Abstract: A control system for a combined cycle power generation system including a gas turbine engine (GT), a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG), and a steam turbine (ST) includes a display wherein an operator may observe information about predicted operating parameters; a user interface wherein an operator may provide additional operating constraints; and a controller configured to generate input profiles of the GT, the HRSG, and the ST that satisfy the nominal constraints and any additional constraints and to generate the information about the predicted operating parameters. The controller may be configured to detect a stage transition of power generation system operation and update the input profiles. The controller may be configured to generate alternative operating scenarios by mapping alternative control actions to an operating constraint of at least one of the system components.

Abstract: A method for advanced condition monitoring of an asset system includes sensing actual values of an operating condition for an operating regime of the asset system using at least one sensor; estimating sensed values of the operating condition by using an auto-associative neural network; determining a residual vector between the estimated sensed values and the actual values; and performing a fault diagnostic on the residual vector. In another method, an operating space of the asset system is segmented into operating regimes; the auto-associative neural network determines estimates of actual measured values; a residual vector is determined from the auto-associative neural network; a fault diagnostic is performed on the residual vector; and a change of the operation of the asset system is determined by analysis of the residual vector. An alert is provided if necessary. A smart sensor system includes an on-board processing unit for performing the method of the invention.

Abstract: The present application provides a method of monitoring a compressor. The method may include the steps of determining a blade passing frequency, determining a power indication for a number of frequencies above and below the blade passing frequency, determining a ratio between a maximum power indication and a minimum power indication for the frequencies for a number of predetermined time intervals, and analyzing the ratio for each predetermined time interval to predict a surge condition of the compressor.

Abstract: An electrical component comprises a superconductive wire, the wire comprising a first wire segment joined to a second wire segment, wherein the first wire segment and the second wire segment differ in at least one property selected from the group consisting of magnetic field tolerance, temperature tolerance, ac loss, and strain tolerance, and wherein the magnetic field tolerance is measured by the relationship of critical current Ic to magnetic field H at a given temperature T below critical temperature Tc, the temperature tolerance is measured by the relationship of critical current Ic to temperature T at a given magnetic field below critical magnetic field Hc, the ac loss is measured by the amount of ac loss versus the frequency and magnitude of applied ac currents and fields, and the strain tolerance is measured by critical current Ic degradation with strain.

Abstract: A power generation system includes a renewable power source for producing source power; a source side converter for converting the source power to converted DC power; a source side controller for driving the converted DC power towards a maximum power point; a DC link for receiving the converted DC power; a grid side converter coupled to the DC link for converting DC link power from the DC link to AC output power for a grid; a grid side controller for controlling the AC output power of the grid side converter to achieve grid interconnection requirements; an electrical energy storage device; an energy storage converter coupling the energy storage device to the DC link; an energy storage controller for controlling the energy storage converter to achieve a desired power balance on the DC link.

Abstract: A direct current generating including an annular armature connectable to rotate with a rotating component of a wind turbine and a stationary annular field winding coaxial to the armature and separated by a gap from the armature. The field winding is configured to include superconducting coil magnets and a support structure connectable to an upper region of a tower of the wind turbine. The direct current generator further including a commutator assembly configured to transfer DC current generated by the rotating armature to a power conversion system.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide hydrocarbon additives and methods of making and using the same. The additives are suitable for use in conjunction with gasifiers, furnaces, or other high-temperature vessels. The additives may be part of an input stream to a reaction vessel of a hydrocarbon gasifier. The additives may include materials that at least partially reduce the infiltration of slag into the refractory material.

Abstract: A system is provided for estimating a condition of a non-conductive hollow structure exposed to a lightning strike. The structure has an internal cavity. The system includes a pressure transducer to measure a pressure of an acoustic wave generated within the internal cavity due to the lightning strike. The system further includes a controller coupled to the pressure transducer, to receive the measured pressure from the pressure transducer, and to process the condition of the structure, based on the measured pressure.

Abstract: A power generation system configured to provide direct current (DC) power to a DC link is described. The system includes a first power generation unit configured to output DC power. The system also includes a first DC to DC converter comprising an input section and an output section. The output section of the first DC to DC converter is coupled in series with the first power generation unit. The first DC to DC converter is configured to process a first portion of the DC power output by the first power generation unit and to provide an unprocessed second portion of the DC power output of the first power generation unit to the output section.

Abstract: Disclosed is an actuator that includes a cylinder having an input port, a piston disposed at least partially inside of the cylinder, and one or more piston rings disposed in a circumferential piston ring groove or grooves. The actuator also includes at least one spring, inserted into the circumferential piston ring groove adjacent to the one or more piston rings and a high pressure side of said piston ring. The spring preloads the one or more piston rings to seal between a low pressure face of the one or more piston rings and a low pressure face of the circumferential piston ring groove. The invention also includes a method for moving an adjustable seal in a radial direction using the piston-ring sealed actuator. The method includes moving the adjustable seal in an axial direction, breaking a primary axial contact between the adjustable seal and a primary sealing face.

Abstract: A system for cooling superconducting materials used for magnetization of magnets disposed within a cylindrical structure, the system including a first tubing system for allowing a cooling gas to interact with a high-field strength superconducting material to thermosiphon-cool the high-field strength superconducting material, a second tubing system for allowing a cooling gas to interact with a low-field strength superconducting material to thermosiphon-cool the low-field strength superconducting material, and a cooling gas in liquefied form configured to flow through the first tubing system and/or the second tubing system. An outlet of the first tubing system and an outlet of the second tubing system are located at a same location on a surface of the cylindrical structure. A method for cool superconducting materials used for magnetization of magnets disposed within a cylindrical structure is also disclosed.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine control system comprises a data acquisition and analysis system for receiving a signal from a combustion dynamics sensor and providing an output signal and a combustion dynamics control system for controlling combustion dynamics based on the output signal. The control system is associated with a purge-air flow and comprises an acoustic driver, or a flow-manipulating device, or both to perturb the purge-air flow entering the combustor can for controlling combustion dynamics.

Abstract: A method of controlling electrical power systems coupled to an electrical connection point includes obtaining carrier signals and fundamental waveforms from electrical power systems coupled to at least two renewable energy sources, generating pulse width modulation (PWM) signals using the carrier signals and the fundamental waveforms while interleaving carrier signals, fundamental waveforms, or a combination of carrier signals and fundamental waveforms of the electrical power systems, and driving grid side converters of the electrical power systems with the PWM signals.

Abstract: A technique for winding multi-turn, stranded wire coils using rectangular cables avoids the risk of damage associated with edge-wise bends.

Abstract: A multilevel inverter is provided. The multilevel inverter includes a plurality of bridges, each bridge configured to receive a respective portion of an input DC power and convert the respective portion to a respective converted AC power. The multilevel inverter also includes at least one bridge controller for operating at least one of the plurality of bridges in a square waveform mode. The multilevel inverter further includes a plurality of transformers, each transformer coupled to a respective bridge and configured to increase a voltage level of the respective portion of converted AC power. The plurality of transformers further includes secondary windings coupled in series with the other secondary windings to combine the respective increased voltage level portions of the converted AC power. The multilevel inverter also includes a grid converter configured to provide output power for a power grid.

Abstract: Casting molds suitable for directional solidification processes using a liquid cooling bath include a graded facecoat structure on a mold body. The graded facecoat structure includes an innermost layer and a delamination layer, wherein the delamination layer fractures upon cooling of the molten metal so as to separate the mold body from the innermost layer, which remains in contact with or in close proximity to the metal being cast. Also disclosed are directional solidification processes.

Abstract: A wind turbine system is presented. The wind turbine system includes a blade comprising an airfoil and a sensing device disposed on a surface of the airfoil, wherein the sensing device generates signals that are representative of pressure deflection on the surface of the airfoil. The wind turbine system further comprises a processing subsystem that receives location details of the sensing device and a transfer function corresponding to the airfoil, determines a location of a stagnation point on the surface of the airfoil based upon the signals and the location details, and determine an angle of attack (AOA) on the surface of the airfoil based upon the location of the stagnation point and the transfer function.

Abstract: A control system for controlling a multiphase power converter includes a current control module, a voltage control module and a current command selector. The current control module generates grid voltage command signals for the multiphase power converter and the voltage control module generates reference converter current command signals for the current control module. The current command selector supplies active and reactive current command signals from a supervisory controller to the current control module when the multiphase power converter is connected to the grid and supplies the reference converter current command signals to the current control module when the multiphase power converter is unconnected to the grid.

Abstract: A system for monitoring health of an electrical machine is provided. The system includes at least one sensor element embedded in at least one substrate element located in a stator core. The system further includes a measuring subsystem coupled to the at least one sensor element and configured to monitor the health based on changes in electromagnetic characteristics of the sensor element due to changes in force acting on the substrate element or compression of the substrate element.

Abstract: A bit synchronization method is proposed. The method includes buffering a plurality of samples from a signal stream, scanning the buffered samples for transitions and updating a zero-crossing histogram buffer upon detection of the transitions. The method further includes detecting at least two peaks simultaneously from the updated zero-crossing histogram buffer, fixing at least two boundaries from the detected peaks, and integrating the buffered samples within the boundaries. Finally the method includes generating an output signal comprising a synchronized bit stream from the integrated samples.