Combined Cycle Output Evaluation Using Turbine Delay Correlation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for evaluating the performance of power generation plants require temporary shutdowns for test operations, resulting in lost revenue and high costs, as they cannot sell generated power during these tests.

Innovation Solution

A performance evaluation method that acquires sampling values of gas turbine and steam turbine outputs during commercial operation, and calculates a plant output by summing the gas turbine output with the corresponding steam turbine output after a predetermined delay time, allowing for performance evaluation without interrupting operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If test operation is performed by stabilizing gas turbine and maintaining constant load, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to temporary shutdown of commercial operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveperformance evaluation accuracyVSAvoidpower generation output

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary processing of operation data by storing gas turbine output and steam turbine output data with their respective timestamps during normal operation. This preliminary data collection and organization enables accurate performance evaluation without requiring temporary shutdowns, as the data is prepared in advance for correlation analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the mechanical approach of stabilizing the gas turbine and maintaining constant load with a data processing approach. Instead of physically stabilizing the system, the method uses cross-correlation analysis of operation data to achieve accurate performance evaluation while maintaining normal commercial operation and load variations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If test operation is performed by stabilizing gas turbine, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases due to operation interruption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveperformance evaluation accuracyVSAvoidoperation interruption time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables continuous performance evaluation by processing operation data collected during normal commercial operation. The gas turbine and steam turbine continue to operate without interruption, and the useful action of power generation continues while the performance evaluation is conducted through data analysis rather than physical testing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Productivity

If data measured during commercial operation is used, then productivity is improved by maintaining continuous operation, but measurement precision deteriorates due to load fluctuations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous power generationVSAvoidperformance evaluation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention substitutes the mechanical requirement for stable load conditions with a data processing method. The cross-correlation analysis technique processes fluctuating operation data to extract accurate performance characteristics, replacing the need for physical load stabilization while maintaining continuous commercial operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a virtual model of the power generation system's performance by analyzing operation data. Instead of requiring the physical system to be in a stable test state, the method creates a data-based representation that captures the relationship between gas turbine output and steam turbine output, enabling accurate evaluation from normal operating conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS12241408B2Performance evaluation method, operation control method, performance evaluation device, and program

Publication Date: 2025.03.04 MITSUBISHI HEAVY IND LTD

AI summary

This performance evaluation device comprises: an acquisition unit which acquires a sampling value of a gas turbine output and a sampling value of a steam turbine output, measured at each time during the operation of a combined cycle power generation plant that generates power using the gas turbine and the steam turbine; and an output calculation unit which obtains a plant output that is a total output of the sampling value of the gas turbine output measured at a first time and the sampling value of the steam turbine that is the steam turbine output corresponding to the gas turbine output at the first time and is measured at a second time after a predetermined delay from the first time.