Abstract: A power generation system, apparatus and method to buffer power fluctuations are provided. At least one inverter (14) may be coupled to a photovoltaic power generator (10). The inverter may be subject to at least one operational constraint. A power-buffering circuitry (16) may be connected between the photovoltaic power generator and the inverter to buffer power generation fluctuations which can occur in power generated by the photovoltaic power generator, and satisfy the operational constraint of the inverter notwithstanding an occurrence of the power generation fluctuations. A controller (14) may be coupled to the power-buffering circuitry and may be responsive to the parameter of the photovoltaic power generator to perform at least one control action regarding the power fluctuations. Control actions may be performed by the controller independently of a control strategy of the inverter.

Abstract: Solar farms and methods for forecasting solar farm performance are provided. A method may include, for example, the steps of analyzing in a computing device at least one historic or estimated usage parameter and at least one design limit parameter, and determining an estimated failure probability for at least one solar module of the solar farm based on the at least one historic or estimated usage parameter and at least one design limit parameter. A method may further include, for example, the steps of receiving in the computing device at least one real time usage parameter, and calculating an updated failure probability based on the estimated failure probability and the least one real time usage parameter.

Abstract: A power generation system, apparatus and method to buffer power fluctuations are provided. At least one inverter (14) may be coupled to a photovoltaic power generator (10). The inverter may be subject to at least one operational constraint. A power-buffering circuitry (16) may be connected between the photovoltaic power generator and the inverter to buffer power generation fluctuations which can occur in power generated by the photovoltaic power generator, and satisfy the operational constraint of the inverter notwithstanding an occurrence of the power generation fluctuations. A controller (14) may be coupled to the power-buffering circuitry and may be responsive to the parameter of the photovoltaic power generator to perform at least one control action regarding the power fluctuations. Control actions may be performed by the controller independently of a control strategy of the inverter.

Abstract: A system includes sensors configured to measure vessel parameters. A signal processing unit receives sensor output signals and generates a first, second, third, fourth, and fifth filtered output signals representative of liquid level, gas flow rate, feed-liquid flow rate, vessel pressure, and vessel temperature, respectively. A flow demand control unit receives the first filtered output signal and generates an output signal representative of feed-liquid flow demand. A shaping unit receives the second, fourth, and fifth filtered output signals and generates an output signal representative of shaped gas flow rate. A liquid level control unit controls the liquid level within predetermined limits by controlling one or more components based on the output signals from the flow demand control unit, the shaping unit, and the third filtered output signal.

Abstract: A starting material including silica and carbon is heated to form an intermediate material. The intermediate material includes silica and silicon carbide. The intermediate material is reacted to form silicon. At least some of the emissions that are generated by heating the starting material and reacting the intermediate material are collected and used to generate electric power.

Abstract: A system includes sensors configured to measure parameters related to a vessel including liquid level, gas flow rate, pressure in the vessel, temperature of the vessel, and feed-liquid flow rate. A signal processing unit receives sensor output signals and generates a first filtered output signal representative of liquid level, a second filtered output signal representative of gas flow rate, a third filtered output signal representative of feed-liquid flow rate, a fourth filtered output signal representative of vessel pressure, and a fifth filtered output signal representative of vessel temperature. A flow demand control unit receives the first filtered output signal and generates an output signal representative of feed-liquid flow demand. A shaping unit receives the second, fourth, and fifth filtered output signal and generates an output signal representative of shaped gas flow rate as a function of pressure, temperature, or combination thereof in the vessel.

Abstract: A fuel moisturization sensor system is disclosed. The fuel moisturization sensor system includes a first light source configured for emitting light through a fuel and moisture flow path at a first wavelength, wherein the first wavelength is at least partially absorbable by the moisture when in a vapor phase and substantially not absorbable by the fuel, and a second light source configured for emitting light through the fuel and moisture flow path at a second wavelength, wherein the second wavelength is preferentially scattered by moisture when in a liquid phase and substantially not absorbed by the fuel or by the moisture when in a vapor phase, a detector system configured to detect light transmitted through the flow path at the first and second wavelengths and to generate a first data signal corresponding to the transmission at the first wavelength and a second data signal corresponding to the transmission at the second wavelength.

Abstract: A starting material including silica and carbon is heated to form an intermediate material. The intermediate material includes silica and silicon carbide. The intermediate material is reacted to form silicon. At least some of the emissions that are generated by heating the starting material and reacting the intermediate material are collected and used to generate electric power.

Abstract: A method, system and software for reducing combustion chamber to chamber variation in a multiple-combustion chamber turbine system comprising sensing dynamic combustion pressure tones emitted from combustion chambers in a multiple combustion chamber turbine and determining a combustion chamber stratification index for the combustion chambers from the dynamic combustion pressure tones emitted for the combustion chambers to record and/or tune combustion chamber performance variations in the multiple-chamber combustion turbine system.

Abstract: A method for predicting lean blow-outs (LBOs) in a gas turbine engine includes extracting a plurality of tones in pressure signals representative of pressure within monitored combustor cans, tracking a frequency of a hot tone in each monitored can, and utilizing the extracted tones and the tracked frequency to determine a probability of an LBO.

Abstract: A method for monitoring performance of a gas turbine system comprises providing a plurality of combustor cans; placing a plurality of temperature sensors circumferentially around an exhaust plane of the plurality of combustor cans; operating the plurality of combustor cans while varying a plurality of gas turbine operating parameters, where exhaust gas issues from each combustor can of the plurality of combustor cans during operation; measuring temperature of the exhaust gas in the exhaust plane using the plurality of temperature sensors to obtain a plurality of individual temperature measurements; determining a correlation of the individual temperature measurements of exhaust gas temperature with corresponding individual combustor cans of the plurality of combustor cans issuing the exhaust gas; and developing a swirl model, where the model uses the correlation to predict swirl values in the exhaust plane as a function of the operating parameters.

Abstract: A method for controlling the level of a drum in a drum-type boiler includes adjusting a gain of a drum level PID (such as a Proportional Integral Derivative control) in accordance with a signal representative of a set of tuning constants, a signal representative of drum level, and a signal representative of a drum level setpoint. The method also includes utilizing a flow control PID to adjust a drum level control valve, wherein the flow control PID adjusts the drum level control valve in accordance with an output of the drum level PID, a signal representative of steam flow, and a signal representative of drum feedwater flow.

Abstract: A method for monitoring performance of a gas turbine system comprises providing a plurality of combustor cans; placing a plurality of temperature sensors circumferentially around an exhaust plane of the plurality of combustor cans; operating the plurality of combustor cans while varying a plurality of gas turbine operating parameters, where exhaust gas issues from each combustor can of the plurality of combustor cans during operation; measuring temperature of the exhaust gas in the exhaust plane using the plurality of temperature sensors to obtain a plurality of individual temperature measurements; determining a correlation of the individual temperature measurements of exhaust gas temperature with corresponding individual combustor cans of the plurality of combustor cans issuing the exhaust gas; and developing a swirl model, where the model uses the correlation to predict swirl values in the exhaust plane as a function of the operating parameters.

Abstract: A method for monitoring performance of a gas turbine system comprises providing a plurality of combustor cans; placing a plurality of temperature sensors circumferentially around an exhaust plane of the plurality of combustor cans; operating the plurality of combustor cans while varying a plurality of gas turbine operating parameters, where exhaust gas issues from each combustor can of the plurality of combustor cans during operation; measuring temperature of the exhaust gas in the exhaust plane using the plurality of temperature sensors to obtain a plurality of individual temperature measurements; determining a correlation of the individual temperature measurements of exhaust gas temperature with corresponding individual combustor cans of the plurality of combustor cans issuing the exhaust gas; and developing a swirl model, where the model uses the correlation to predict swirl values in the exhaust plane as a function of the operating parameters.

Abstract: Critical stress in a gas turbine can be estimated using one or more readily measurable temperatures in the gas turbine. First and second critical temperatures can be estimated based on the at least one measurable temperature using heat conduction and convection equations. Subsequently, the critical stress can be estimated in real time according to a stress model prediction based on the difference between the critical temperatures, and possibly the rotational speed of the turbine, and some parameter, such as air pressure, that is indicative of air flow around the turbine component. Operation of the gas turbine can thus be controlled using the estimated critical temperatures.

Abstract: Critical stress in a gas turbine can be estimated using one or more readily measurable temperatures in the gas turbine. First and second critical temperatures can be estimated based on the at least one measurable temperature using heat conduction and convection equations. Subsequently, the critical stress can be estimated in real time according to a stress model prediction based on the difference between the critical temperatures, and possibly the rotational speed of the turbine, and some parameter, such as air pressure, that is indicative of air flow around the turbine component. Operation of the gas turbine can thus be controlled using the estimated critical temperatures.