Rotating Machine Overspeed Detection via Trip Overshoot Model

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for preventing emergency over-speed conditions in rotating machines, such as gas turbines, often result in false tripping due to incorrectly set speed limits, leading to inefficiency, increased maintenance, and energy losses.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that uses a sensor and over-speed detector with a trip overshoot model to determine a non-trip operating space, preventing the rotating component from exceeding its design speed limit by calculating overshoot values and determining a boundary in a speed-acceleration plane to accurately detect and prevent emergency over-speed conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the speed limit is set too high, then the risk of false tripping is reduced, but the rotating component may overshoot and reach emergency over-speed condition

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefalse tripping preventionVSAvoidemergency over-speed condition
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary calculation of the overshoot value based on the current operating state (speed and acceleration) before tripping occurs. By predicting how much the speed will overshoot after tripping, the system can determine an appropriate speed limit that prevents emergency over-speed while avoiding false tripping. This preliminary action resolves the contradiction by enabling precise speed limit setting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The speed limit is not fixed but dynamically adjusted based on the current operating state of the rotating component. The system continuously monitors speed and acceleration to calculate the appropriate overshoot value, making the speed limit adaptive to changing conditions. This dynamic approach allows the system to prevent emergency over-speed while minimizing false tripping.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the speed limit is set too low, then emergency over-speed condition is prevented, but false tripping occurs leading to energy losses and increased maintenance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveemergency over-speed conditionVSAvoidenergy losses from false tripping
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system calculates the overshoot value in advance based on current speed and acceleration, allowing it to set the speed limit precisely to prevent emergency over-speed without being overly conservative. This preliminary calculation avoids unnecessary tripping that would cause energy losses and maintenance issues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the speed limit parameter dynamically based on operating conditions (speed and acceleration). By adjusting this parameter according to the calculated overshoot value, the system prevents emergency over-speed while avoiding false tripping and associated energy losses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If a fixed speed limit is used for tripping, then the system is simple to operate, but it cannot accurately prevent emergency over-speed condition due to overshoot

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespeed limit settingVSAvoidemergency over-speed prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from a fixed speed limit to a dynamic speed limit that automatically adjusts based on current operating conditions. The controller continuously calculates the appropriate speed limit using real-time speed and acceleration data, making the system both reliable and operationally simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from speed and acceleration sensors to continuously adjust the speed limit. This closed-loop approach ensures the speed limit is always appropriate for current conditions, preventing emergency over-speed while maintaining ease of operation through automatic adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2881549B1System and method for preventing an emergency over-speed condition in a rotating machine
Publication Date: 2019.05.15 GENERAL ELECTRIC CO
  • EP2881549B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2881549B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2881549B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In accordance with one aspect of the present technique a method includes receiving at least one of a speed and an acceleration of a rotating component 114 in a rotating machine 105. The method includes determining whether at least one of the speed and the acceleration of the rotating component exceeds a non-trip operating (NTO) space in a speed-acceleration plane, wherein the NTO space is based on a trip overshoot model. The method further includes sending a notification for tripping the rotating machine in response to determining that at least one of the speed and the acceleration of the rotating component exceeds the NTO space.