Gas Turbine Combustor LBO Prediction via Entropy Ratio
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbines operating with lean air-fuel mixtures are prone to lean blowouts (LBO), leading to combustor shutdowns and power outages, which are difficult to predict and prevent with existing monitoring systems.
Innovation Solution
A monitoring system that uses a processor to receive operating parameters and predict LBO events based on entropy ratios of combustion dynamics, sending an alarm signal to an electronic device before the event occurs, allowing for proactive measures to prevent shutdowns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If the gas turbine operates with a lean air-fuel mixture to improve emissions and efficiency, then performance and emissions are optimized, but the likelihood of lean blowout increases
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system performs preliminary detection of LBO conditions by analyzing combustion dynamics and entropy ratios before the actual blowout occurs. This allows operators to take preventive actions (adjust air-fuel ratio, modify operating parameters) to maintain lean operation while avoiding blowout, thus resolving the contradiction between emissions optimization and combustor stability.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If existing monitoring systems are used to detect LBO events, then simple detection is possible, but early prediction and prevention capability is lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The system calculates entropy ratios and analyzes combustion dynamics trends in advance to predict LBO events before they occur. This preliminary detection capability provides early warning signals that allow operators to respond proactively, transforming the situation from simple post-event detection to predictive prevention, thereby reducing response time while maintaining detection simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring system continuously monitors combustion parameters, calculates entropy ratios, and provides feedback about LBO risk levels. This feedback mechanism enables real-time adjustment of operating parameters to prevent LBO, bridging the gap between simple detection and early prediction by creating a closed-loop system that acts on detected trends.
3Productivity
If the combustor is restarted after a lean blowout to resume power generation, then power supply is restored, but customers experience power interruption during restart
Solution Approach 1:
By predicting LBO events before they occur through entropy ratio analysis and combustion dynamics monitoring, the system enables preventive actions that avoid combustor shutdown entirely. This eliminates the need for restart operations, ensuring continuous power supply while maintaining productivity, thus resolving the contradiction between power generation and continuous supply reliability.
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 system effectively reduces the likelihood of LBO-related outages by providing early warnings to operators, enabling timely corrective actions and maintaining turbine performance.
Implementation Method 1
predict an occurrence of a lean blowout (LBO) event based on the operating parameter and an entropy ratio of combustion dynamics associated with a combustor of the gas turbine
Data Source
AI summary
A monitoring system for a gas turbine includes a processor configured to receive an operating signal indicating an operating parameter of the gas turbine. The processor is configured to predict an occurrence of a lean blowout (LBO) event based on the operating parameter and an entropy ratio of combustion dynamics associated with a combustor of the gas turbine, wherein the LBO event corresponds to when the combustor stops firing. The processor is configured to send an alarm signal indicating the predicted LBO event to an electronic device prior to the occurrence of the LBO event.