Control of power generation system with water level calibration for pressure vessel

A system for controlling a power generation system, the system comprising:

• a system controller in communication with at least one sensor within the power generation system, the system controller being operable to:
• calculate, during operation of the power generation system, a target water level within the pressure vessel of the power generation system, wherein the pressure vessel receives a feedwater input to generate a steam output,
• calculate a flow rate change of the steam output from the pressure vessel,
• calculate a disturbance threshold based on a projected size of steam bubbles within the pressure vessel,
• determine whether the flow rate change of the steam output from the pressure vessel exceeds the disturbance threshold, and
• calibrate the target water level within the pressure vessel based on the flow rate change of the steam output from the pressure vessel and a mass flux through the pressure vessel, wherein the mass flux through the pressure vessel is derived from at least the feedwater input and the steam output;
• and
• a flow valve operably coupled to the system controller and a component of the power generation system, wherein the system controller adjusts a position of the flow valve based on the calibrated target water level within the pressure vessel to adjust the feedwater input to the pressure vessel.

A program product stored on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium for controlling a power generation system, the non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising program code for causing a computer system to perform actions including:

• calculating, during operation of the power generation system, a target water level within a pressure vessel of the power generation system, wherein the pressure vessel receives a feedwater input to generate a steam output;
• calculating a flow rate change of the steam output from the pressure vessel;
• calculating a disturbance threshold based on a projected size of steam bubbles within the pressure vessel;
• determining whether the flow rate change of the steam output from the pressure vessel exceeds the disturbance threshold;
• when the flow rate change of steam output from the pressure vessel exceeds the disturbance threshold, calibrating the target water level within the pressure vessel based on the flow rate change of the steam output from the pressure vessel and a mass flux through the pressure vessel, wherein the mass flux through the pressure vessel is derived from at least the feedwater input and the steam output;
• and
• adjusting a position of a flow valve to control the feedwater input to the pressure vessel;
• adjusting a position of a flow valve coupled to the pressure vessel to adjust a feedwater input into pressure vessel based on the calibrated target water level.