System and method for operating a gas turbine in a turndown mode

A method for transitioning a gas turbine of a thermal power plant from a non-turndown operating condition to a minimum turndown operating condition, the method comprising:

• a. receiving, at a controller, a user input corresponding to a value for an operational boundary condition of at least one of the gas turbine or the thermal power plant;
• b. receiving, at the controller, a user input instructing the gas turbine to transition from the non-turndown operating condition to a desired turndown operating condition;
• c. monitoring, at the controller, at least one ambient condition using a sensor, the sensor being in communication with the controller;
• d. generating, at the controller, a predicted emissions level value for the gas turbine based on the monitored ambient condition;
• and
• e. generating, at the controller, a command signal to adjust at least one operational parameter of the gas turbine as the gas turbine transitions to the minimum turndown operating condition, the command signal being based at least in part on the predicted emissions level value and the value of the operational boundary condition of the thermal power plant.

A method for operating a gas turbine of a thermal power plant at a turndown condition, the method comprising:

• a. receiving, at a controller, a user input corresponding to a value for an operational boundary condition of the thermal power plant;
• b. monitoring, at the controller, at least one ambient condition using a sensor, the sensor being in communication with the controller;
• c. generating, at the controller, a predicted emissions level value for the gas turbine based on the monitored ambient condition;
• and
• d. generating, at the controller, a command signal to adjust at least one operational parameter of the gas turbine based at least in part on the predicted emissions level value and the value of the operational boundary condition of the thermal power plant.