Automated tuning of gas turbine combustion systems

A method of tuning the operation of a gas turbine, the turbine having turbine controls for controlling operational control elements of the turbine, the operational control elements producing a change in operational parameter data of the gas turbine, the method comprising:

• receiving real-time or near real-time operational parameter data about the turbine,
• adjusting one or more tuning priorities within a range to change stored operational standards, the stored operational standards in the form of tuning alarm levels,
• determining whether sensed operational parameter data is within the stored operational standards and producing one or more indicators if said operational data is not within the stored operational standards,
• ranking the one or more indicators based on the hierarchy of tuning priorities to determine the dominant tuning concern,
• determining whether the one or more indicators has continued for a predetermined period of time;
• and
• tuning the operation of the turbine by causing an adjustment in one of the operational control element, wherein the operational control element being adjusted is selected based on the dominant tuning concern.

A non-transitory computer readable medium having embodied therein a computer program for tuning the operation of a combustion turbine comprising code segments for:

• controlling operational control elements of the turbine, the operational control elements producing a change in operational parameter data of the gas turbine,
• receiving real-time or near real-time operational parameter data about the turbine,
• adjusting one or more tuning priorities within a range to change stored operational standards, the stored operational standards in the form of tuning alarm levels,
• determining whether sensed operational parameter data is within the stored operational standards and producing one or more indicators if said operational data is not within the stored operational standards,
• ranking the one or more indicators based on the hierarchy of tuning priorities to determine the dominant tuning concern,
• determining whether the one or more indicators has continued for a predetermined period of time;
• and
• tuning the operation of the turbine by causing an adjustment in one of the operational control element, wherein the operational control element being adjusted is selected based on the dominant tuning concern.