Abstract: A hybrid digital computer gas turbine power plant control system which may operate in a multiple-control loop arrangement is provided with selected process variable monitoring means. Control system inputs representative of current values of such variables are continuously available to provide positive highly responsive control over a broad range of gas turbine operating conditions. Predictable process sensor errors are effectively eliminated by means of programmed computer operations to thereby insure highly accurate control variable derivation essential to maintaining gas turbine operation at or near design limits.

Abstract: A programmed digital computer control system determines the turbine steam flow changes required to satisfy the speed and load demand made on the operation of a large electric power stream turbine for which substantially constant throttle pressure steam is generated. Load control is directed to plant electric power generation and it is based on feedforward valve positioning operation with feedback multiplication calibration for plant load and/or turbine speed error. Changes in the turbine operating level are limited by dynamic constraints applied by the computer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for controlling and coordinating the power generated by a combined system of thermal units and hydro plants. In particular, hydro generation is determined for each of the hydro plants of the system as they are distributed in a plurality of groups, each group corresponding to a given river system. Because the amount of water flowing down a river system is dependent upon the amount of water released into the river system, calculation of the power generated by the hydro plants disposed upon a single river is conducted based upon the water flowthrough and power generated by a single plant termed a control plant. Assuming a set of lambdas, for example the lambdas calculated for the previous day, the water allocaion of not only the control plant but the remaining or dependent plants is determined by multiplying the incremental water rate curve of the control plant by an artificial cost variable gamma.

Abstract: In a system and method for automatically starting, synchronizing and operating a steam turbine, turbine control including valve position limiting and means for generating a reference control signal representative of desired turbine operation, the reference control signal being limited corresponding to the valve position limit. The reference signal is limited by calculated valve position limits, such that the reference signal is not permitted to rise above such limits. Desired system changes result in reference signal changes which are more quickly reflected in valve position changes, thereby enabling improved system response.

Abstract: A support system for supporting the stationary ceramic vanes and ceramic outer shrouds which define the motive fluid gas path in a gas turbine engine is shown. Each individual segment of the ceramic component whether a vane or shroud segment has an integral radially outwardly projecting stem portion. The stem is enclosed in a split collet member of a high-temperature alloy material having a cavity configured to interlock with the stem portion. The generally cylindrical external surface of the collet engages a mating internal cylindrical surface of an aperture through a supporting arcuate ring segment with mating camming surfaces on the two facing cylindrical surfaces such that radially outward movement of the collet relative to the ring causes the internal cavity of the collet to be reduced in diameter to tightly engage the ceramic stem disposed therein.

Abstract: A throttle valve test system for a large steam turbine functions in a turbine control system to provide throttle and governor valve test operations. The control system operates with a valve management capability to provide for pre-test governor valve mode transfer when desired, and it automatically generates feedforward valve position demand signals during and after valve tests to satisfy test and load control requirements and to provide smooth transition from valve test status to normal single or sequential governor valve operation. A digital computer is included in the control system to provide control and test functions in the generation of the valve position demand signals.

Abstract: A gas turbine power plant is provided with an industrial gas turbine which drives a generator coupled to a power system through a breaker. The turbine-generator plant is operated by a hybrid control system having digital function capability during sequenced startup, synchronizing, load buildup and steady state load, and shutdown operations. The control system also contains monitoring and protective subsystems which function through all stages of operation, with redundancy and permissive features which maximize turbine availability.

Abstract: An industrial production or other operational system is established by connecting apparatus which implements system operations to a digital computer system using an interface system. Machine readable definitions of events, of executable jobs, and of system variables are prepared for computer entry and ultimately for configuration of the system apparatus into an entity having operational characteristics corresponding to the entered definitions.The definitions of system variables may include definitions of signals which are coupled between the system apparatus and the computer through the interface system, and such signals may be put to system monitoring or control uses or both of these uses in the structured system. Some of the definitions may be computer programs, but most are preferably definitions of the system configuration written out in a language which a systems engineer can understand and use. Generally, definitions may include designators which are names or numbers.

Abstract: Steam flow and pressure conditions needed in a turbine to satisfy the speed and load demand of an electric power generating system are controlled by a programmed digital computer system during start-up, synchronization and operation. Manual backup control is provided for the computer control. An operator interface is provided with the computer through a panel and various communication devices.

Abstract: An automatic control is provided for fast restarts of a hot power plant. Boiler fuel demand is increased to reach a target load based on measured turbine metal temperature and throttle pressure. Fine tuning of the fuel demand is performed to achieve an actual match between the turbine and steam temperatures. Turbine bypass valves are operated during boiler firing the control steam pressure to a programmed pressure setpoint. Boiler firing rate is high limited by total boiler outlet steam to avoid flow overheating and bypass valve position is low limited in accordance with steam flow and throttle pressure to avoid excessively low steam flow. Reheater controls are operated to match intermediate turbine temperature and reheat steam temperature.

Abstract: A torque compensation system is disclosed for d.c. motor drives using field weakening for speed control. A diode switching matrix and a static divider are connected so that the divider receives signals which are functions of motor armature current and speed respectively, and delivers at its output a signal which is proportional to motor torque for adjusting the speed reference to the motor.

Abstract: A combined cycle electric power plant includes gas and steam turbines and a steam generator for recovering the heat in the exhaust gases exited from the gas turbine and for using the recovered heat to produce and supply steam to the steam turbine. Afterburners further heat the exhaust gases from each gas turbine prior to their passage to respective heat recovery sections of the steam generator. The power plant control system provides coordinated plant control or coordinated control of selected turbines and afterburners in both startup and load operations, with load distribution optimized according to the turbines under coordinated control. Transfer between coordinated control and alternate modes of plant control may be done by operator selection or automatically upon sensed conditions.

Abstract: A reversible gerotor pump having unidirectional fluid flow therefrom dictated by a movable eccentric ring member 30 for positioning the rotor 46 of the pump gear-set 44 in either one of two axially eccentric positions depending upon the direction of rotation of the drive shaft 20 to the pump. Movement of the eccentric ring member from one such position to the other position upon a reversal of direction of the drive shaft is caused by check valve means 70 associated with the pump inlet 68 so that, if reverse rotation of the drive shaft momentarily causes reverse flow of the pumped fluid (e.g., causes the fluid to exit through the inlet) the check valve closes and establishes a hydraulic lock between the gear-set and forces the eccentric ring member to move from the one position to the other eccentric position whereupon the fluid is once again caused to be discharged through the normal pump outlet 64 and enter through the inlet.

Abstract: A control system for a steam turbine includes an operator's panel and a programmed digital computer which generates valve position signals for the turbine throttle and governor valves. Mode select signals are generated at the panel and the computer includes a mode selector which provides for structuring the control system to implement external synchronizer, load runback, automatic turbine startup, operator automatic, manual and other mode selections.

Abstract: A fuel control schedules fuel to a gas turbine to produce a scheduled speed profile during startup. The scheduled speed profile is continuously compared to actual turbine speed during startup, and the difference is compared to an alarm setpoint and a trip setpoint. Normally, temperature and surge limit controls prevent the turbine from accelerating too fast; and, if the turbine is accelerating too slowly, an alarm output is generated when the actual/desired speed difference reaches the alarm setpoint and the turbine is tripped when the actual/desired speed difference reaches the trip setpoint.

Abstract: A rotary compressor 10 of the rolling piston type is shown wherein the rolling cylindrical piston 28 is forced into rolling contact with the cylindrical interior 15 of the compressor chamber by a hydraulic piston 78 and cylinder 64 arrangement providing a resilient force on the rolling piston 28 to permit non-compressible matter such as liquid refrigerant to be present in the compressor chamber and also, through means 82 for varying the hydraulic pressure to the hydraulic piston and cylinder arrangement, permit varying the compressor discharge pressure while the rolling piston is continuously driven.

Abstract: A surface wave phase correlator comprises a pair of substantially identical launch and receiving filter electrode patterns disposed on a common piezoelectric substrate. The correlator is employed with receiving and processing circuitry in a monopulse radar system to provide relative phase information for target calculations by a digital processor. Fast rise and fall times for the correlator output signals enable rapid digital processing of incoming target signals.

Abstract: A guidance control system is disclosed for a traction vehicle arranged to be displaced along a guide path which consists of a plurality of closed loop vertical antennae embedded beneath the surface along the path of travel. The vehicle is in two way radio communication with wayside stations equipment. Destination information in binary coded form is encoded on the vehicle and sent to the proximate loop antenna; the fact that this coded information is received at a particular segmented antenna at once identifies the location of the vehicle as well as conveys the destination intelligence. A central processor, receiving the location and destination information, of this and all other vehicles, serves as a master control to discipline each vehicle from one segmented loop to the next. From the central processor the wayside station sends traction signals to each segmented antenna loop respectively.

Abstract: A system is first established by connecting apparatus which implements system operations to a digital computer system using an interface system. Machine readable definitions of the system operating configuration are then prepared and fed into the computer system. Included among these definitions are definitions which define designators or names for a number of the system logical variables. These definitions may also include alarm information pertaining to the variables to which they relate and a message which is to be printed out when the related variable enters an alarm state. As each of these definitions is fed into the system, alarm checking of the related variable is immediately commenced. In addition, any system job definition fed into the system at a later time may refer to the variable by designator only, and linkages to the variable are automatically established.

Abstract: An industrial production or other operational system is established by connecting apparatus which implements system operations to a digital computer system using an interface system. Machine readable definitions of events, of executable jobs, and of system variables are prepared for computer entry and ultimately for configuration of the system apparatus into an entity having operational characteristics corresponding to the entered definitions.The definitions of system variables may include definitions of signals which are coupled between the system apparatus and the computer through the interface system, and such signals may be put to system monitoring or control uses or both of these uses in the structured system. Some of the definitions may be computer programs, but most are preferably definitions of the system configuration written out in a language which a systems engineer can understand and use. Generally, definitions may include designators which are names or numbers.