Method for determining when to perform a test of an overspeed protection system of a powerplant machine
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsFrederick William Block, Richard Lee Nichols, Joseph Robert Law, Bret Stephen Dalton, George Allen Ellis
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention have the technical effect of determining when to test an overspeed protection system of a powerplant machine. As described herein, embodiments of the present invention may be applied to a wide variety of powerplant machines, each comprising a shaft. After determining that test of the overspeed protection system should be performed, embodiments of the present invention may allow for a variety of methods to test the overspeed protection system.
Claims19
A method of determining when a test of an overspeed protection system of a powerplant machine is recommended, the method comprising:
- providing a powerplant machine comprising a shaft and an operational control system, wherein the operational control system is configured for operating the powerplant machine and comprises an overspeed protection system configured for detecting an overspeed event associated with the shaft;
- providing a condition based algorithm configured for determining when a test of the overspeed protection system is recommended, wherein the condition based algorithm is integrated with the operational control system, and performs the steps of:
- a) monitoring a component of the powerplant machine, wherein the component is associated with the overspeed protection system;
- b) determining whether an interval is met;
- c) determining whether an operational event associated with the component has occurred;
- and
- d) adjusting the interval based on the operational event;
- wherein the condition based algorithm determines when the frequency of testing the overspeed protection system can be decreased.
A method of testing an overspeed protection system of a powerplant, the method comprising:
- providing a powerplant comprising a gas turbine and a steam turbine, and wherein a shaft integrates the gas turbine and the steam turbine forming a steam and gas powertrain (STAG);
- providing an operational control system, wherein the operational control system is configured for operating the STAG and comprises an overspeed protection system configured for detecting an overspeed event associated with the shaft;
- providing a condition based algorithm configured for determining when a test of the overspeed protection system is recommended, wherein the condition based algorithm is integrated with the operational control system, and performs the steps of:
- a) monitoring a component of the powerplant machine, wherein the component is associated with the overspeed protection system;
- b) determining whether an interval is met, wherein the interval suggests when to test the overspeed protection system;
- c) determining whether an operational event associated with the component has occurred;
- and
- d) adjusting the interval based on the operational event;
- wherein the condition based algorithm determines when the frequency of testing the overspeed protection system can be decreased.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.