Method for developing a unified quality assessment and providing an automated fault diagnostic tool for turbine machine systems and the like

Abstract

A computer implemented process is provided for assessing and characterizing the degree of success or failure of an operational event of a machine system such as a fluid compressor machine or turbine machine or the like on a continuous numerical scale. The computer implemented process develops and tracks machine unit signatures, machine site signatures and machine fleet signatures to evaluate various operational events and provide fault detection. At least some sensor data acquired from the machine system during an operational event is transformed to correct or at least reduce variabilities in the data caused by ambient conditions and fuel quality. The transformed data is then analyzed using statistical methods to determine how closely the operational event conforms to an expected normal behavior and the information is used to develop a single comprehensive quality assessment of the event. By saving, tracking and updating operational event assessments over time, machine/component degradation may be recognized at any early stage and corrective action may be initiated in advance of a catastrophic failure.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] For turbine electric power generation systems, large fluid compressor / pump systems and the like, a great number of sensor signals and operational data often needs to be acquired and analyzed to properly evaluate a particular significant operational “event” (e.g., operational “events” such as start-up operations, mode transfer events, FSNL-FSFL, etc.). Consequently, it is usually not possible to quickly perform and obtain an accurate assessment of such events. In addition, variations in ambient operating conditions and / or fuel quality result in inconsistent and inaccurate sensor readings. This makes comparisons of operational events from one operational “run” of a particular turbine / compressor system to the next (as well as comparisons between operational runs of different turbine / compressor systems) impracticable. Moreover, for the same reasons, these problems make it impracticable to attempt to compare an operational run of a particular turbine ma...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0003] A new and improved approach toward developing a quality assessment for complex wind/steam/gas turbine systems, fluid compressor/pumping systems, generators, and the like is described. This approach combines the benefits of disparate statistical methods (such as, for example, the “matched filter” and the “multiple model hypothesis test”) to result in more accurate analysis and assessment of a parti

Problems solved by technology

Consequently, it is usually not possible to quickly perform and obtain an accurate assessment of such events.

In addition, variations in ambient operating conditions and/or fuel quality result in inconsistent and inaccurate sensor readings.

Moreover, for the same reasons, these problems make it impracticable to attempt to compare an operational run of a particular turbine machine with any s

Images