Operation of power plant at transient loads during switching event on transmission lines

A program product stored on a computer readable storage medium for controlling a power plant having a generator mechanically coupled to a gas turbine through a shaft, and electrically coupled to a grid through a set of transmission lines, the computer readable storage medium comprising program code for causing a computer system to perform actions including:

• detecting a transient load on the power plant, based on electrical properties of the grid and electrical properties of the power plant, wherein the electrical properties of the grid include a system reactance of the grid;
• monitoring the system reactance of the grid via the generator during operation of the power plant at the transient load;
• determining whether the system reactance of the grid exceeds a switching threshold, the switching threshold being indicative of a switching event on the set of transmission lines;
• in response to the system reactance exceeding the switching threshold:
• operating the gas turbine at the transient load using a first control setting, the first control setting including a transient fuel management profile, a transient split bias profile, and a dynamic intake parameter for the gas turbine;
• and
• in response to the system reactance not exceeding the switching threshold, and one of the electrical properties of the power plant exceeding a stability threshold:
• operating the gas turbine at the transient load using a second control setting, the second control setting including the dynamic intake parameter for the gas turbine, wherein the second control setting does not include the transient fuel management profile or the transient split bias profile.

A system comprising:

• a power plant having a generator mechanically coupled to a gas turbine through a shaft, and electrically coupled to a grid through a set of transmission lines;
• and
• a system controller in communication with the gas turbine of the power plant, the system controller being operable to:
• detect a transient load on the power plant, based on electrical properties of the grid and electrical properties of the power plant, wherein the electrical properties of the grid include a system reactance of the grid;
• monitor the system reactance of the grid via the generator during operation of the power plant at the transient load;
• determine whether the system reactance of the grid exceeds a switching threshold, the switching threshold being indicative of a switching event on the set of transmission lines;
• in response to the system reactance exceeding the switching threshold:
• operate the gas turbine at the transient load using a first control setting, the first control setting including a transient fuel management profile, a transient split bias profile, and a dynamic intake parameter for the gas turbine;
• and
• in response to the system reactance not exceeding the switching threshold, and one of the electrical properties of the power plant exceeding a stability threshold:
• operate the gas turbine at the transient load using a second control setting, the second control setting including the dynamic intake parameter for the gas turbine, wherein the second control setting does not include the transient fuel management profile or the transient split bias profile.