbine having sensor means for measuring operational parameters of the turbine, the operational parameters including stack emissions and combustion dynamics from the turbine, operational element control means for controlling various operational control elements of the turbine, the operational control elements comprising one or more of fuel distribution splits, fuel-air ratio and inlet fuel temperature, and a communication link for the sensor means and the operational element control means, the controller system comprising:

means for adjusting a set of predetermined allowable values of one or more tuning priorities of the turbine for turbine operation, the one or more tuning priorities comprising one or more of the group comprising optimum NOx emissions, optimum power output and optimum combustor dynamics,

receiving means for communicating with the sensor means and the communication link to receive turbine operational data,

means for comparing the received turbine operational data to the set of predetermined allowable values based on the set tuning priorities and for determining whether tuning adjustment is required,

directing means for communicating with the operational element control means via the communication link to perform a pre-defined fixed incremental adjustment of a selected one of the operational control elements controlled by the operational element control means, and

means for determining whether or not the incremental adjustment conforms the turbine operation to the set values and performing further pre-defined fixed incremental adjustment when the turbine operation does not conform to the set values.