Gas Turbine Delay Compensation via Simulated Model

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Solution Overview

Problem

Gas turbine control is hindered by process delays and measurement delays, which slow down the adjustment of process values during transient phases, making it difficult to accurately and quickly regulate the machine.

Innovation Solution

A method that compensates for delays by using a simulated model to calculate real and measured values, obtaining a delay compensation value, and adding it to the measured value to obtain an accelerated value for control, allowing for faster regulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If measured values are used directly for control, then the control system is simple, but the control speed is slow due to process and measurement delays

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol speedVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by using a process model to predict future process values before the actual measurement is available. The model continuously calculates predicted process values based on current control inputs and process dynamics, providing advance information that compensates for measurement delays. This allows the control system to act on predicted rather than delayed measured values, significantly improving control speed without requiring complex hardware modifications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Speed

If a dead-time compensator is used to improve control speed, then the control response is faster, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol response speedVSAvoidcompensator complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements the copying principle by creating a virtual model (copy) of the gas turbine process that replicates its dynamic behavior. This software-based model copy continuously simulates process values and can be configured to match the actual process characteristics. By using this virtual copy instead of complex hardware compensators, the system achieves fast control response while keeping the physical device complexity low, as the model can be implemented through standard computational resources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Measurement precision

If multiple sensors and measurement points are added to improve measurement accuracy, then the measurement precision increases, but the device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocess value accuracyVSAvoidsensor system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary approach by using a process model as a mediator between the physical process and the control system. Instead of directly measuring all required process values with multiple sensors, the model acts as an intermediary that calculates derived process values based on limited direct measurements and process dynamics. This provides accurate process information without requiring a dense network of physical sensors, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2447793B1Method for ascertaining process values for a process controll
Publication Date: 2015.03.04 ALSTOM TECH LTD
  • EP2447793B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2447793B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP2447793B1 patent drawing

AI summary

A method for ascertaining process values for the process control is disclosed. It comprises detecting a measured value, providing a model that simulates the process and calculates a calculated real value and a calculated measured value, comparing the calculated real value with the calculated measured value to obtain a delay compensation value, adding the delay compensation value to the measured value to obtain an accelerated value indicative of the process value to be ascertained.