Abstract: A system may include a model library configured to model a system, wherein the model library includes a plurality of subsystem models, and each of the plurality of subsystem models is configured to derive a reliability measure. The system further includes a fault tolerance input and a maintenance policy input. The system further includes a dynamic risk calculation engine (DRCE) configured to use a user-defined set of the plurality of subsystem models, the fault tolerance input and the maintenance policy input, to derive a system risk for an apparatus.

Abstract: A system may include a model library configured to model a safety system, wherein the model library comprises a plurality of subsystem models, and each of the plurality of subsystem models is configured to derive a reliability measure. The system further includes a fault tolerance input and a maintenance policy input. The system further includes a dynamic risk calculation engine (DRCE) configured to use a user-defined set of the plurality of subsystem models, the fault tolerance input and the maintenance policy input, to derive a system risk for an apparatus.

Abstract: A system may include a dynamic risk calculation engine (DRCE) system. The DRCE includes a model library configured to model a system, wherein the model library comprises a plurality of subsystem models, and each of the plurality of subsystem models is configured to derive a reliability measure. The DRCE further includes a fault tolerance input and a maintenance policy input. The DRCE additionally includes a run-time risk calculation engine configured to use a user-defined set of the plurality of subsystem models, the fault tolerance input, and the maintenance policy input, to derive a system risk for an apparatus.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a power generation system that includes a steam turbine that is coupled to a gas turbine engine. The method includes calculating, by a control system, a gas turbine engine power output that is based at least in part on a predefined power generation system power output and a predefined steam turbine power output. The power generation system is operated to generate a power output that is approximately equal to the predefined power generation system power output. A signal indicative of a sensed operating power output of the gas turbine engine is transmitted from a sensor to the control system. A condition of the steam turbine is determined based at least in part on the sensed operating gas turbine engine power output and the calculated gas turbine engine power output.

Abstract: A system may include a dynamic risk calculation engine (DRCE) system. The DRCE includes a model library configured to model a system, wherein the model library comprises a plurality of subsystem models, and each of the plurality of subsystem models is configured to derive a reliability measure. The DRCE further includes a fault tolerance input and a maintenance policy input. The DRCE additionally includes a run-time risk calculation engine configured to use a user-defined set of the plurality of subsystem models, the fault tolerance input, and the maintenance policy input, to derive a system risk for an apparatus.

Abstract: A system may include a model library configured to model a system, wherein the model library comprises a plurality of subsystem models, and each of the plurality of subsystem models is configured to derive a reliability measure. The system further includes a fault tolerance input and a maintenance policy input. The system further includes a dynamic risk calculation engine (DRCE) configured to use a user-defined set of the plurality of subsystem models, the fault tolerance input and the maintenance policy input, to derive a system risk for an apparatus.

Abstract: A computer-readable medium including computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform acts, via an associated method that includes selecting a fault tree based upon an architecture of a safety instrumented system. The method includes evaluating at least a failure probability due to dangerous detected failures and a failure probability due to dangerous undetected failures as a function of values of factors. A portion of the failure probability due to dangerous undetected failures is based on failures detected during proof testing and a remainder of the failure probability due to dangerous undetected failures is based on failures detected during refurbishment. The method includes generating a probability of failure on demand for the safety instrumented system by combining at least the failure probability due to dangerous detected failures and the failure probability due to dangerous undetected failures according to the fault tree.

Abstract: A system may include a model library configured to model a safety system, wherein the model library comprises a plurality of subsystem models, and each of the plurality of subsystem models is configured to derive a reliability measure. The system further includes a fault tolerance input and a maintenance policy input. The system further includes a dynamic risk calculation engine (DRCE) configured to use a user-defined set of the plurality of subsystem models, the fault tolerance input and the maintenance policy input, to derive a system risk for an apparatus.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a power generation system that includes a steam turbine that is coupled to a gas turbine engine. The method includes calculating, by a control system, a gas turbine engine power output that is based at least in part on a predefined power generation system power output and a predefined steam turbine power output. The power generation system is operated to generate a power output that is approximately equal to the predefined power generation system power output. A signal indicative of a sensed operating power output of the gas turbine engine is transmitted from a sensor to the control system. A condition of the steam turbine is determined based at least in part on the sensed operating gas turbine engine power output and the calculated gas turbine engine power output.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring and controlling a power distribution system is provided. The system includes a plurality of circuit breakers and a plurality of node electronic units. Each node electronic unit is mounted remotely from an associated circuit breaker that is electrically coupled with one of the node electronic units. The system also includes a first digital network, and a first central control unit. The first central control unit and the plurality of node electronic units are communicatively coupled to the first digital network. The method includes receiving digital signals from each node electronic unit at the central control unit, determining an operational state of the power distribution system from the digital signal, and transmitting digital signals to the plurality of node electronic units such that the circuit breakers are operable from the first central control unit.

Abstract: A piezoelectric planar composite apparatus to provide health monitoring of a structure and associated methods are provided. The piezoelectric planar composite apparatus includes a piezoelectric electric material layer, multiple electrodes positioned in electrical contact with the piezoelectric material layer, and multiple sets of electrode interconnect conductors each positioned in electrical contact with a different subset of the electrodes and positioned to form multiple complementary electrode patterns. Each of the complementary electrode patterns is positioned to form an electric field having an electric field axis oriented along a different physical axis from that of an electric field formed by at least one other of the complementary electrode patterns. The interconnect conductors can be distributed over several electrode interconnect conductor carrying layers to enhance formation of the different complementary electrode patterns.

Abstract: A system to monitor the health of the structure, program product, and associated methods are provided. The system can include multiple health monitoring sensor nodes positioned to monitor parameters of a portion of the body of the structure. Sensor elements of the sensor nodes are spatially positioned along the body of structure at related or complementary locations to form a special correlative relationship between sensor nodes. The system can also include a data collector having a transceiver positioned to gather sensed parameter data from each of the sensor nodes, and a central computer including in memory, parameter process program product adapted to analyze the sensed parameter data, correlate the sensed parameter data to infer a state of health of the structure responsive to the correlation, and to detect or otherwise determine a type, severity, and/or location of damage to or incipient failure of the structure.

Abstract: A piezoelectric planar composite apparatus to provide health monitoring of a structure and associated methods are provided. The piezoelectric planar composite apparatus includes a piezoelectric electric material layer, multiple electrodes positioned in electrical contact with the piezoelectric material layer, and multiple sets of electrode interconnect conductors each positioned in electrical contact with a different subset of the of the electrodes and positioned to form multiple complementary electrode patterns. Each of the complementary electrode patterns is positioned to form an electric field having an electric field axis oriented along a different physical axis from that of an electric field formed by at least one other of the complementary electrode patterns. The interconnect conductors can be distributed over several electrode interconnect conductor carrying layers to enhance formation of the different complementary electrode patterns.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring and controlling a power distribution system is provided. The system includes a plurality of circuit breakers and a plurality of node electronic units. Each node electronic unit is mounted remotely from an associated circuit breaker that is electrically coupled with one of the node electronic units. The system also includes a first digital network, and a first central control unit. The first central control unit and the plurality of node electronic units are communicatively coupled to the first digital network. The method includes receiving digital signals from each node electronic unit at the central control unit, determining an operational state of the power distribution system from the digital signal, and transmitting digital signals to the plurality of node electronic units such that the circuit breakers are operable from the first central control unit.

Abstract: A method and system and a computer program for improving reliability of a centrally-controlled electrical protection system is provided. The method includes identifying at least one component of the centrally-controlled power distribution system, obtaining at least one of reliability data and reparability data for each at least one component of the centrally-controlled power distribution system, and constructing a reliability block diagram for each functional category. The computer system and computer program code segment are configured to implement the method for improving reliability of a centrally-controlled electrical protection system architecture based on sensitivity analysis.

Abstract: A protection system for a power distribution system is provided. The protection system includes a central computer, a plurality of data modules, and a data network. The data modules are each in communication with a different circuit breaker of the power distribution system. The data network communicates between the central computer and the plurality of data modules. The central computer sends an instruction to the plurality of data modules over the data network to aid in synchronization of sampling of a power condition at the plurality of data modules.

Abstract: A method for operating a power distribution system is provided. The power distribution system includes a plurality of components, and at least one node electronics unit coupled to at least one control processing unit. The method includes associating a unique identifier with at least one component class of the power distribution system, identifying each component based on the identifier, determining a specification associated with each identifier, and operating at least one of the node electronics unit and the control processing unit based on the determined specification.

Abstract: A method of monitoring and controlling a power distribution system is provided. The power distribution system includes a plurality of circuit breakers, a plurality of node electronic units, and wherein each associated circuit breaker is electrically coupled with each respective node electronic unit. The system also includes at least one digital network, and at least one central control processing unit (CCPU) wherein each CCPU includes a first power system global information set, and each CCPU is communicatively coupled to the plurality of node electronic units. The method includes transmitting at least one digital message from each node electronic unit to each CCPU over a respective network, determining an operational state of the power distribution system from the digital message, and transmitting at least one multicast message from each CCPU to each node electronic unit such that the circuit breakers are operable from each CCPU.

Abstract: A method of monitoring and controlling a power distribution system is provided. The power distribution system includes a plurality of circuit breakers, a plurality of node electronic units, and wherein each associated circuit breaker is electrically coupled with each respective node electronic unit. The system also includes at least one digital network, and at least one central control processing unit (CCPU) wherein each CCPU includes a first power system global information set, and each CCPU is communicatively coupled to the plurality of node electronic units. The method includes transmitting at least one digital message from each node electronic unit to each CCPU over a respective network, determining an operational state of the power distribution system from the digital message, and transmitting at least one multicast message from each CCPU to each node electronic unit such that the circuit breakers are operable from each CCPU.

Abstract: A protection system for a power distribution system is provided. The protection system includes a central computer, a plurality of data modules, and a data network. The data modules are each in communication with a different circuit breaker of the power distribution system. The data network communicates between the central computer and the plurality of data modules. The central computer sends an instruction to the plurality of data modules over the data network to aid in synchronization of sampling of a power condition at the plurality of data modules.