Patents by Inventor Francesco Lardi

Francesco Lardi has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4418285
    Abstract: A system and method for operating a turbine power plant, wherein a demand signal based upon load or total turbine steam flow required for a predetermined level of operation controls the value of individual signals representative of valve position for respective steam inlet valves in the single and sequential mode of operation, is disclosed. Each individual valve position signal, which is representative of a selected portion of the total demand signal, is dynamically calculated to reflect the effect of the pressure drop across the nozzles, and to correct for the number of inlet nozzles, associated with each valve. The total demand signal is modified in accordance with actual throttle pressure over a period of time that is dependent on the amount of throttle pressure change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1983
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Leaman B. Podolsky, Uri G. Ronnen, Francesco Lardi
  • Patent number: 4245162
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1973
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1981
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Uri G. Ronnen, Francesco Lardi
  • Patent number: 4037088
    Abstract: An electric power plant including a steam generator and a steam turbine is operated by a control system including two redundant digital computers. Switching circuitry is provided for coupling one of the computers through interface equipment to the steam generator and the turbine and a generator according to programmed computer control. A data link is established between the computers to transfer manual/automatic status and other needed data from the control computer to the standby computer. A system is provided for detecting when certain hardware and software malfunctions have occurred and for responsively transferring control to the standby computer. The standby computer is tracked to the control computer so that control computer transfer can be made reliably without disturbing the electric power generation process. The turbine control includes a load control loop which is implemented with computer operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1973
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1977
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Guy E. Davis, Francesco Lardi, William D. Ghrist, III
  • Patent number: 4035624
    Abstract: A digital computer control system for operating a steam turbine in an electric power plant is disclosed. Under automatic control, the digital computer calculates a steam flow demand signal for positioning the steam inlet valves. A speed feedback loop is used to modify the steam flow demand signal as required to maintain the desired speed. The speed loop selects a first or second of three independently generated speed signals depending on the difference between the three speed signals. The first speed signal is a digital signal; and the second is an analog signal, which is converted to a digital signal. The digital signal consists of a fine and a coarse speed signal which is selected in accordance with turbine speed to constitute the first generated speed signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1973
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1977
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Francesco Lardi
  • Patent number: 4002065
    Abstract: A digital electrohydraulic steam turbine control system that generates a feedforward total steam flow demand signal to position the governor valves singly or sequentially in accordance with a dynamic nonlinear representation of steam flow vs. valve lift position having provision for testing the throttle valves while the turbine is operating in either the single or sequential mode and without effectively disturbing the load on the turbine and without the necessity of turbine operational feedback loops in service, is disclosed. Decremental and incremental flow changes for each of the governor valves in the test path and the non-test path, respectively, are calculated iteratives in accordance with a non-linear valve flow vs. valve lift position characterization for the total steam flow to the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1975
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1977
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Francesco Lardi, Uri G. Ronnen
  • Patent number: 3948054
    Abstract: A protection system is provided for a turbine plant to avoid double shock or similar rotor blade operation. A digital computer controller detects excessive blade loading conditions on the basis of governor valve positions and effects bumpless mode transfer from sequential valve operation to single valve operation to avoid excessive blade loading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1973
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1976
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Francesco Lardi, Donald J. Jones
  • Patent number: 3931500
    Abstract: A combined digital computer/analog control system for operating a boiling water reactor steam turbine power plant, wherein the digital computer provides a throttle pressure setpoint, speed error and load demand for controlling the plant depending upon the operational states of the system, is disclosed. The analog portion of the system also controls the plant in cooperation with the digital computer for certain operational states and conditions when the digital computer is in operation; and the analog system alone controls the plant when the digital computer is out of service. The transfer between such control is effected depending upon the operational states of the system and certain of the components therein. The system also includes in the digital computer portion, the provision for preventing a load demand which is outside the limits of the reactor circulation system when the reactor is in a state of automatic operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1973
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1976
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Gary W. Berkebile, Francesco Lardi, Leaman B. Podolsky
  • Patent number: 3931503
    Abstract: A combined digital computer/analog control system for operating a boiling water reactor-steam turbine-power plant wherein one of two analog throttle pressure controllers is used for controlling the inlet and bypass valves. One of the pressure controllers is biased to provide a higher signal than the other; and such nonbiased controller is the one selected to control the valves. Each controller includes a pressure transducer, a summing device and amplifier, and a lead/lag circuit together with the appropriate power supply.A failure detection system is used to switch the controllers from automatic to manual when a predetermined combination of controller components becomes defective. Also, such system is so organized that a transducer failure for one controller causes the other controller to assume control regardless of whether such failure results in a higher or lower than proper signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1973
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1976
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Gary W. Berkebile, Francesco Lardi, Leaman B. Podolsky