Systems, methods, and apparatus for controlling turbine guide vane positions

A system for controlling air flow in a turbine comprising:

• a gas turbine;
• at least one guide vane operable to control turbine axial air flow;
• and
• a controller configured to:
• receive a nominal reference guide signal;
• receive a deadband signal;
• generate a reference signal associated with the at least one guide vane, wherein the reference signal is a sum of the nominal reference signal and the deadband signal;
• receive a measured guide vane actuator position feedback signal;
• generate an error signal based on a difference between the reference signal and the actuator position feedback signal, wherein the error signal is used at least to improve position accuracy of the at least one guide vane;
• measure an actuator position and an angular position associated with the at least one guide vane, wherein the actuator position is based at least in part on the error signal;
• receive a measured guide vane angular position feedback signal based at least in part on the angular position;
• generate an input signal, wherein the input signal is a difference between the measured guide vane actuator position feedback signal and the measured guide vane angular position feedback signal;
• generate an updated deadband signal based at least in part on the input signal;
• and
• manipulate the at least one guide vane based at least in part on the updated deadband signal and the reference signal.

An apparatus for controlling air flow in a gas turbine comprising:

• at least one guide vane operable to control turbine axial air flow;
• and
• a controller configured to:
• receive a nominal reference guide signal;
• receive a deadband signal;
• generate a reference signal associated with the at least one guide vane, wherein the reference signal is a sum of the nominal reference signal and the deadband signal;
• receive a measured guide vane actuator position feedback signal;
• generate an error signal based on a difference between the reference signal and the actuator position feedback signal, wherein the error signal is used at least to improve position accuracy of the at least one guide vane;
• measure an actuator position and an angular position associated with the at least one guide vane, wherein the actuator position is based at least in part on the error signal;
• receive a measured guide vane angular position feedback signal based at least in part on the angular position;
• generate an input signal, wherein the input signal is a difference between the measured guide vane actuator position feedback signal and the measured guide vane angular position feedback signal;
• generate an updated deadband signal based at least in part on the input signal;
• and
• manipulate the at least one guide vane based at least in part on the updated deadband signal and the reference signal.