Method and system for analyzing performance of a turbine

• US 20020123870A1
• Filed: 12/27/2000
• Published: 09/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Chan, Jeffrey, Sharma, Suresh, Reinker, John Karl
• Granted Patent: US 7,275,025 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 a turbine, the method comprising:

receiving from a user an identification of a turbine;

retrieving configuration information for the identified turbine;

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

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

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

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

sending to the user 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 various readings collected from the identified 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 turbine.

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

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the display page include an indication of highest performance characteristics for similar turbines.

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

9. The method of claim 8 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.

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

11. A method in a computer system for determining performance of a turbine, the turbine having a configuration, the method comprising:

simulating a current performance characteristic based on various readings collected from an identified turbine;

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

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

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

12. The method of claim 11 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.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the display page includes an indication of an average for the performance characteristic for similar turbines.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the display page includes an indication of a highest performance characteristic for similar turbines.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the display page includes a graph illustrating performance characteristics.

16. The method of claim 15 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.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the display page is a web page.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the display page is sent via the Internet.

19. The method of claim 11 including receiving financial information relating to operation of the identified turbine and estimating revenue generated from the identified turbine with the indicated modification.

20. A method in a computer system for displaying a performance characteristic of a turbine, the method comprising:

sending an identification of a turbine; and

receiving a display page indicating a performance characteristic of the identified turbine relative to the performance characteristic for similar turbines.

21. The method of claim, 20 including

sending an indication of a modification to the identified turbine;

and

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

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

23. The method of claim 20 wherein the performance characteristic of the identified turbine is displayed as a graph.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the graph indicates the performance characteristic for similar turbines.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the graph includes an indication of an average performance characteristic for similar turbines.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein the graph includes an indication of a highest performance characteristic for similar turbines.

27. The method of claim 23 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.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 28 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.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 28 including receiving financial information relating to operation of the identified turbine and estimating revenue generated from the identified turbine with the indicated modification.

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

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 31 wherein the display page includes an indication of an average for the performance characteristic for similar turbines.

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 31 wherein the display page includes an indication of a highest performance characteristic for similar turbines.

34. The computer-readable medium of claim 31 wherein the display pages includes a graph illustrating the performance characteristics.

35. The computer-readable medium of claim 34 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.

36. The computer-readable medium of claim 31 wherein the display page is a web page.

37. The computer-readable medium of claim 31 wherein the display page is sent via the Internet.

39. The computer system of claim 38 including:

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

40. The computer system of claim 39 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.

41. The computer system of claim 38 including means for receiving financial information relating to operation of the identified turbine and means for estimating revenue generated from the identified turbine with the indicated modification.

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

simulating a current performance characteristic based on various readings collected from an identified turbine;

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

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

38. A computer system for determining a performance characteristic of a turbine, the turbine having a configuration, comprising:

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

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