Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a cooling and sealing air system for a gas turbine power plant operating in a configuration that includes a stoichiometric exhaust gas recirculation configuration. A user may have flexibility in determining where the cooling and sealing flow derives. This may include an enhanced oil recovery system, a concentrated carbon system, etc.

Abstract: A turbine blade having an airfoil defined by a concave shaped pressure side outer wall and a convex shaped suction side outer wall that connect along leading and trailing edges and, therebetween, form a radially extending chamber for receiving the flow of a coolant. The turbine blade may further include a rib configuration that partitions the chamber into radially extending flow passages. The rib configuration may include a camber line rib having a wavy profile. The wavy profile may include at least one back-and-forth “S” shape.

Abstract: A control method for optimizing a turndown operation for a power plant having a plurality of generating units. The plurality of generating units each may include either an on-condition or an off-condition during a selected operating period.

Abstract: A control method for optimizing or enhancing an operation of a power plant that includes thermal generating units for generating electricity. The power plant may include multiple possible operating modes differentiated by characteristics of operating parameters. The method may include tuning a power plant model so to configure a tuned power plant model. The method may further include simulating proposed operating modes of the power plant with the tuned power plant model. The simulating may include a simulation procedure that includes: defining a second operating period; selecting the proposed operating modes from the possible operating modes; with the tuned power plant model, performing a simulation run for each of the proposed operating modes whereby the operation of the power plant during the second operating period is simulated; and obtaining simulation results from each of the simulation runs.

Abstract: A turbine blade that includes an airfoil defined by a concave shaped pressure side outer wall and a convex shaped suction side outer wall that connect along leading and trailing edges and, therebetween, form a radially extending chamber for receiving the flow of a coolant. The turbine blade may further include a rib configuration that partitions the chamber into radially extending flow passages, and a blade outer shell that defines an outer surface of the airfoil. The rib configuration is a non-integral component to the blade outer shell.

Abstract: A turbine blade comprising an airfoil defined by a concave shaped pressure side outer wall and a convex shaped suction side outer wall that connect along leading and trailing edges and, therebetween, form a radially extending chamber for receiving the flow of a coolant. The turbine blade may further include: a rib configuration that partitions the chamber into radially extending flow passages that include a first flow passage and a second flow passage; and a crossover passage that fluidly connects an inlet formed in the first flow passage to an outlet formed in the second flow passage. The crossover passage may include a canted configuration relative to the second flow passage.

Abstract: A turbine blade that includes an airfoil defined by a concave shaped pressure side outer wall and a convex shaped suction side outer wall that connect along leading and trailing edges and, therebetween, form a radially extending chamber for receiving the flow of a coolant. The turbine blade further may include a rib configuration that partitions the chamber of the airfoil into radially extending flow passages. A first flow passage may include a first side on which turbulators are positioned, wherein each of the turbulators comprises a canted configuration.

Abstract: Systems and methods for power plant data reconciliation are provided. According to one embodiment of the disclosure, a system may include a controller and a processor in communication with the controller. The processor may be configured to run a power plant under a plurality of operational conditions. While the power plant is running, the processor may be configured to automatically collect operational data associated with the power plant. The collected data may be stored in a predefined location. Furthermore, the processor may be configured to select stable data from the operational data to coincide with output data associated with a power plant model. One or more parameters of the power plant model may be modified, and at least one difference may be minimized between the output data associated with the power plant model and a measured value in the power plant operational data.

Abstract: A power generation system includes: a first gas turbine system including a first turbine component, a first integral compressor and a first combustor to which air from the first integral compressor and fuel are supplied, the first combustor arranged to supply hot combustion gases to the first turbine component, and the first integral compressor having a flow capacity greater than an intake capacity of the first combustor and/or the first turbine component, creating an excess air flow. A second gas turbine system may include similar components to the first except but without excess capacity in its compressor. A control valve system controls flow of the excess air flow from the first gas turbine system to the second gas turbine system. A storage vessel may be coupled to the excess air flow path for augmenting the excess air flow with additional air during a peak demand period.

Abstract: A control method for optimizing an operation of a power plant having generating units during a selected operating period subdivided so to include regular intervals within which each of the generating units comprises one of an on-condition and an off-condition.

Abstract: A method of controlling a power plant that comprises a working fluid and a recirculation loop, wherein the power plant includes a combustor operably connected to a turbine, the method including the steps of: recirculating at least a portion of the working fluid through the recirculation loop; controlling the power plant such that the combustor at least periodically operates at a preferred stoichiometric ratio; and extracting the working fluid from at least one of a first extraction point and a second extraction point positioned on the recirculation loop during the periods when the combustor operates at the preferred stoichiometric ratio.

Abstract: A method for operating a sensor in a thermal generating unit. The method may include the steps of: defining lookback periods, wherein the lookback periods each include previous periods of operation for the thermal generating unit, the lookback periods including at least a first lookback period and a second lookback period; receiving a first dataset regarding readings for the sensor during the first lookback period; receiving a second dataset regarding the readings the sensor during the second lookback period; performing a first check on the first dataset and obtaining therefrom a first result; performing a second check on the second dataset and obtaining therefrom a second result; and determining a likelihood as to whether the sensor is malfunctioning based on the first and the second results.

Abstract: A control method for optimizing an operation of a power plant having generating units during a selected operating period subdivided so to include regular intervals within which each of the generating units comprises one of an on-condition and an off-condition.

Abstract: Ambient air is compressed into a compressed ambient gas flow with a main air compressor. The compressed ambient gas flow having a compressed ambient gas flow rate is delivered to a turbine combustor and mixed with a fuel stream having a fuel stream flow rate and a portion of a recirculated low oxygen content gas flow to form a combustible mixture. The combustible mixture is burned and forms the recirculated low oxygen content gas flow that drives a turbine. A portion of the recirculated low oxygen content gas flow is recirculated from the turbine to the turbine compressor using a recirculation loop. The compressed ambient gas flow rate and the fuel stream flow rate are adjusted to achieve substantially stoichiometric combustion. An excess portion, if any, of the compressed ambient gas flow is vented. A portion of the recirculated low oxygen content gas flow is extracted using an extraction conduit.

Abstract: A turbine blade comprising an airfoil defined by a concave shaped pressure side outer wall and a convex shaped suction side outer wall that connect along leading and trailing edges and, therebetween, form a radially extending chamber for receiving the flow of a coolant. The turbine blade may further include: a rib configuration that partitions the chamber into radially extending flow passages that include a first flow passage and a second flow passage; and a crossover passage that fluidly connects an inlet formed in the first flow passage to an outlet formed in the second flow passage. The crossover passage may include a canted configuration relative to the second flow passage.

Abstract: A control method for optimizing a turndown operation for a power plant having a plurality of generating units. The plurality of generating units each may include either an on-condition or an off-condition during a selected operating period.

Abstract: A control method for optimizing an operation of a power plant fleet. The power plant fleet may include multiple operating configurations differentiated by a manner in which assets are engaged. The method may include the steps of: sensing and collecting measured values of the operating parameters for the operating of each of the assets; tuning asset models so to configure a tuned asset model for each of the assets; simulating proposed operating configurations of the power plant fleet using the tuned asset models; and obtaining simulation results from each of the simulation runs, each of the simulation results including a predicted value for a performance indicator.

Abstract: A turbine blade having an airfoil defined by a concave shaped pressure side outer wall and a convex shaped suction side outer wall that connect along leading and trailing edges and, therebetween, form a radially extending chamber for receiving the flow of a coolant. The turbine blade may further include a rib configuration that partitions the chamber into radially extending flow passages. The rib configuration may include a camber line rib having a wavy profile. The wavy profile may include at least one back-and-forth “S” shape.

Abstract: A turbine blade that includes an airfoil defined by a concave shaped pressure side outer wall and a convex shaped suction side outer wall that connect along leading and trailing edges and, therebetween, form a radially extending chamber for receiving the flow of a coolant. The turbine blade further may include a rib configuration that partitions the chamber of the airfoil into radially extending flow passages. A first flow passage may include a first side on which turbulators are positioned, wherein each of the turbulators comprises a canted configuration.

Abstract: A control method for optimizing or enhancing an operation of a power plant that includes thermal generating units for generating electricity. The power plant may include multiple possible operating modes differentiated by characteristics of operating parameters. The method may include tuning a power plant model so to configure a tuned power plant model. The method may further include simulating proposed operating modes of the power plant with the tuned power plant model. The simulating may include a simulation procedure that includes: defining a second operating period; selecting the proposed operating modes from the possible operating modes; with the tuned power plant model, performing a simulation run for each of the proposed operating modes whereby the operation of the power plant during the second operating period is simulated; and obtaining simulation results from each of the simulation runs.