Methods and systems for providing real-time comparison with an alternate control strategy for a turbine

A turbine control and modeling system stored in computer-readable memory, comprising:

• a primary adaptive turbine model operable to model operation of a turbine, wherein the primary adaptive turbine model comprises at least one primary operating parameter;
• and
• an alternate adaptive turbine model operable to model operation of the turbine, wherein the alternate adaptive turbine model comprises at least one alternate operating parameter;
• wherein the system is operable to:
• determine a first output value from the primary adaptive turbine model that is associated at least in part with operation of the turbine based on a primary control strategy;
• adjust the at least one alternate operating parameter based on an alternate control strategy and based at least in part on the first output value;
• and
• determine comparison data based at least in part on a comparison between the primary control strategy and the alternate control strategy.

A method for controlling and modeling a turbine, comprising:

• modeling the turbine using a primary adaptive turbine model comprising at least one primary operating parameter;
• modeling the turbine using an alternate adaptive turbine model comprising at least one alternate operating parameter;
• and
• tuning the primary adaptive turbine model and the alternate adaptive turbine model;
• wherein when the turbine is operating at about part load based on a primary control strategy, the at least one alternate operating parameter is adjusted to determine an alternate power output based on an alternate control strategy substantially equal to the turbine power output, and the at least one primary operating parameter is compared to the at least one alternate operating parameter;
• wherein when the turbine is operating at about base load based on the primary control strategy, the at least one alternate operating parameter is adjusted to determine an alternate maximum power output based on the alternate control strategy, and a maximum turbine power output associated with the turbine is compared to the alternate maximum power output.