Gas Turbine Cooling Control for Load Transients
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas turbine cooling systems fail to maintain effective cooling during load changes, leading to a decrease in the flow rate of cooling air supplied to hot parts, which can compromise their performance.
Innovation Solution
A control device for the gas turbine cooling system that includes a flow rate adjuster to adjust the cooling air flow rate based on load changes, using a reception unit to receive load commands, a load change determination unit to assess changes, and command generation sections to generate commands that ensure a higher flow rate during load changes and revert to a target flow rate when stable, thereby maintaining adequate cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cooling air flow rate is increased to maintain cooling performance during load changes, then the cooling performance is improved, but the amount of cooling air used increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control device predicts future load changes based on historical load data and proactively adjusts the cooling air flow rate before the load change occurs. This preliminary action ensures cooling performance is maintained during load transitions without requiring excessive cooling air, as the system is already prepared for the anticipated demand change.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the cooling air flow rate in real-time based on predicted load changes and actual thermal conditions. The control device continuously modifies the cooling air amount to match the actual cooling需求, avoiding both over-cooling (wasting air) and under-cooling (insufficient performance) during load transitions.
2Quantity of substance
If the cooling air flow rate is reduced to save cooling air during stable operation, then the amount of cooling air used decreases, but the cooling performance may be insufficient during sudden load changes
Solution Approach 1:
The control device uses predicted load change information to prepare the cooling air flow rate in advance. When a load change is anticipated, the system adjusts the cooling air amount before the actual load change occurs, ensuring cooling performance is maintained without requiring a continuously high flow rate during stable operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback from actual thermal conditions and load changes to continuously optimize cooling air flow rate. The control device monitors the effectiveness of cooling adjustments and refines future predictions, ensuring that cooling performance is maintained while minimizing cooling air consumption during both stable and transient operations.
3Device complexity
If a simple cooling control system is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the system cannot respond effectively to load changes
Solution Approach 1:
The control device incorporates load change prediction functionality that analyzes historical load data to anticipate future load transitions. This preliminary prediction capability enables the system to proactively adjust cooling air flow rates, providing effective load change response without requiring complex real-time control mechanisms for every possible scenario.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device automatically adjusts cooling air flow rates based on predicted load changes and actual thermal conditions without requiring manual intervention or complex external control systems. The system self-optimizes its operation by learning from historical data and adapting to actual performance, maintaining cooling effectiveness while simplifying the overall control architecture.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The control device ensures that the cooling air flow rate is maintained during load changes, preventing a decrease in cooling performance and reducing the amount of cooling air used when the load is stable, thus effectively cooling hot parts even under varying conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a cooler that cools the compressed air in the cooling air line to produce cooling air
Implementation Method 2
a booster that pressurizes the cooling air in the cooling air line
Data Source
AI summary
A gas turbine cooling system includes: a cooling air line that guides compressed air; a cooler that cools the compressed air; a flow rate adjuster that adjusts the flow rate of the cooling air; and a control device. The control device includes: a load change determination unit that determines whether a load indicated by a load command of the gas turbine has changed; a first command generation section that generates a first command indicating such an operation amount of the flow rate adjuster as allows the flow rate of the cooling air to meet a target flow rate; and a second command generation section that, when it is determined that the load indicated by the load command has changed, generates a second command indicating such an operation amount of the flow rate adjuster as allows a change-adapted flow rate higher than the target flow rate to be met.