Abstract: Systems, program products, and methods for detecting thermal stability within gas turbine systems are disclosed. The systems may include a computing device(s) in communication with a gas turbine system, and a plurality of sensors positioned within or adjacent the gas turbine system. The sensor(s) may measure operational characteristics of the gas turbine system. The computing device(s) may be configured to detect thermal stability within the gas turbine system by performing processes including calculating a lag output for each of the plurality of measured operational characteristics. The calculated lag output may be based on a difference between a calculated lag for the measured operational characteristics and the measured operational characteristic itself. The calculated lag output may be also be based on a time constant for the measured operational characteristics. The computing device(s) may also determine when each of the calculated lag outputs are below a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A method of detecting flame state of a combustor of a turbine engine. The method includes determining at least one of a first derivative and a second derivative of a compressor discharge pressure of a compressor of the turbine engine; determining at least one of a first derivative and a second derivative of a gas turbine exhaust gas temperature of the exhaust gases output by the turbine engine; determining at least one of a first derivative and a second derivative of a gas turbine shaft/rotor speed of the turbine engine; determining at least one of a first derivative and a second derivative of combustor dynamic pressure monitoring; and determining a flame state of a combustor of the turbine engine based on the combustor dynamic pressure monitoring, the determined derivatives of the combustion dynamics, compressor discharge pressure, gas turbine shaft/rotor speed, and gas turbine exhaust gas temperature of the exhaust gases.

Abstract: A method of detecting flame state of a combustor of a turbine engine. The method includes determining at least one of a first derivative and a second derivative of a compressor discharge pressure of a compressor of the turbine engine; determining at least one of a first derivative and a second derivative of a gas turbine exhaust gas temperature of the exhaust gases output by the turbine engine; determining at least one of a first derivative and a second derivative of a gas turbine shaft/rotor speed of the turbine engine; determining at least one of a first derivative and a second derivative of combustor dynamic pressure monitoring; and determining a flame state of a combustor of the turbine engine based on the combustor dynamic pressure monitoring, the determined derivatives of the combustion dynamics, compressor discharge pressure, gas turbine shaft/rotor speed, and gas turbine exhaust gas temperature of the exhaust gases.

Abstract: Systems, program products, and methods for adjusting operating limit (OL) thresholds for compressors of gas turbine systems based on mass flow loss are disclosed herein. The systems may include at least one computing device in communication with the gas turbine system, sensor(s) measuring operational characteristic(s) of the gas turbine system, and a pressure sensor measuring an ambient fluid pressure surrounding the gas turbine system. The computing device(s) may be configured to adjust operational parameters of the gas turbine system by performing processes including determining a mass flow loss between an estimated, first mass flow rate and a calculated, second mass flow rate for the compressor of the gas turbine system, and adjusting an OL threshold for the compressor of the gas turbine system based on the mass flow loss. The OL threshold for the compressor may be below a predetermined surge threshold for the compressor.

Abstract: Systems, program products, and methods for adjusting operating limit (OL) thresholds for compressors of gas turbine systems based on mass flow loss are disclosed herein. The systems may include at least one computing device in communication with the gas turbine system, sensor(s) measuring operational characteristic(s) of the gas turbine system, and a pressure sensor measuring an ambient fluid pressure surrounding the gas turbine system. The computing device(s) may be configured to adjust operational parameters of the gas turbine system by performing processes including determining a mass flow loss between an estimated, first mass flow rate and a calculated, second mass flow rate for the compressor of the gas turbine system, and adjusting an OL threshold for the compressor of the gas turbine system based on the mass flow loss. The OL threshold for the compressor may be below a predetermined surge threshold for the compressor.

Abstract: Systems, program products, and methods for detecting thermal stability within gas turbine systems are disclosed. The systems may include a computing device(s) in communication with a gas turbine system, and a plurality of sensors positioned within or adjacent the gas turbine system. The sensor(s) may measure operational characteristics of the gas turbine system. The computing device(s) may be configured to detect thermal stability within the gas turbine system by performing processes including calculating a lag output for each of the plurality of measured operational characteristics. The calculated lag output may be based on a difference between a calculated lag for the measured operational characteristics and the measured operational characteristic itself. The calculated lag output may be also be based on a time constant for the measured operational characteristics. The computing device(s) may also determine when each of the calculated lag outputs are below a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A system and a method for predicting and optimizing remaining hardware life of gas turbine components. Operating parameters of the gas turbine which may impact remaining hardware life are sensed and tracked using a plurality of sensors in communication with a control system including a computing device. Remaining hardware life is predicted using a physics-based hardware lifing model. The hardware lifing model may include an output of a filtration model configured to monitor contaminants based on a pressure drop across a filter. Optimizing the remaining hardware life is achieved by the control system adjusting one or more operation settings of the gas turbine.

Abstract: A system and a method for predicting and optimizing remaining hardware life of gas turbine components. Operating parameters of the gas turbine which may impact remaining hardware life are sensed and tracked using a plurality of sensors in communication with a control system including a computing device. Remaining hardware life is predicted using a physics-based hardware lifing model. The hardware lifing model may include an output of a filtration model configured to monitor contaminants based on a pressure drop across a filter. Optimizing the remaining hardware life is achieved by the control system adjusting one or more operation settings of the gas turbine.

Abstract: Commanding GTs to base load level based upon measured ambient condition for each GT; commanding each GT to adjust a power output to match scaled power output value equal to a fraction of a difference between the respective power output and a nominal power output value, and measuring actual emissions value for each GT during the adjusting of the respective power output; and adjusting an operating condition of each GT in the set of GTs based upon a difference between the respective measured actual emissions value, a nominal emissions value at the ambient condition and an emissions scale factor, wherein the nominal emissions value at the ambient condition and the emissions scale factor are stored in a pre-existing emissions model for the GT.

Abstract: A system includes: a computing device configured to tune a set of gas turbines (GTs) by: commanding each GT to a base load level; commanding each GT to adjust a respective power output to match a nominal power output value, and subsequently measuring an actual emissions value for each GT; adjusting an operating condition of each GT based upon a difference between the respective measured actual emissions value and a nominal emissions value at the ambient condition; updating a pre-existing emissions model for each GT based upon the adjusted operating condition; running a set of operating conditions on each GT and measuring an updated emissions value; and refining the updated pre-existing emissions model based upon a difference between the updated emissions value and the updated pre-existing emissions model.

Abstract: Commanding GTs to base load level based upon measured ambient condition for each GT; commanding each GT to adjust a power output to match scaled power output value equal to a fraction of a difference between the respective power output and a nominal power output value, and measuring actual emissions value for each GT during the adjusting of the respective power output; adjusting operating condition of each GT based upon a difference between the respective measured actual emissions value, a nominal emissions value at the ambient condition and emissions scale factor; updating a pre-existing emissions model for each GT based upon the adjusted operating; running set of operating conditions on each GT and measuring updated parameters for each GT including an updated emissions value; and refining updated pre-existing emissions model based upon a difference between the updated emissions value and the updated pre-existing emissions model.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling mode transfers of a turbine combustor are provided. According to one embodiment, a system may include a controller to control a combustor, and a processor communicatively coupled to the controller. The processor may be configured to receive current operating conditions, target operating limits, and combustor transfer functions. The combustor transfer functions may be evaluated to estimate operating limits associated with one or more combustion modes under the current operating conditions. The estimated operating limits associated with the one or more combustor modes may be compared to the target operating limits, and, based on the comparison, at least one of the combustion modes may be selected. The combustor may then be selectively transferred to the selected combustion mode.

Abstract: Various embodiments include a system having: at least one computing device configured to tune a set of gas turbines (GTs) by performing actions including: commanding each GT in the set of GTs to a base load level, based upon a measured ambient condition for each GT; commanding each GT in the set of GTs to adjust a respective power output to match a nominal power output value, and subsequently measuring an actual emissions value for each GT; adjusting an operating condition of each GT in the set of GTs based upon a difference between the respective measured actual emissions value and a nominal emissions value at the ambient condition; and building an independent emissions model for each GT based upon the measured actual emissions value for each GT and the adjusted operating condition of each GT.

Abstract: Commanding GTs to base load level based upon measured ambient condition for each GT; commanding each GT to adjust a power output to match scaled power output value equal to a fraction of a difference between the respective power output and a nominal power output value, and measuring actual emissions value for each GT during the adjusting of the respective power output; adjusting operating condition of each GT based upon a difference between the respective measured actual emissions value, a nominal emissions value at the ambient condition and emissions scale factor; updating a pre-existing emissions model for each GT based upon the adjusted operating; running set of operating conditions on each GT and measuring updated parameters for each GT including an updated emissions value; and refining updated pre-existing emissions model based upon a difference between the updated emissions value and the updated pre-existing emissions model.

Abstract: Commanding GTs to base load level based upon measured ambient condition for each GT; commanding each GT to adjust a power output to match scaled power output value equal to a fraction of a difference between the respective power output and a nominal power output value, and measuring actual emissions value for each GT during the adjusting of the respective power output; and adjusting an operating condition of each GT in the set of GTs based upon a difference between the respective measured actual emissions value, a nominal emissions value at the ambient condition and an emissions scale factor, wherein the nominal emissions value at the ambient condition and the emissions scale factor are stored in a pre-existing emissions model for the GT.

Abstract: Various embodiments include a system having: at least one computing device configured to tune a set of gas turbines (GTs) by performing actions including: commanding each GT in the set of GTs to a base load level, based upon a measured ambient condition for each GT; commanding each GT in the set of GTs to adjust a respective power output to match a nominal power output value, and subsequently measuring an actual emissions value for each GT; adjusting an operating condition of each GT in the set of GTs based upon a difference between the respective measured actual emissions value and a nominal emissions value at the ambient condition; and building an independent emissions model for each GT based upon the measured actual emissions value for each GT and the adjusted operating condition of each GT.

Abstract: A system includes: a computing device configured to tune a set of gas turbines (GTs) by: commanding each GT to a base load level; commanding each GT to adjust a respective power output to match a nominal power output value, and subsequently measuring an actual emissions value for each GT; adjusting an operating condition of each GT based upon a difference between the respective measured actual emissions value and a nominal emissions value at the ambient condition; updating a pre-existing emissions model for each GT based upon the adjusted operating condition; running a set of operating conditions on each GT and measuring an updated emissions value; and refining the updated pre-existing emissions model based upon a difference between the updated emissions value and the updated pre-existing emissions model.

Abstract: A system and method control a gas turbine subject to fuel composition variation. The method includes operating a first effector to control the gas turbine based on fuel composition. The method also includes operating a second effector to maintain operation of the first effector within a first boundary limit, the second effector operation being initiated when the operating the first effector reaches a second boundary limit within the first boundary limit.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for tuning a turbine are provided. In one embodiment, a method may include receiving at least one of a measured operating parameter or a modeled operating parameter of a turbine during operation; and tuning the turbine during operation. The turbine may be tuned during operation by applying the measured operating parameter or modeled operating parameter or parameters to at least one operational boundary model, applying the measured operating parameter or modeled operating parameter or parameters to at least one scheduling algorithm, comparing the output of the operational boundary model or models to the output of the scheduling algorithm or algorithms to determine at least one error term, and closing loop on the one error term or terms by adjusting at least one turbine control effector during operation of the turbine.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automating commissioning of a gas turbine combustion control system are provided. According to one embodiment of the disclosure, a system may include a controller and a processor communicatively coupled to the controller. The processor may be configured to run a gas turbine under a plurality of operational conditions while within predetermined combustion operational boundaries. The processor may be further configured to automatically collect operational data associated with the gas turbine while the gas turbine is running and store the operational data. Based at least in part on the operational data, a set of constants for one or more predetermined combustion transfer functions is generated. The set of constants is stored in the gas turbine combustion control system to be used during auto-tune operations of the gas turbine.