Gas Turbine Controller for NOx Compliance at Peak Power

Solution Overview

Problem

Gas turbines face challenges in maintaining nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions below regulatory levels due to variations in ambient temperature and humidity, which can increase NOx emissions when operating at peak firing temperatures to meet high power demand.

Innovation Solution

A controller system with target exhaust temperature determination modules, including a NOx compliance module, bias modules, and a fuel control module, determines and adjusts the exhaust temperature to ensure NOx emissions remain within permitted levels while allowing peak operation during high demand periods.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If the gas turbine is operated at peak firing temperature to meet high power demand, then power output is improved, but NOx emissions increase beyond permitted levels

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower outputVSAvoidNOx emissions

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The controller dynamically adjusts the exhaust temperature setpoint based on real-time ambient conditions (temperature, humidity) and operational mode (peak or base load). The system transitions between different temperature targets depending on whether peak operation conditions are met, allowing optimal power output while maintaining NOx compliance across varying operating scenarios

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the exhaust temperature parameter based on ambient conditions and operational mode. During peak operation with favorable ambient conditions, the controller permits higher exhaust temperatures to maximize power output. Under other conditions, the controller adjusts the temperature parameter to maintain NOx compliance, effectively using parameter adjustment to resolve the power-emissions tradeoff

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-generated harmful factors

If the exhaust temperature is reduced to limit NOx emissions, then NOx compliance is improved, but power output decreases during high demand periods

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveNOx emissionsVSAvoidpower output

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The controller dynamically adjusts the exhaust temperature setpoint based on real-time ambient conditions (temperature, humidity) and operational mode (peak or base load). The system transitions between different temperature targets depending on whether peak operation conditions are met, allowing optimal power output while maintaining NOx compliance across varying operating scenarios

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the exhaust temperature parameter based on ambient conditions and operational mode. During peak operation with favorable ambient conditions, the controller permits higher exhaust temperatures to maximize power output. Under other conditions, the controller adjusts the temperature parameter to maintain NOx compliance, effectively using parameter adjustment to resolve the power-emissions tradeoff

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If the controller operates at high firing temperature during peak demand, then productivity is improved, but emissions compliance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower production efficiencyVSAvoidemissions compliance

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The controller dynamically adjusts the exhaust temperature setpoint based on real-time ambient conditions (temperature, humidity) and operational mode (peak or base load). The system transitions between different temperature targets depending on whether peak operation conditions are met, allowing optimal power output while maintaining NOx compliance across varying operating scenarios

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The controller continuously monitors ambient conditions (temperature, humidity) and operational parameters to determine whether peak operation conditions are met. Based on this feedback, the controller adjusts the exhaust temperature setpoint and fuel control commands to maintain both productivity and emissions compliance. The system uses feedback from sensors and operational mode detection to dynamically optimize the tradeoff between power production and NOx emissions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS8370044B2NOX compliant peak for gas turbine

Publication Date: 2013.02.05 GE INFRASTRUCTURE TECH LLC

AI summary

A gas turbine comprises a plurality of target exhaust temperature determination modules, the plurality of target exhaust temperature modules comprising a nitrogen oxide (NOx) compliance module configured to determine an exhaust temperature at which an exhaust of the gas turbine complies with a maximum permitted level of NOx; at least one bias module, the at least one bias module configured to apply a bias to an output of at least one of the plurality of target exhaust temperature determination modules; and a controller configured to operate the gas turbine to produce the exhaust temperature determined by the NOx compliance module.