EMISSIONS PREDICTION SYSTEM FOR POWER GENERATION SYSTEM
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to power plant systems and,
more particularly, to systems for emissions sensitive transient state operation of a
combined-cycle power plant system.
-- -. -- The operation of some power plant systems, for example certain
simple-cycle and combined-cycle power plant systems, produce emissions (i.e.
Carbon Monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (UHC), Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) etc.) which
must be released/dissipated into the atmosphere. The release of these emissions may
damage the environment and/or be regulated by certain agencies. A significant
quantity of these emissions may be generated during states of transient operation (e.g.
start-up, shutdown, etc.), where operational steam temperatures are restricted and
components of the power plant system may operate with decreased loads.
In combined-cycle power plant systems, a temperature of the steam
supplied to the steam turbine during startup or other transient operation may be
controlled by adjusting an operating parameter of the system (e.g., the gas turbine
load, gas turbine exhaust temperature, etc.). During startup or other transient
operation, the allowable operational steam temperature which may be supplied to the
steam turbine is restricted to a temperature range which may be limited by the
temperature of the steam turbine components. The steam temperatures within this
allowable rangeaare held close to the temperature of the system components so as to
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prevent against component binding and the formation of thermal stresses. In
determining this temperature range and the appropriate operational steam temperature,
current power plant systems consider a number of factors (e.g. effect on start-up
andlor cool-down time, material effects on components, etc.). However, these
systems are blind to emissions variances which may exist within the allowable steam
temperature range. As such, emissions effects are not considered when adjusting
operating parameters, such as the gas turbine load, to attain an operational steam
temperature for transient state operation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Systems for decreasing the emissions of a power plant system are
disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes: at least one computing device
adapted to adjust a temperature of an operational steam in a power generation system
by performing actions comprising: obtaining operational data about components of a
steam turbine in the power generation system, the operational data including at least
one of: a temperature of the components and a set of current ambient conditions at the
power generation system; determining an allowable operational steam temperature
range for the steam turbine based upon the operational data; generating emissions
predictions for a set of temperatures within the allowable steam temperature range;
and adjusting the temperature of the operational steam based upon the emissions
predictions.
A first aspect of the invention provides a system including: at least one
computing device adapted to adjust a temperature of an operational steam in a power
generation system by performing actions comprising: obtaining operational data about
components of a steam turbine in the power generation system, the operational data
including at least one of: a temperature of the components and a set of current
ambient conditions at the power generation system; determining an allowable
operational steam temperature range for the steam turbine based upon the operational
data; generating emissions predictions for a set of temperatures within the allowable
steam temperature range; and adjusting the temperature of the operational steam
based upon the emissions predictions.
A second aspect of the invention provides a program product stored on
a computer readable medium, which when executed by at least one computing device,
performs the following: obtains operational data about components of a steam turbine
in a power generation system, the operational data including at least one of: a
temperature of the components and a set of current ambient conditions at the power
generation system; determines an allowable operational steam temperature range for
the steam turbine based upon the operational data; generates emissions predictions for
a set of temperatures within the allowable steam temperature range; and adjusts the
temperature of an operational steam in the power generation system based upon the
emissions predictions.
A third aspect of the invention provides a combined cycle power
generation system including: a gas turbine; a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG)
operatively connected to the gas turbine; a steam turbine operatively connected to the
HRSG; a generator operatively connected to at least one of the gas turbine or the
steam turbine; and at least one computing device communicatively connected to at
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least one of the gas turbine, the steam turbine and the HRSG, the at least one
computing device adapted to adjust a temperature of an operational steam in the
power generation system by performing actions comprising: obtaining operational
data about components of the steam turbine, the operational data including at least one
of: a temperature of the components and a set of current ambient conditions at the
power generation system; determining an allowable operational steam temperature
range for the steam turbine based upon the operational data; generating emissions
predictions for a set of temperatures within the allowable steam temperature range;
and adjusting the temperature of the operational steam based upon the emissions
predictions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features of this invention will be more readily
understood from the following detailed description of the various aspects of the
invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings that depict various
embodiments of the invention, in which:
FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of an environment including a
control system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2A shows a method flow diagram illustrating a process according
to embodiments of the invention;
FIG. 2B shows a method flow diagram illustrating a process according
to embodiments of the invention;
FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of a user interface according to
embodiments of the invention;
FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of portions of a multi-shaft combined
cycle power plant in accordance with an aspect of the invention; and
FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of portions of a single-shaft combined
cycle power plant in accordance with an aspect of the invention.
It is noted that the drawings of the disclosure may not necessarily be to
scale. The drawings are intended to depict only typical aspects of the disclosure, and
therefore should not be considered as limiting the scope of the disclosure. In the
drawings, like numbering represents like elements between the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
As indicated herein, aspects of the invention provide for systems
configured to decrease the emissions of a power plant system during transient state
operation. These systems predict the available improvement andlor deterioration of
emissions outputs available within the allowable steam temperature matching range,
and factor these effects into the steam temperature matching decision.
Transient state operation of some power generation systems (including,
e.g., steam turbines, gas turbines, etc.), may include regulation and incremental
adjustment of an operational steam temperature. This regulation andor adjustment
must keep the steam temperature within a certain range of the temperature of the
system components to avoid the formation of thermal stresses. Typically, in
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determining the allowable steam temperature range and adjusting the system
operating parameters (e.g., gas turbine load, gas turbine exhaust temperature, etc.) to
match the decided upon operational steam temperature, power generation systems
consider the effects on system efficiency and component material limits. However,
current systems do not factor or consider emissions effects into the selection of an
operational steam temperature andlor the resulting gas turbine operating condition.
This lack of emissions consideration during the temperature matching process may
increase the emissions output of the power generation system.
In contrast to the conventional system, embodiments of the current
invention provide for a system which predicts and considers the effects on emissions
totals of a set of operational steam temperatures and corresponding gas turbine
operating parameters/conditions within the allowable temperature matching range.
The system includes a computing device which is communicatively connected to a
database/memory/storage system and at least one sensor. The computing device is
configured to identify an allowable steam temperature matching range for the power
generation system based upon the temperature of the system components. Once the
range has been identified, the computing device considers the gas turbine operating
condition(s) necessary to achieve the various temperatures within the range, and
predicts the effects that these condition(s) will have on emissions totals. As the
effects on emissions of various steam temperatures are determined and factored into
the matching decision, a temperature match may be made which reduces transient
state emissions totals and overall plant emissions totals.
As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the control system
described herein may be embodied as a system(s), method(s), operator display (s) or
computer program product(s), e.g., as part of a power plant system, a power
generation system, a turbine system, etc. Accordingly, embodiments of the present
invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software
embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an
embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally be
referred to herein as a "circuit," "module," "network" or "system." Furthermore, the
present invention may take the form of a computer program product embodied in any
tangible medium of expression having computer-usable program code embodied in
the medium.
Any combination of one or more computer usable or computer
readable medium(s) may be utilized. The computer-useable or computer-readable
medium may be, for example but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical,
electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device. More
specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer-readable medium would
include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable
computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory
(ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an
optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical
storage device, a transmission media such as those supporting the Internet or an
intranet, or a magnetic storage device. Note that the computer-usable or computerreadable
medium could even be paper or another suitable medium upon which the
program is printed, as the program can be electronically captured, via, for instance,
optical scanning of the paper or other medium, then compiled, interpreted, or
otherwise processed in a suitable manner, if necessary, and then stored in a computer
memory. In the context of this document, a computer-usable or computer-readable
medium may be any medium that can contain, store, communicate, or transport the
program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus,
or device. The computer-usable medium may include a propagated data signal with
the computer-usable program code embodied therewith, either in baseband or as part
of a carrier wave. The computer usable program code may be transmitted using any
appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless, wireline, optical fiber
cable, RF, etc.
Computer program code for carrying out operations of the present
invention may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages,
including an object oriented programming language such as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or
the like and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the "C"
programming language or similar programming languages. The program code may
execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone
software package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or
entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer
may be connected to the user's computer through any type of network, including a
local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be
made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet
Service Provider).
These computer program instructions may also be stored in a
computer-readable medium that can direct a computer or other programmable data
processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions
stored in the computer-readable medium produce an article of manufacture including
instruction means which implement the functiodact specified in the block diagram
block or blocks.
The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a
computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of
operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus
to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute
on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide processes for
implementing the functionslacts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block
or blocks.
Turning to the FIGURES, embodiments of a system configured to
enable emissions sensitive transient state operation of a combined-cycle power plant
system, by including emissions effects in the temperature matching process are
shown. Each of the components in the FIGURES may be connected via hardwired,
wireless, or other conventional means as is indicated in FIGS. 1-5. Specifically,
referring to FIG. 1, an illustrative environment 100 including an emissions prediction
system 107 is shown according to embodiments of the invention. Environment 100
includes a computer infrastructure 102 that can perform the various processes
described herein. In particular, computer infrastructure 102 is shown including
computing device 110 which includes emissions prediction system 107, which
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enables computing device 1 10 to manage emissions sensitive transient state operation
of a power generation system 140 by performing the process steps of the disclosure.
As previously mentioned and discussed further below, emissions
prediction system 107 has the technical effect of enabling computing device 110 to
perform, among other things, the emissions sensitive control operations described
herein. It is understood that some of the various components shown in FIG. 1 can be
implemented independently, combined, and/or stored in memory for one or more
separate computing devices that are included in computing device 1 10. Further, it is
understood that some of the components and/or hnctionality may not be
implemented, or additional schemas and/or hnctionality may be included as part of
emissions prediction system 107.
Computing device 1 10 is shown including a memory 1 12, a processor
unit (PU) 114, an input/output (110) interface 116, and a bus 118. Further, computing
device 1 10 is shown in communication with an external I/O device/resource 120 and a
storage system 122. As is known in the art, in general, PU 114 executes computer
program code, such as emissions prediction system 107, that is stored in memory 1 12
and/or storage system 122. While executing computer program code, PU 114 can
read and/or write data, such as graphical user interface 130 and/or operational data
134, tolfrom memory 1 12, storage system 122, and/or I/O interface 1 16. Bus 1 18
provides a communications link between each of the components in computing device
1 10. I10 device 120 can comprise any device that enables a user to interact with
computing device 1 10 or any device that enables computing device 1 10 to
communicate with one or more other computing devices. Inputloutput devices
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(including but not limited to keyboards, displays, pointing devices, etc.) can be
coupled to the system either directly or through intervening It0 controllers.
In some embodiments, as shown in Fig. 1, environment 100 may
optionally include at least one component sensor 142, at least one emissions sensor
144 and at least one ambient sensor 146 communicatively connected to power
generation system 140 and computing device 110 (e.g., via wireless or hard-wired
means). Component sensor 142, emissions sensor 144 and ambient sensor 146 may
include any number of sensors as is known, including a thermometer, a barometer, a
humidity sensing device, gas turbine instruments, steam turbine instruments, etc. In
some embodiments, computing device 1 10 and/or emissions prediction system 107
may be disposed upon or within power generation system 140.
In any event, computing device 1 10 can comprise any general purpose
computing article of manufacture capable of executing computer program code
installed by a user (e.g., a personal computer, server, handheld device, etc.).
However, it is understood that computing device 110 is only representative of various
possible equivalent computing devices that may perform the various process steps of
the disclosure. To this extent, in other embodiments, computing device 1 10 can
comprise any specific purpose computing article of manufacture comprising hardware
and/or computer program code for performing specific functions, any computing
article of manufacture that comprises a combination of specific purpose and general
purpose hardwarelsoftware, or the like. In each case, the program code and hardware
can be created using standard programming and engineering techniques, respectively.
In one embodiment, computing device 1 10 may betinclude a distributed control
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system. In another embodiment, computing device 110 may be integral to a gas
turbine. Jn another embodiment, computing device 110 may be a part of power
generation system 140.
Turning to Fig. 2A, an illustrative method flow diagram is shown
according to embodiments of the invention: In pre-process PO, emission prediction
system 107 is initiated on computing device 110 to begin emissions sensitive steam
temperature matching for transient state operation of power generation system 140.
That is, either an automatic/scheduled adjustment to the operational steam
temperature of power generation system 140, a condition dictated adjustment to the
operational steam temperature of power generation system 140 or a manual/usercommanded
adjustment of the steam temperature may be performed by computing
device 1 10. Following pre-process PO, in process PI, computing device 1 10 obtains
operational data for at least one component of power generation system 140.
Operational data may be obtained from at least one of: memory 112, storage system
122, component sensor 142, emissions sensor 144 andlor ambient sensor 146.
Operational data may include a temperature of the at least one component, a
temperature of a steam turbine in power generation system 140, a set of system
specifications for power generation system 140, a set of current ambient conditions at
the power generation system 140, steam turbine stress, steam turbine expansion,
steam turbine clearances etc. Following process PI, in process P2, computing device
110 connects with memory 112 and/or storage system 122, to access prediction
reference data (e.g. a look-up table, a pre-generated curve, steam turbine design basis,
etc.), to determine the allowable steam temperature range based upon the operational
data obtained from power generation system 140.
In any event, following the process of P2, in process P3, computing device
110 predicts emissions generation values for various steam temperatures and/or
corresponding gas turbine operating condition(s) within a selected gas turbine load or
other operating parameter range. The range of the selected gas turbine operating
condition(s) including but not necessarily limited to the determined allowable steam
temperature range. In one embodiment, computing device 1 10 andlor PU 114 may
access any of: an emissions look-up table, a pre-generated emissions curve and/or
stored emissions data. Computing device 1 10 and/or PU 1 14 may compare the
allowable steam temperature, corresponding gas turbine operating parameter(s) range
and/or operational data to data points in any of the emissions look-up table, the pregenerated
emissions curve and/or stored data to generate emissions predictions for a
set of temperatures and/or corresponding gas turbine operating parameter(s) ranges.
The corresponding gas turbine operating parameter(s) ranges including but not limited
to the allowable operational steam temperature range. Computing device 110 and/or
PU 114 may input operational data and the allowable steam temperature range and/or
a given temperature within the allowable steam temperature range into memory 1 12
and/or storage system 122 to obtainlgenerate emissions predictions for a set of
temperatures within the allowable operational steam temperature range.
Following P3, in process P4A, computing device 110 displays the
emissions predictions for the set of steam temperatures and/or corresponding gas
turbine operating condition(s) within the allowable steam temperature range on a
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graphical user interface 130. In one embodiment, computing device 1 10 may display
the emissions predictions as a set of curves. In another embodiment, computing
device 110 may display the emissions predictions as a set of data points within a table.
In one embodiment, graphical user interface 130 may include other power generation
system 140 or turbine parameters as would be valuable for operator guidance in
system and/or power plant operation. Following P4A, in process P5A, a user selects
and/or is prompted to select an emissions sensitive operational steam temperature
andlor gas turbine operating condition, and, in response to a user selection, computing
device 1 10 adjusts the gas turbine operating parameter(s) to substantially attain the
emissions sensitive operational steam temperature andlor selected gas turbine
operating condition. Alternatively, in process P4B, computing device 1 10 determines
an emissions sensitive operational steam temperature for the power generation
system. In one embodiment, computing device 110 determines the emissions
sensitive operational steam temperature by accessing an emissions prediction
reference data set on memory 112 andlor storage system 122. Computing device 110
compares the data points in the emissions prediction reference data set to the obtained
operational data and the determined allowable operational steam temperature range.
In another embodiment, computing device 1 10 may compare emissions predictions
for a set of operational steam temperatures to determine an emissions sensitive
operational steam temperature. In any event, following P4B, in process P5B,
computing device 1 10 adjusts the gas turbine operating parameter(s) to substantially
attain the determined emissions sensitive operational steam temperature. In one
embodiment, computing device 110 may automatically adjust the gas turbine
operating parameter(s). In another embodiment, computing device 1 10 may prompt
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and await user approval before adjusting the gas turbine operating parameter(s). In
any event, following either of P5A or P5B, in process P6, an operational steam flow is
either introduced to the steam turbine or an already existing operational steam flow to
the steam turbine is altered. The new or altered operational steam flow is introduced
at a temperature substantially equivalent to the emissions sensitive temperature.
Turning to Figure 2B, following P6, in process P7, computing device 110
monitors emissions generation and operational steam temperature of power generation
system 140 via component sensor 142, emissions sensor 144, and ambient sensor 146.
Component sensor 142, emissions sensor 144 and ambient sensor 146 may be
disposed upon, within or in fluid communication with power generation system 140.
It is understood that component sensor 142, emissions sensor 144 and ambient sensor
146 may comprise any number of similar or varied sensors (e.g. pressure sensor,
temperature sensor, humidity sensor, etc.). Component sensor 142, emissions sensor
144 and ambient sensor 146 may recordread operational data (e.g. component
temperature, atmospheric temperature, barometric pressure, humidity, etc.) and/or
emissions data (e.g. NOx, NO, NO2 generation, CO, C02 generation, UHC, VOC
generation, particulates generation, Gas Turbine exhaust temperature, steam
temperature, etc.) for power generation system 140. Following process P7, in process
P8, computing device 1 10 updates any of memory 1 12, storage system 122 and/or
power system data 134 based upon readings by any of component sensor 142,
emissions sensor 144 and ambient sensor 146. In one embodiment, these real-time
readings are used to update operational data 134 and existing emissions predictions.
These readings are saved in any of memory 1 12 and storage system 122 to enhance
&re emissions predictions by computing device 1 10. In one embodiment, these
readings are factored into future emissions predictions by computing device 110.
These readings being used by computing device 1 10 to generate a gas turbine
emissions versus operating parameter(s) characteristic which may be used in real-time
to adjust the operation of power generation system 140. In one embodiment,
computing device 1 10 analyzes the emissions readings (e.g., determining an accuracy
of the emissions predictions, monitoring emissions levels, etc.). In one embodiment,
computing device 110 continues to predict emissions and adjust the operational steam
temperature and corresponding gas turbine operating parameter(s) to substantially
minimize emissions.
In any event, following process P8, in process P9, computing device 110
displays the real time emissions values obtained from sensor 142 andlor sensor 144 on
graphical user interface 130. In one embodiment, the real time emissions values may
be displayed comparatively with the emissions predictions on graphical user interface
130. In another embodiment, the real time emissions values may be factored into the
emissions predictions to display updated emissions predictions on graphical user
interface 130. In any event, following process P9, in process P10, a user monitors the
real time emissions values and adjustedlupdated emissions prediction values within
the allowable operational steam temperature range on the graphical user interface 130.
The user adjusts the operational steam temperature to attain an emissions sensitive
operational steam temperature. In another embodiment, computing device 1 10 may
automatically maintain an emissions sensitive operational steam temperature.
Following P 10, in process P 1 1, the emissions prediction system 107 is stopped.
The data flow diagram and block diagrams in the FIGURES illustrate the
architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems,
methods and computer program products according to various embodiments of the
present invention. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may
represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more
executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). It should
also be noted that, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the
block may occur out of the order noted in the FIGURES. For example, two blocks
shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the
blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the
hnctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams
andlor flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or
flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based
systems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations of special
purpose hardware and computer instructions.
Turning to FIG. 3, a schematic illustration of a User Interface (UI) 400
is shown according to embodiments of the invention. UI 400 includes Steam
Temperature curve (Ts), Gas turbine exhaust temperature curve (TG), Emissions
substance curve 1 (El), Emissions substance curve 2 (E2), and Emissions substance
curve 3 (E3). In one embodiment, each emissions curve, El, E2, and/or E3 may
represent the predicted parts per million generation of a respective substance (Carbon
monoxide, hydrocarbon, etc.) across a range of operating conditions. In this
embodiment, the predicted parts per million generation of a substance may be
represented across a range of YO to Y 10 parts per million. In another embodiment,
the emissions flow rate across a range of operating conditions may be displayed. In
this embodiment, El, E2, and E3, are shown with respect to a range of gas turbine
loads XO through X 10 and a range of Steam Turbine Component Temperatures ZO
through Z10. In one embodiment, user interface 400 may include a graphically
defined allowable steam temperature range R1 and a graphically defined allowable
gas turbine load range R2. In one embodiment, R1 and R2 may be calculated by
computing device 110 andlor retrieved from a database. In one embodiment, user
interface 400 may include an Optimum Emissions Temperature Match (OETM)
indicator, the OETM indicator for notifying a user/operator as to the load range of an
emissions sensitive operational steam temperature. In one embodiment, the operator
may select the OETM indicator on user interface 400 to adjust the operational steam
temperature. It is understood that user interface 400 is only an exemplary
embodiment of the invention, other forms, formats and/or styles of user interfaces
may be included as is known in the art.
Turning to FIG. 4, a schematic view of portions of a multi-shaft
combined-cycle power plant 500 is shown. Combined-cycle power plant 500 may
include, for example, a gas turbine 580 operably connected to a generator 570.
Generator 570 and gas turbine 580 may be mechanically coupled by a shaft 5 15,
which may transfer energy between a gas turbine 580 and generator 570. Also shown
in FIG. 4 is a heat exchanger 586 operably connected to gas turbine 580 and a steam
turbine 592. Heat exchanger 586 may be fluidly connected to both gas turbine 580
and steam turbine 592 via conventional conduits (numbering omitted). Heat
exchanger 586 may be a conventional heat recovery steam generator (HRSG), such as
those used in conventional combined-cycle power systems. As is known in the art of
power generation, HRSG 586 may use hot exhaust from gas turbine 580, combined
with a water supply, to create steam which is fed to steam turbine 592. Steam turbine
592 may optionally be coupled to a second generator system 570 (via a second shaft
515). Any of generator system 570, gas turbine 580, HRSG 586, and steam turbine
592 may be operably connected to emissions prediction system 107 via computing
device 110 of FIG. 1 or other embodiments described herein. It is understood that
generators 570 and shafts 5 15 may be of any size or type known in the art and may
differ depending upon their application or the system to which they are connected.
Common numbering of the generators and shafts is for clarity and does not
necessarily suggest these generators or shafts are identical. Generator system 570 and
second shaft 5 15 may operate substantially similarly to generator system 570 and
shaft 5 15 described above. In one embodiment of the present invention (shown in
phantom), emissions prediction system 107 may be used, via computing device 1 10 to
operate either or both of steam turbine 592 and gas turbine 580. In another
embodiment, shown in FIG. 5, a single-shaft combined-cycle power plant 600 may
include a single generator 570 coupled to both gas turbine 580 and steam turbine 592
via a single shaft 5 15. Gas turbine 580 and steam turbine 592 may be operably
connected to emissions prediction system 107 via computing device 1 10 of FIG. 1 or
other embodiments described herein.
The emissions prediction system of the present disclosure is not
limited to any one power generation system, combined cycle power generation
system, turbine or other system, and may be used with other power systems.
Additionally, the system of the present invention may be used with other systems not
described herein that may benefit from the emissions sensitive transient operation
provided by the emission prediction system described herein.
As discussed herein, various systems and components are described as
"obtaining" and/or "transferring" data (e.g., operational data, component
temperatures, system specifications, etc.). It is understood that the corresponding data
can be obtained using any solution. For example, the corresponding
systedcomponent can generate and/or be used to generate the data, retrieve the data
from one or more data stores or sensors (e.g., a database), receive the data from
another systedcomponent, andlor the like. When the data is not generated by the
particular systedcomponent, it is understood that another systedcomponent can be
implemented apart from the systedcomponent shown, which generates the data and
provides it to the systedcomponent and/or stores the data for access by the
systedcomponent.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular
embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used
herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms
as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood
that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this specification,
specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or
components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other
features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
2 1
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention,
including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the
invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any
incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims,
and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other
examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural
elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include
equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages
of the claims.

We Claim:
1. A system comprising:
at least one computing device (102, 110, 114) adapted to adjust a temperature
of an operational steam in a power generation system (140,500,600) by performing
actions comprising:
obtaining operational data (1 34) about components of a steam turbine
(592) in the power generation system (140,500,600), the operational data
(1 34) including at least one of: a temperature of the components and a set of
current ambient conditions at the power generation system (140, 500, 600);
determining an allowable operational steam temperature range (Rl) for
the steam turbine (592) based upon the operational data (134);
generating emissions predictions (El, E2, E3, OETM) for a set of
temperatures within the allowable steam temperature range (Rl); and
adjusting the temperature of the operational steam based upon the
emissions predictions (E 1, E2, E3, OETM).
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the adjusting of the temperature of the operational
steam includes adjusting an operating parameter on a gas turbine (580) in the power
generation system (140, 500,600).
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one computing device (1 02, 1 10, 1 14) is
further adapted to display the emissions predictions (El, E2, E3, OETM) for the set of
temperatures within the allowable steam temperature range (Rl) on a user interface
(130,400).
4. The system of claim 3, wherein the adjusting of the temperature of the operational
steam further includes:
prompting a user to select or approve of an emissions sensitive operational
steam temperature via the user interface (130,400);
receiving the selection or approval of the emissions sensitive operational
steam temperature tiom the user via the user interface (1 30,400); and
adjusting the temperature of the operational steam temperature to substantially
attain the emissions sensitive operational steam temperature.
5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a set of emissions sensors (142, 144,
146) communicatively connected to the at least one computing device (102, 110, 114)
and fluidly connected to the power generation system (140, 500,600), the set of
emissions sensors (142, 144, 146) configured to monitor emissions of the power
generation system (140,500,600).
6. The system of claim 5 further comprising, a database (1 12, 122) communicatively
connected to the set of emissions sensors (142, 144, 146) and the computing device
(1 02, 1 10, 1 14), the database (1 12, 122) configured to store readings by the emissions
sensors (142, 144, 146).
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the adjusting of the temperature of the operational
steam further includes:
determining an optimal operational steam temperature (OETM) to reduce
emissions based upon the emissions predictions (El, E2, E3, OETM); and
adjusting a load on a gas turbine (580) in the power generation system (140,
500, 600) to attain the determined optimal operational steam temperature (OETM).
8. A program product stored on a computer readable medium (1 12, 122), which when
executed by at least one computing device (102, 110, 114), performs the following:
obtains operational data (1 34) about components of a steam turbine (592) in a
power generation system (140, 500,600), the operational data (134) including at least
one of: a temperature of the components and a set of current ambient conditions at the
power generation system (140,500,600);
determines an allowable operational steam temperature range (Rl) for the
steam turbine (592) based upon the operational data (1 34);
generates emissions predictions (El, E2, E3, OETM) for a set of temperatures
within the allowable steam temperature range (Rl); and
adjusts the temperature of an operational steam in the power generation
system (140, 500, 600) based upon the emissions predictions (El, E2, E3, OETM).
9. A combined cycle power generation system (140, 500,600) comprising:
a gas turbine (580);
a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) (586) operatively connected to the
gas turbine (580);
a steam turbine (592) operatively connected to the HRSG (586);
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a generator (570) operatively connected to at least one of the gas turbine (580)
or the steam turbine (580); and
at least one computing device (102, 1 10, 1 14) communicatively connected to
at least one of the gas turbine (580), the steam turbine (592) and the HRSG (586),
the at least one computing device (102, 110, 114) adapted to adjust a temperature of
an operational steam in the power generation system (140, 500, 600) by performing
actions comprising:
obtaining operational data (134) about components of the steam
turbine (592), the operational data (1 34) including at least one of: a
temperature of the components and a set of current ambient conditions at the
power generation system (140, 500, 600);
determining an allowable operational steam temperature range (Rl) for
the steam turbine (592) based upon the operational data (134);
generating emissions predictions (El, E2, E3, OETM) for a set of
temperatures within the allowable steam temperature range (Rl); and
adjusting the temperature of the operational steam based upon the
emissions predictions (El, E2, E3, OETM).
10. The combined cycle power generation system of claim 9, wherein the adjusting of
the temperature of the operational steam includes adjusting an operating parameter on
a gas turbine (580) in the power generation system (140, 500,600).