Gas Turbine Startup Control via Dynamic Trajectory Scheduling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas turbine startup control systems face variations due to ambient temperature and component performance changes, leading to unpredictable startup times, which can impact component life and performance, and current solutions either allow large margins or result in control saturation and hardware issues.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that adjust startup parameters in real-time based on remaining time to achieve a target startup time, using trajectory scheduling and interpolation tables to control effectors like fuel flow and starting torque, without introducing additional control loops, thereby reducing startup time variations and ensuring stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a target tracking schedule is used to correct startup deviations, then startup time predictability is improved, but control saturation and hardware wear occur due to aggressive correction
Solution Approach 1:
The control system dynamically adjusts the aggressiveness of correction based on the magnitude of deviation from the nominal schedule. When deviations are small, gentle corrections are applied; when deviations are large, more aggressive corrections are used. This dynamic adjustment prevents control saturation while still achieving predictability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the control parameters (fuel flow rate, starting torque) based on the current deviation state. By modulating these parameters proportionally to the error magnitude rather than applying fixed aggressive corrections, the system achieves predictability without causing control saturation or excessive hardware wear.
2Reliability
If large margins are allowed in startup time, then variations in startup time are accommodated, but efficiency and predictability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors actual startup parameters against the nominal schedule and applies real-time feedback control. This feedback mechanism allows the system to accommodate variations by actively correcting deviations, thereby achieving both reliability (accommodation of variations) and productivity (maintained efficiency) without requiring large time margins.
3Manufacturing precision
If control loops operate with high sensitivity to close errors, then startup time accuracy is improved, but control boundaries are frequently exceeded causing wear and hardware issues
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial correction actions proportional to the deviation magnitude rather than maximum corrective actions. This prevents excessive control boundary violations while still achieving sufficient startup time accuracy by accumulating small corrections over time rather than applying aggressive single-point corrections.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for startup control of a gas turbine is disclosed. The system and method includes defining a target startup time for the startup of the gas turbine and determining a remaining time to achieve the target startup time. The system and method includes monitoring at least one parameter associated with the startup and determining a first operating point for the parameter. The system and method adjusts the first operating point for the parameter to a second operating point based at least in part on the remaining time for the startup. The system and method controls an effector based on the second operating point for the parameter.