Power plant performance management systems and methods

A steam powered electric power generating station to provide electricity, comprising:

• (a) a steam turbine positioned in a steam turbine shell, said steam turbine having at least one blade and a shaft joined to said at least one blade, said shaft adapted to turn an electrical generator to create electricity, said steam turbine shell adapted to receive steam to turn said at least one blade and said shaft of said steam turbine via a first steam line connected to said steam turbine shell;
• (b) equipment connected to said steam turbine shell to receive steam from said steam turbine shell via a second steam line extending from said steam turbine shell to said equipment, said equipment receives feed water through an entry port and releases feed heater through an exit port, said equipment performs certain operations on said feed water;
• (c) a first temperature detector positioned to detect a first temperature of said feed water prior to entering said equipment via said entry port;
• (d) a second temperature detector positioned to detect a second temperature of said feed water after exiting said equipment via said exit port;
• and
• (e) a computer electrically coupled to said first temperature detector to receive said first temperature and to said second temperature detector to receive said second temperature, said computer compares said first temperature to said second temperature to generate a temperature difference and compares said temperature difference with a standard temperature difference to determine whether excess amounts of condensation are present in said equipment and In danger of entering said steam turbine shell.

A process of alerting the power plant operator of a hazardous condition, comprising:

• (a) detecting a first temperature of feed water immediately before said feed water enters heating equipment;
• (b) detecting a second temperature of said feed water immediately after said feed water exits said heating equipment;
• (c) comparing said first temperature to said second temperature to generate a temperature difference between said first temperature and said second temperature;
• (d) comparing said temperature difference with a preferred temperature difference to determine whether excess amounts of condensation are present in said heating equipment and in danger of reaching said steam turbine, and
• (e) generating a warning signal to alert said power plant operator that excess amounts of condensation are present in said heating equipment and in danger of reaching said steam turbine.