Systems and methods to control power plant operation via control of turbine run-up and acceleration

A system comprising:

• a power plant;
• a turbine associated with the power plant;
• a controller in communication with the turbine, and including a memory with computer-readable instructions configured to:
• receive an operating pressure of a condenser associated with the power plant;
• receive a rotor speed of the turbine;
• receive a last stage blade (LSB) protection limit for the turbine;
• based at least in part on the operating pressure of the condenser, the rotor speed of the turbine, and the LSB protection limit, initiate a run-up of the turbine;
• receive a rotor speed gradient of the turbine;
• receive one or more critical speed ranges associated with the rotor speed of the turbine;
• and
• based at least in part on the operating pressure of the condenser, the rotor speed, the rotor speed gradient, and the one or more critical speed ranges, regulate at least one of:
• the rotor speed of the turbine and the rotor speed gradient of the turbine.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions executable by a computer for performing operations comprising:

• receiving an operating pressure of a condenser associated with a power plant;
• receiving a rotor speed of a turbine associated with the power plant;
• receiving a last stage blade (LSB) protection limit for the turbine;
• based at least in part on the operating pressure of the condenser, the rotor speed of the turbine, and the LSB protection limit, initiating, via a control system, a run-up of the turbine;
• receiving a rotor speed gradient of the turbine;
• receiving one or more critical speed ranges associated with the rotor speed of the turbine;
• and
• based at least in part on the operating pressure of the condenser, the rotor speed, the rotor speed gradient, and the one or more critical speed ranges, regulating, via the control system, at least one of:
• the rotor speed of the turbine and the rotor speed gradient of the turbine.