Gas Turbine Plant Optimization Under Changing Environmental Conditions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Gas turbines are susceptible to environmental changes that can lead to operational deviations, such as reduced power output, combustion disturbances, and increased pollutant emissions, necessitating frequent manual tuning by specialists, which is resource-intensive and becomes obsolete over time.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method using AI-based machine learning to optimize gas turbine operation by recording and analyzing operational and environmental data, applying an optimization algorithm to adjust controllable parameters like pilot gas and exhaust gas temperature, ensuring compliance with stability and emission limits, and predicting future operating scenarios.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual tuning by specialists is performed to optimize gas turbine operation, then operational quality can be improved at specific points in time, but this approach requires continuous resource investment, time, and money, and becomes obsolete over time due to climatic fluctuations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational qualityVSAvoidtime for planning and execution of tuning measures
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The gas turbine system performs self-optimization through an automated control concept that continuously monitors operating parameters and environmental conditions, automatically adjusting fuel amount and combustion chamber operation without requiring external specialist intervention. The system serves itself by detecting deviations and implementing corrective measures autonomously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements continuous feedback loops where operating parameters (combustion chamber accelerations, pollutant emissions, power output) are monitored and compared against target values. Based on this feedback and environmental condition data, the control algorithm automatically adjusts fuel injection and combustion parameters to maintain optimal operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If conventional tuning measures are applied to meet stability and emission limits, then operational deviations can be reduced, but the tuning becomes obsolete after certain periods due to climatic fluctuations requiring further tuning measures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompliance with stability and emission limitsVSAvoidadaptability to changing environmental conditions
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The control system dynamically adapts to changing environmental conditions by continuously monitoring parameters such as ambient temperature, air pressure, and humidity. The optimization algorithm adjusts operating parameters in real-time based on current environmental conditions, allowing the system to maintain compliance with stability and emission limits across varying climates without requiring periodic retuning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operating parameters (fuel amount, pilot gas flow rate, air mass flow) based on detected environmental conditions and their influence on combustion behavior. By dynamically adjusting these parameters, the system maintains optimal performance and compliance under varying environmental conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Temperature

If the amount of fuel is adjusted to compensate for climatic changes, then corrected exhaust gas temperature can be controlled, but this may lead to increased combustion chamber accelerations, pollutant emissions, or deviations from performance guarantees

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecorrected exhaust gas temperatureVSAvoidcombustion chamber accelerations and pollutant emissions
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs a multi-parameter control approach where not only fuel amount but also pilot gas flow rate, air mass flow, and injection timing are adjusted in coordinated fashion. This allows precise control of combustion characteristics to maintain exhaust temperature while minimizing harmful effects such as combustion chamber accelerations and pollutant emissions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The control system continuously monitors combustion chamber accelerations, pollutant emissions, and power output as feedback parameters. When deviations are detected, the system adjusts fuel and air parameters to correct these deviations while maintaining target exhaust gas temperature, ensuring compliance with multiple operational constraints simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4644684A1Method and system for optimizing the operating behavior of a gas turbine plant
Publication Date: 2025.11.05 BURKHARDT DANIEL
  • EP4644684A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4644684A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4644684A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a computer-implemented method and such a system (100) for optimizing the operating behavior of a stationary gas turbine plant (10). The method comprises the following steps: (i) recording operating data of a gas turbine (11) while the gas turbine (11) is in operation, and acquiring environmental data from an environment in which the gas turbine (11) is located, (ii) storing at least a subset of the operating and environmental data recorded in step (i).(iii) the provision of historical operating data of the gas turbine (11) stored in the database (14) and/or read from an external storage device, wherein this historical operating data represents any previous operating states of the gas turbine (11), and (iv) simulation for an optimized operating point of the gas turbine (11) by means of an automated execution of an optimization algorithm (OA) taking into account the operating and environmental data of the gas turbine (11) stored in step (ii) and its historical operating data from step (iii), wherein at least one controllable operating parameter of the gas turbine (11) is changed in such a way that at least one predetermined condition with respect to the operation of the gas turbine (11) is met.