Combined Cycle Power Plant Efficiency Diagnosis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Combined cycle power plants face challenges in diagnosing performance degradation between gas turbines and steam turbines due to their integrated operation, making it difficult to identify which component contributes to efficiency decreases and distinguishing between degradation and anomalous operation.
Innovation Solution
A monitoring system that includes a processor coupled with a memory, using a bottoming cycle performance model to determine baseline efficiency, set thresholds, and compare operational efficiency, identifying decreases and pinpointing the cause of efficiency drops within the power plant.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If combined cycle power plant integrates gas turbine and steam turbine operation, then overall power generation efficiency is improved, but difficulty in diagnosing performance degradation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the combined cycle power plant into distinct performance models: a topping cycle performance model for the gas turbine and a bottoming cycle performance model for the steam turbine. Each model independently evaluates its respective cycle's efficiency and performance parameters, allowing separate diagnosis of degradation in either component while maintaining the integrated operation benefits.
2Measurement precision
If performance monitoring is implemented for bottoming cycle, then degradation diagnosis capability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bottoming cycle performance model serves multiple functions: it determines baseline efficiency, compares actual performance against the baseline, identifies degradation when performance drops, and pinpoints specific degraded components. This multi-functional approach achieves comprehensive monitoring without requiring separate specialized systems for each function, thereby limiting complexity increase.
Data Source
AI summary
A monitoring system of a combined cycle power plant having a topping cycle performed by a gas turbine and a bottoming cycle performed by a steam turbine, the monitoring system. The monitoring system includes a processor that receives a first set of data indicating a first measurement value of an operating parameter of the combined cycle power plant. The processor determines a baseline efficiency of the process based on the first measurement value using a bottoming cycle performance (BCP) model. The processor determines a threshold based on the baseline efficiency. The processor receives a second set of data indicating a second measurement value of the operating parameter. The processor compare the threshold to an operational efficiency based on the second measurement value using the BCP model, and provides an indication of a decrease in efficiency of the process if the operational efficiency is below the threshold.