Patents by Inventor Melanie Jean Novacek

Melanie Jean Novacek 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).

  • Methods and apparatus to optimize steam turbine ramp rates
    Patent number: 10267182
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to optimize turbine ramp rates are disclosed herein. An example method includes predicting a setpoint for a turbine rotor over a prediction horizon. The example method includes predicting a surface temperature profile of the turbine rotor for the prediction horizon based on the predicted setpoint via an empirical data model. The example method also includes predicting a first stress profile for the turbine rotor based on the surface temperature profile. The example method includes performing a comparison of the first stress value to a second stress value and dynamically adjusting the setpoint based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Emerson Process Management Power & Water Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Xu Cheng, Frederick Charles Huff, Melanie Jean Novacek, Ranjit R. Rao
  • METHODS AND APPARATUS TO OPTIMIZE STEAM TURBINE RAMP RATES
    Publication number: 20170002692
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to optimize turbine ramp rates are disclosed herein. An example method includes predicting a setpoint for a turbine rotor over a prediction horizon. The example method includes predicting a surface temperature profile of the turbine rotor for the prediction horizon based on the predicted setpoint via an empirical data model. The example method also includes predicting a first stress profile for the turbine rotor based on the surface temperature profile. The example method includes performing a comparison of the first stress value to a second stress value and dynamically adjusting the setpoint based on the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Xu Cheng, Frederick Charles Huff, Melanie Jean Novacek, Ranjit R. Rao