Unified Control Model for Combined Cycle Plant Performance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems in combined cycle power plants fail to consider the interrelationship between gas turbines and steam turbines when controlling or maintaining plant performance, leading to sub-optimal operation and inefficient resource utilization.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a measurement device to collect parameters from both gas and steam turbines, a model processor to model plant performance based on these interconnections, and a controller to adjust operations to achieve target performance, diagnose issues, and schedule maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If existing systems control gas turbine and steam turbine independently, then control system complexity is reduced, but plant performance optimization deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control of gas turbine and steam turbine into a unified control system that models and optimizes the combined cycle plant performance. The model processor executes a model of plant performance that considers interconnections between both turbines, integrating their control rather than treating them separately, thereby achieving optimal plant performance while managing complexity through systematic integration.
2Device complexity
If existing systems assess problems without considering interrelationships, then diagnostic simplicity is improved, but diagnosis accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The diagnostic system merges the assessment of gas turbine and steam turbine into a unified diagnostic approach. The model processor compares measured parameters against the executed plant performance model that accounts for interconnections between turbines, enabling accurate diagnosis of problems in either turbine by considering their interdependent relationships rather than assessing them in isolation.
3Ease of operation
If existing systems maintain subsystems without considering overall plant operations, then maintenance simplicity is improved, but plant efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The maintenance system uses feedback from the plant performance model to guide subsystem maintenance decisions. The model processor continuously monitors plant performance and compares it against the executed model, providing feedback that identifies when maintenance is needed in the gas turbine, steam turbine, or other subsystems to maintain optimal overall plant efficiency, rather than following fixed maintenance schedules.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method in a combined cycle power plant includes a processor modeling plant level performance by considering the interrelation between outputs of the gas turbine and the steam turbine. The model can be computational, predictive, or both. The model may be used to control subsystems of the plant (including the gas turbine and the steam turbine) to achieve a target plant performance. The model may also be used to diagnose or maintain subsystems of the combined cycle power plant.