Abstract: A method for determining a performance characteristic for a target startup sequence of a gas turbine, wherein the gas turbine includes a compressor, a combustor, and, drivingly coupled to the compressor, a turbine. The method includes the steps of: measuring one or more operating parameters during a target operating period of the gas turbine, the target operating period being selected so that the target operating period includes the target startup sequence; creating a time series plot from data points derived from the one or more operating parameters measured during the target operating period; comparing the time series plot against a reference time series plot and, based on the comparison, determining a degree of similarity therebetween; and determining a value for the performance characteristic based on the degree of similarity.

Abstract: A system including a power plant having thermal generating units that operate according to multiple possible operating modes, which are differentiated by a unique operational or maintenance schedule. The system further includes a hardware processor and machine readable storage medium on which is stored instructions that cause the hardware processor to execute a process related to optimizing the operational or maintenance schedule during a selected operating period. The process may include: receiving the selected operating period; selecting competing operating modes for the power plant during the selected operating period according to a selection criteria; simulating the operation of the power plant during the selected operating period for each of the competing operating modes and deriving simulation results therefrom; evaluating each of the simulation results pursuant to a cost function and, based thereupon, designating at least one of the competing operating modes as an optimized operating mode.

Abstract: A system including a power plant having thermal generating units that operate according to multiple possible operating modes, which are differentiated by a unique operational or maintenance schedule. The system further includes a hardware processor and machine readable storage medium on which is stored instructions that cause the hardware processor to execute a process related to optimizing the operational or maintenance schedule during a selected operating period. The process may include: receiving the selected operating period; selecting competing operating modes for the power plant during the selected operating period according to a selection criteria; simulating the operation of the power plant during the selected operating period for each of the competing operating modes and deriving simulation results therefrom; evaluating each of the simulation results pursuant to a cost function and, based thereupon, designating at least one of the competing operating modes as an optimized operating mode.