Abstract:
Systems and methods for providing stepping actuations in a power generation unit are disclosed. Certain embodiments herein may relate to manipulating actuators to produce a desired output in a power generation unit without disrupting production by the power generation output, such as megawatt and/or steam production. A model may be generated that includes one or more inputs and associated outputs in a power generation unit. The model may be leveraged to determine an actuator to adjust to create a desired output, as well as one or more different actuators to adjust to offset an otherwise negative impact on power generation unit production while maintaining the desired output.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for automatic feedback control are provided. According to one embodiment of the disclosure, a method for automatic feedback control may commence with receiving high-level control references by a low-level controller communicatively coupled to a high-level controller via the network connection. The method may further include generating, by the low-level controller, low-level control references for a hardware asset based at least in part on the high-level control references. The method may continue with transferring control of the hardware asset to the low-level controller in response to a loss of the network connection. The method may further include adjusting the low-level control references by a low-level control mechanism associated with the low-level controller in response to the loss of the network connection.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for health monitoring and upgrade of a distributed controller are provided. According to one embodiment of the disclosure, a method for health monitoring and upgrade of a distributed controller may commence with receiving, by a lower level controller from a high-level controller, high-level control references. The method may further include generating low-level control references for a hardware asset based at least in part on the high-level control references. The method may include monitoring the network connection and detecting an error in the network connection. In response to the detection of the error in the network connection, a control of the hardware asset may be transferred to the low-level controller. The method may further include determining that the network connection has been restored. In response to the determination that the network connection has been restored, the control of the hardware asset may be transferred to the high-level controller.
Abstract:
Exemplary embodiments pertain to a system that can include a high-level controller coupled to a low-level controller for controlling a physical asset. In one exemplary implementation, the high-level controller executes a first finite state machine for controlling a power generation unit via a network. The low-level controller executes a second finite state machine that may have fewer states than the first finite state machine. The second finite state machine places the low-level controller in a default mode of operation for controlling the power generation unit under various conditions such as when the high-level controller is controlling the physical asset during a normal mode of operation; when the high-level controller is revising the first finite state machine; when the high-level controller is controlling the physical asset using a revised first finite state machine; and/or upon detecting a loss of communications between the high-level controller and the low-level controller.
Abstract:
A flutter control system for a turbine includes a processor. The processor is configured to detect blade flutter of a turbine. The blade flutter indicates that blades of the turbine are in a deflected position different from a nominal operating position. The processor is configured to control operational parameters of the turbine that reduce or eliminate the blade flutter to improve the reliability and efficiency of the turbine.
Abstract:
A system includes a power generation system and controllers that control operations of the power generation system. The controllers include processors that receive multiple values associated with operating parameters of the power generation system, and determine a degradation cost function that quantifies a degradation cost based on the values. The processors further receive an operation cost that includes a fixed financial cost of performing an operation on the power generation system, and determine an operation cost function that quantifies the operation cost. The processors further determine a total cost function of the power generation system based on the degradation cost function and the operation cost function, and determine times to perform the operation on the power generation system based on the total cost function. The processors further send an alert to perform the operation of the power generation system at the times.
Abstract:
A system includes a power generation system and a controller that controls the power generation system. The controller includes a processor that generates a model of the power generation system that estimates a value for a first parameter of the power generation system. The processor also receives a measured value of the first parameter. The processor further adjusts a correction factor of the model such that the estimated value of the first parameter output by the model is approximately equal to the measured value of the first parameter. The processor also generates a transfer function that represents the correction factor as a function of a second parameter of the power generation system. The processor further displays the transfer function along with one or more previously generated transfer functions to quantify degradation of the power generation system.
Abstract:
Various embodiments include a system having: at least one computing device configured to monitor a combined-cycle (CC) power plant during a transient event by performing actions including: determining whether a change in an operating condition of a component of the CC power plant is unintentional, the determining including comparing control system instructions for the component of the CC power plant with a reference look-up table, the reference look-up table including correlation data for the control system instructions for the component and historical data about the operating condition of the component; and providing instructions to a control system of the CC power plant to modify the operating condition in the CC power plant in response to determining that the change in operating condition of the component is unintentional.
Abstract:
A system includes a model-based control system configured to receive data relating to parameters of a machinery via a plurality of sensors coupled to the machinery and select one or more models configured to generate a desired parameter of the machinery based on a determined relationship between the parameters and the desired parameter. The one or more models represent a performance of a device of the machinery. The model-based control system is configured to generate the desired parameter using the data and the one or more models control a plurality of actuators coupled to the machinery based on the desired parameter. Further, the model-based control system is configured to empirically tune the one or more models based on the data, the one or more parameters, and the desired parameter, compare the empirical tuning to a baseline tuning, and determine an operational state of the device based on the comparison.
Abstract:
Various embodiments include a system having: at least one computing device configured to monitor a combined-cycle (CC) power plant during a transient event by performing actions including: determining whether a change in an operating condition of a component of the CC power plant is unintentional, the determining including comparing control system instructions for the component of the CC power plant with a reference look-up table, the reference look-up table including correlation data for the control system instructions for the component and historical data about the operating condition of the component; and providing instructions to a control system of the CC power plant to modify the operating condition in the CC power plant in response to determining that the change in operating condition of the component is unintentional.