Abstract: A method of generating power from residual fuel oil that is deasphalted with a flow of process steam to produce a deasphalted oil stream, a pitch stream, and a deasphalting condensate stream. The deasphalted oil stream is burned in a pressurized oxygen-bearing gas to produce a pressurized hot gas stream. This pressurized hot gas stream is expanded in a turbine that produces shaft power and an expanded gas stream. The expanded gas stream is cooled by transferring heat from it to a flow of feed water that becomes steam. A portion of the steam becomes at least part of the flow of process steam used to deasphalt the residual fuel oil, thus integrating the deasphalting and the steam generation.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling fuel flow in a combustion turbine, wherein a load signal representative of the load on the combustion turbine is given, are shown to include fuel flow device for regulating the flow of fuel in the combustion turbine in response to a control signal, a controller for generating a control signal representative of the difference between the load signal and a limit signal and for providing the control signal to the fuel flow device and a limit signal generator for generating the limit signal so that the limit signal is representative of the sum of the load signal and a maximum instantaneous load value, wherein the limiting means varies the limit signal over time from a first value to the sum.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for diagnosing ignition failure conditions in a combustion turbine are shown to generally include referencing members for generating a plurality of reference signals, wherein each of the reference signals are representative of a desired ignition operating condition, sensors for sensing actual ignition operating conditions each of which correspond to a desired ignition operating condition. The sensors generate a plurality of operating signals representative of actual ignition operating conditions. Comparators are utilized for comparing each of the operating signals to a corresponding reference signal and to indicate when the operating signal exceeds the reference signal in the presence of an ignition enabling signal.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for cooling shaft seals of a turbine-generator system which includes a hydrogen inner-cooled generator having a stator with a cylindrical core and a rotor mounted for rotation on a shaft within the cylindrical core, a turbine coupled to the shaft at one end of the generator, an exciter coupled to the shaft at the other end of the generator, and a pair of seals each of which surround the shaft at both ends of the generator for substantially minimizing a leakage of hydrogen therefrom. Each of the seals includes a seal ring with a hydrogen side and an air side, and a closed loop oil supply is provided for each such side. One closed loop oil supply supplies oil to the hydrogen side of each of the seals, and another closed loop oil supply supplies oil to the air side of each of the seals, and both oil supplies are coupled within a heat exchanger for exchanging heat between the two closed loop oil supplies.

Abstract: In a combined cycle plant boiler an inlet temperature is adjusted or controlled while concurrently modulating the IGV's and the load of the gas turbine and the attemperator of the boiler, and concurrent modulation of the IGV's, the gas turbine load, the attemperator is effected as upon three independent control variables to adjust and/or maintain the boiler outlet temperature independently of steam turbine operation and to maximize gas turbine load control range. Control of the output temperature of one boiler is also managed in relation with the mixed temperature of steam from other boilers fluidly connected to the steam turbines.

Abstract: A coupling controller opens a dump valve at the outlet of a heat recovery steam generator when such generator is to be coupled to another generator being in operation with a steam turbine on a common header. The controller gradually permits pressure build-up until the pressure at the outlet of the new generator matches the pressure behind the header. The controller also responds to critical conditions in the superheater as well as in the high pressure drum of the generator in the operation.

Abstract: A speed and load control for a combustion turbine utilized in the generation of electric power includes means for effecting a smooth transition between the isochronous and droop modes of control. The speed and load control also includes means for maintaining a constant power level during a transition from the isochronous to the droop mode of control so as to minimize fluctuations in signal frequency.

Abstract: A fuel control schedules fuel to a gas turbine to produce a scheduled speed profile during startup. The scheduled speed profile is continuously compared to actual turbine speed during startup, and the difference is compared to an alarm setpoint and a trip setpoint. Normally, temperature and surge limit controls prevent the turbine from accelerating too fast; and, if the turbine is accelerating too slowly, an alarm output is generated when the actual/desired speed difference reaches the alarm setpoint and the turbine is tripped when the actual/desired speed difference reaches the trip setpoint.

Abstract: A combined cycle electric power plant includes gas and steam turbines and steam generators and a digital/analog control system. An automatic digital portion of the control system functions with temperature and other detectors to provide temperature limit control for the gas turbines through the fuel valve position controls provided therefor. A blade path temperature reference is generated as a function of combustor shell pressure during the startup and load modes of operation, and during the load mode of operation the blade path temperature reference is further generated with dependence on the actual turbine exhaust temperature. In particular, the turbine blade path temperature is allowed to rise under loading operation until it reaches a limit value defined by a predetermined combustor shell pressure characteristic curve.