Abstract: An automated control method for meeting rapidly fluctuating power demands with stable power production is disclosed. The method includes determining a market value of a unit of electricity sold on the grid, a fuel cost required to produce the unit of electricity, and a market value of a processing task requiring the unity of electricity. The method also includes calculating which of the electricity, processing, or fuel, is the most valuable; shutting off a running process when the value of the electricity is highest or the value of the fuel is highest; and starting a pending process when the net market value of the processing task is highest. The method may also include reducing electricity generation at a power plant when the value of electricity is negative, or exercising a futures contract to supply electricity.

Abstract: An automated control method for meeting rapidly fluctuating power demands with stable power production is disclosed. The method includes determining a market value of a unit of electricity sold on the grid, a fuel cost required to produce the unit of electricity, and a market value of a processing task requiring the unit of electricity. The method also includes calculating which of the electricity, processing, or fuel is most valuable; shutting off a running process when the value of the electricity is highest or the value of the fuel is highest; and starting a pending process when the net market value of the processing task is highest. The method may also include reducing electricity generation at a power plant when the value of electricity is negative, or exercising a futures contract to supply electricity.

Abstract: An automated control method for meeting rapidly fluctuating power demands with stable power production is disclosed. The method includes determining a market value of a unit of electricity sold on the grid, a fuel cost required to produce the unit of electricity, and a market value of a processing task requiring the unit of electricity. The method also includes calculating which of the electricity, processing, or fuel is most valuable; shutting off a running process when the value of the electricity is highest or the value of the fuel is highest; and starting a pending process when the net market value of the processing task is highest. The method may also include reducing electricity generation at a power plant when the value of electricity is negative, or exercising a futures contract to supply electricity.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides a water wash system that may mix a cleaning fluid with at least one chemical agent to form a cleaning solution. The cleaning solution may reduce the corrosives on components of a compressor. The cleaning solution may be an mildly acidic solution to reduce corrosion of a caustic nature. Alternatively, the cleaning solution may be a mildly basic solution to reduce corrosion of an acidic nature.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides a water wash system that may mix a cleaning fluid with at least one chemical agent to form a cleaning solution. The cleaning solution may reduce the corrosives on components of a compressor. The cleaning solution may be a mildly acidic solution to reduce corrosion of a caustic nature. Alternatively, the cleaning solution may be a mildly basic solution to reduce corrosion of an acidic nature.

Abstract: Systems and methods for fault prediction are described to reduce equipment failure by effectively monitoring equipment, removing anomalous data, and reducing false alarms. Such systems and methods can be used to receive monitoring data, extract information from the data, and combine extracted information for establishing prediction models. Additionally, fault probabilities may be quantified and faults may be predicted based on the probabilities.

Abstract: A method and system for operating a facility having a plurality of equipment combinations wherein each equipment combination is operating interactively with at least one of another of the plurality of equipment combination is provided. The method includes receiving, in real-time, for each of the plurality of equipment combinations, a plurality of measured process parameters, determining at least one derived quantity from the plurality of measured process parameters, and recommending a change to an equipment operation based on the measured process parameters and the derived quantities.

Abstract: Systems and methods for fault prediction are described to reduce equipment failure by effectively monitoring equipment, removing anomalous data, and reducing false alarms. Such systems and methods can be used to receive monitoring data, extract information from the data, and combine extracted information for establishing prediction models. Additionally, fault probabilities may be quantified and faults may be predicted based on the probabilities.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides a water wash system that may mix a cleaning fluid with at least one chemical agent to form a cleaning solution. The cleaning solution may reduce the corrosives on components of a compressor. The cleaning solution may be a mildly acidic solution to reduce corrosion of a caustic nature. Alternatively, the cleaning solution may be a mildly basic solution to reduce corrosion of an acidic nature.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention measures a sample of the airstream, in real time, for a corrosive, before the airstream enters the compressor. An embodiment of the present invention may then initiate an on-line water wash system to reduce the level of the at least one corrosive on the compressor. An embodiment of the present invention also provides an on-line water wash system that may mix a cleaning fluid with at least one chemical agent to form a cleaning solution. The cleaning solution reduces the level of corrosives on components of a turbomachine compressor. The cleaning solution may be an acidic solution to reduce corrosion of a caustic nature. Alternatively, the cleaning solution may be a basic solution to reduce corrosion of an acidic nature.

Abstract: A method of operating a turbine, the method including the steps of: 1) gathering measured creep data for a blade while the turbine operates at different operating temperatures, the measured creep data comprising at least a measured creep rate for the blade (wherein the different operating temperatures include at least a first operating temperature and a second operating temperature); and 2) given the measured creep data for the blade while the turbine operated at the first operating temperature and the measured creep data for the blade while the turbine operated at the second operating temperature, determining whether operating the turbine at the first operating temperature or the second operating temperature is more economically efficient.

Abstract: A method for determining the radial deformation of a blade in a turbine that includes: 1) taking an initial measurement of the blade with one or more proximity sensors disposed around the circumference of a stage of blades; 2) after the initial measurement, taking a second measurement of the blade with the one or more proximity sensors; 3) making a determination of the radial deformation of the blade by comparing the initial measurement to the second measurement. The initial measurement and the second measurement may be taken while the turbine is operating.

Abstract: A method and system for operating a facility having a plurality of equipment combinations wherein each equipment combination is operating interactively with at least one of another of the plurality of equipment combination is provided. The method includes receiving, in real-time, for each of the plurality of equipment combinations, a plurality of measured process parameters, determining at least one derived quantity from the plurality of measured process parameters, and recommending a change to an equipment operation based on the measured process parameters and the derived quantities.

Abstract: A system for monitoring a condition of an article comprises a controller; at least one sensor for detecting a characteristic of the article; a signal processor for processing signals from the at least one sensor; a feature extractor that can extract at least one of a range of article conditions from the output from the signal processor and that can evaluate at least one of a range of article conditions, the feature extractor providing feature extractor output to the controller; an operation detector receiving data of detected features of the elements being monitored, the operation detector providing output to the controller; a central system storing historical data about the condition of an article, the off-line processor providing output to the controller. Wherein the controller analyzes the output from the feature extractor, the operation detector, and the central system can provide a system output of the condition of the article.

Abstract: A method and system for operating a facility having a plurality of equipment combinations wherein each equipment combination is operating interactively with at least one of another of the plurality of equipment combination is provided. The method includes receiving, in real-time, for each of the plurality of equipment combinations, a plurality of measured process parameters, determining at least one derived quantity from the plurality of measured process parameters, and recommending a change to an equipment operation based on the measured process parameters and the derived quantities.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides a water wash system that may mix a cleaning fluid with at least one chemical agent to form a cleaning solution. The cleaning solution may reduce the corrosives on components of a compressor. The cleaning solution may be an mildly acidic solution to reduce corrosion of a caustic nature. Alternatively, the cleaning solution may be a mildly basic solution to reduce corrosion of an acidic nature.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention measures a sample of the airstream, in real time, for at least one corrosive, before the airstream enters the compressor. An embodiment of the present invention may then initiate an on-line water wash system to reduce the level of the at least one corrosive on the compressor. An embodiment of the present invention also provides an on-line water wash system that may mix a cleaning fluid with at least one chemical agent to form a cleaning solution. The cleaning solution reduces the corrosives on components of a turbomachine compressor. The cleaning solution may be an acidic solution to reduce corrosion of a caustic nature. Alternatively, the cleaning solution may be a basic solution to reduce corrosion of an acidic nature.

Abstract: A method of operating a turbine, the method including the steps of: 1) gathering measured creep data for a blade while the turbine operates at different operating temperatures, the measured creep data comprising at least a measured creep rate for the blade (wherein the different operating temperatures include at least a first operating temperature and a second operating temperature); and 2) given the measured creep data for the blade while the turbine operated at the first operating temperature and the measured creep data for the blade while the turbine operated at the second operating temperature, determining whether operating the turbine at the first operating temperature or the second operating temperature is more economically efficient.

Abstract: A tip shrouded turbine blade that may include a target pad disposed on an outer radial surface of the tip shroud, the target pad including a raised surface that protrudes radially outward from the outer face of the tip shroud. The target pad may be substantially cylindrical in shape such that an outer radial face of the target pad is substantially circular in shape. The size of the surface area of the outer radial face of the target pad may be configured to be substantially the same size as an area of measurement for a conventional proximity sensor.

Abstract: A method for determining the radial deformation of a blade in a turbine that includes: 1) taking an initial measurement of the blade with one or more proximity sensors disposed around the circumference of a stage of blades; 2) after the initial measurement, taking a second measurement of the blade with the one or more proximity sensors; 3) making a determination of the radial deformation of the blade by comparing the initial measurement to the second measurement. The initial measurement and the second measurement may be taken while the turbine is operating.