Abstract: The present application and the resultant patent provide a gas turbine engine system. The gas turbine engine system may include a gas turbine engine, a water wash system, and a system controller. The gas turbine engine may include a compressor, a combustor in communication with the compressor, and a turbine in communication with the combustor. The water wash system may be in communication with the gas turbine engine and configured to remove contaminants therefrom. The water wash system may include a number of valves configured to control flows through the water wash system, and a number of sensors configured to measure operating parameters of the water wash system. The system controller may be in communication with the valves and the sensors and operable to automatically control the valves upon receiving operating parameter signals from the sensors in order to perform a wash of the gas turbine engine.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention can provide systems and methods for adjusting clearances in a turbine. According to one embodiment, there is disclosed a turbine system. The system may include one or more turbine blades, a turbine casing encompassing the one or more turbine blades, a thermoelectric element disposed at least partially about the turbine casing, a cooling system in communication with the thermoelectric element, and a controller in communication with the cooling system and the thermoelectric element. The controller may be operable to control the expansion or contraction of the turbine casing by heating or cooling at least a portion of the turbine casing with the thermoelectric element and by adjusting the cooling system such that a clearance between the one or more turbine blades and the turbine casing is adjusted.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure relate to analyzing costs, and more particularly, to analyzing costs associated with a power plant asset. In one embodiment, a system can include a first sensor and a first computer communicatively coupled to the first sensor. The first computer can be configured to automatically obtain via the first sensor, a first set of performance parameters of the first power plant asset over a period of time. The first computer can be further configured to compute from the first set of performance parameters, a first cost factor that is defined, at least in part, on the basis of an amount of electric power generated by the first power plant asset over the period of time.

Abstract: The present application provides an inlet air fogging system for a gas turbine engine. The inlet air fogging system may include a fogging nozzle array and a fogging control system in communication with the fogging nozzle array. The fogging control system may include a droplet size measurement system and a humidity level measurement system.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention can provide systems and methods for adjusting clearances in a turbine. According to one embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed a turbine system. The system may include one or more turbine blades; a turbine casing encompassing the one or more turbine blades; and a thermoelectric element disposed at least partially about the turbine casing, wherein the thermoelectric element expands or contracts the turbine casing by heating or cooling at least a portion of the turbine casing, thereby adjusting a clearance between the one or more turbine blades and the turbine casing.

Abstract: The present application and the resultant patent provide a gas turbine engine system. The gas turbine engine system may include a gas turbine engine, a water wash system, and a system controller. The gas turbine engine may include a compressor, a combustor in communication with the compressor, and a turbine in communication with the combustor. The water wash system may be in communication with the gas turbine engine and configured to remove contaminants therefrom. The water wash system may include a number of valves configured to control flows through the water wash system, and a number of sensors configured to measure operating parameters of the water wash system. The system controller may be in communication with the valves and the sensors and operable to automatically control the valves upon receiving operating parameter signals from the sensors in order to perform a wash of the gas turbine engine.

Abstract: Systems and methods for evaluating risks associated with a contractual service agreement are provided. According to one embodiment, a system may include a processor configured to analyze the contractual service agreement to determine risk categories associated with the contractual service agreement. The system may receive risk parameters associated with the one or more risk categories and weights associated with the one or more risk parameters. The weights may be associated with the risk parameters to produce weighted risk parameters. The risk associated with the contractual service agreement may be evaluated by adding the weighted risk parameters.

Abstract: An electricity generating installation includes an electricity generation unit of a gas turbine, steam turbine or combined-cycle type, wherein the electricity generation unit is coupled to a generator and is connected to a distribution network, an energy storage unit configured to store kinetic energy and electrical energy, and a standby electricity generation unit. The installation further includes a controller configured to manage the operation of the energy storage unit and configured to manage the connection of the energy storage unit to the electricity generation unit and to the network. The controller receives a series of information originating from the network, the energy storage unit, the electricity generation unit and a network operator in order to control the generation of electricity to be delivered to the network and to auxiliary systems of the installation from the energy storage unit.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention can provide systems and methods for condition-based power plant sensor calibration. According to one embodiment of the invention, a system can be provided. The system can include a computer processor. The system can also include a memory operable to store computer-executable instructions operable to: receive data from the one or more power plant sensors; reconcile detected errors within the data from the one or more power plant sensors; calibrate the one or more power plant sensors based at least in part on the detected errors within the data; generate at least one performance model based at least in part on the reconciled data from the one or more power plant sensors; detect anomalies within the at least one performance model; and tune the at least one performance model to account for the anomalies.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides a water wash system that may mix a cleaning fluid with at least one chemical agent to form a cleaning solution. The cleaning solution may reduce the corrosives on components of a compressor. The cleaning solution may be an mildly acidic solution to reduce corrosion of a caustic nature. Alternatively, the cleaning solution may be a mildly basic solution to reduce corrosion of an acidic nature.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides a water wash system that may mix a cleaning fluid with at least one chemical agent to form a cleaning solution. The cleaning solution may reduce the corrosives on components of a compressor. The cleaning solution may be a mildly acidic solution to reduce corrosion of a caustic nature. Alternatively, the cleaning solution may be a mildly basic solution to reduce corrosion of an acidic nature.

Abstract: The present application provides a liquid fuel system for use with a flow of a liquid fuel and a combustor of a gas turbine engine. The liquid fuel system may include a number of fuel lines in communication with the combustor, a purge air inlet positioned about each of the fuel lines, a number of drain lines with each drain line in communication with a respective fuel line, and a number of drain valves with each drain valve in communication with a respective drain line so as to drain the flow of liquid fuel in the fuel lines via a flow of purge air through the purge air inlet and opening the drain valves.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure can provide systems and methods for minimizing coking in gas turbine engines. According to one embodiment, there is disclosed a system for minimizing coking in a gas turbine engine. The system may include a gas turbine compartment, a fuel component disposed within the gas turbine compartment, and a thermoelectric element disposed at least partially about the fuel component. The thermoelectric element may be configured to exchange heat with the fuel component.

Abstract: A portion of the exhaust generated by a turbomachine is recirculated through an inlet portion by an exhaust gas recirculation system. The system reduces the level of constituents within the exhaust before the exhaust is recirculated. The turbomachine may be utilized to drive the exhaust gas through the system.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention can provide systems and methods for adjusting clearances in a turbine. According to one embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed a turbine system. The system may include one or more turbine blades; a turbine casing encompassing the one or more turbine blades; and a thermoelectric element disposed at least partially about the turbine casing, wherein the thermoelectric element expands or contracts the turbine casing by heating or cooling at least a portion of the turbine casing, thereby adjusting a clearance between the one or more turbine blades and the turbine casing.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention can provide systems and methods for adjusting clearances in a turbine. According to one embodiment, there is disclosed a turbine system. The system may include one or more turbine blades, a turbine casing encompassing the one or more turbine blades, a thermoelectric element disposed at least partially about the turbine casing, a cooling system in communication with the thermoelectric element, and a controller in communication with the cooling system and the thermoelectric element. The controller may be operable to control the expansion or contraction of the turbine casing by heating or cooling at least a portion of the turbine casing with the thermoelectric element and by adjusting the cooling system such that a clearance between the one or more turbine blades and the turbine casing is adjusted.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention takes the form of a system that may recirculate a portion of the exhaust of at least one turbomachine where it may be mixed with the inlet air and re-enter the turbomachine without affecting reliability and availability of the unit. An embodiment of the present invention provides an inlet system for an exhaust gas recirculation system. This inlet system may take a variety of forms and may optimize the direction that the portion of the recirculated exhaust stream flows within the inlet system.

Abstract: A portion of the exhaust generated by a turbomachine is recirculated through an inlet portion by an exhaust gas recirculation system. The system reduces the level of harmful constituents within the exhaust before the exhaust is recirculated.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention can provide systems and methods for condition-based power plant sensor calibration. According to one embodiment of the invention, a system can be provided. The system can include a computer processor. The system can also include a memory operable to store computer-executable instructions operable to: receive data from the one or more power plant sensors; reconcile detected errors within the data from the one or more power plant sensors; calibrate the one or more power plant sensors based at least in part on the detected errors within the data; generate at least one performance model based at least in part on the reconciled data from the one or more power plant sensors; detect anomalies within the at least one performance model; and tune the at least one performance model to account for the anomalies.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention takes the form of a system that may recirculate a portion of the exhaust of at least one turbomachine where it may be mixed with the inlet air and re-enter the turbomachine without affecting reliability and availability of the unit. An embodiment of the present invention provides an inlet system for an exhaust gas recirculation system. This inlet system may take a variety of forms and may optimize the direction that the portion of the recirculated exhaust stream flows within the inlet system.