US3919623A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Industrial gas turbine power plant control system having capability for effectuating automatic fuel transfer under load preferably employing a digital computer
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1972-12-21
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Granted: 1975-11-11
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Expires: 1992-12-21
Abstract
Abstract A gas turbine power plant is provided with an industrial gas turbine capable of sustained operation on either gas or liquid fuel or a mixture of the two. One or more of such turbinegenerator plants are operated by a hybrid digital computer control system during all turbine operating modes. Automatic transferring from operation using one fuel to operation sustained entirely by the other is achieved by computer directed dual fuel subsystem operation. Operation on a mixture of fuels is likewise computer directed.
Inventors
- 👤 John F Reuther
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 04:21
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02C; F02C9/00; F02C9/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
214 words
A gas turbine electric power plant comprising a gas turbine having a compressor and combustion and turbine elements, a generator having a field winding and being coupled to said gas turbine for drive power, a fuel system having plural subsystems for supplying one or more fuels to the gas turbine combustion elements, means for exciting said generator field winding, means for cooperatively operating each of said fuel subsystems to energize said turbine and for controlling said exciting means, a control system for developing one or more fuel system control signals, said control system including a digital computer, an input/output system therefor, and associated external circuit means, said circuit means comprising at least fuel system control signal ratioing means having one or more circuit parameters capable of continuous variation, means for operating said computer to determine a total fuel demand signal value and a time varying ratio of individual fuels necessary to continuously satisfy said total fuel demand while changing from operation on one of said fuels to operation on another of said fuels, and means for developing a fuel demand signal corresponding to said determined total fuel demand value and for applying said signal across said fuel signal ratioing means to derive individual control inputs to each of said plural fuel subsystem operating means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
214 words
A gas turbine electric power plant comprising a gas turbine having a compressor and combustion and turbine elements, a generator having a field winding and being coupled to said gas turbine for drive power, a fuel system having plural subsystems for supplying one or more fuels to the gas turbine combustion elements, means for exciting said generator field winding, means for cooperatively operating each of said fuel subsystems to energize said turbine and for controlling said exciting means, a control system for developing one or more fuel system control signals, said control system including a digital computer, an input/output system therefor, and associated external circuit means, said circuit means comprising at least fuel system control signal ratioing means having one or more circuit parameters capable of continuous variation, means for operating said computer to determine a total fuel demand signal value and a time varying ratio of individual fuels necessary to continuously satisfy said total fuel demand while changing from operation on one of said fuels to operation on another of said fuels, and means for developing a fuel demand signal corresponding to said determined total fuel demand value and for applying said signal across said fuel signal ratioing means to derive individual control inputs to each of said plural fuel subsystem operating means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A gas turbine electric power plant as set forth in claim 1 wherein said signal ratioing means comprises a digital potentiometer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A gas turbine electric power plant as set forth in claim 2 wherein one of said plural fuel subsystems schedules a gaseous primary fuel and another of said plural subsystems schedules a liquid secondary fuel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A gas turbine electric power plant as set forth in claim 3 wherein said computer operating means automatically initiates ratioing of said primary and said secondary fuel on partial or total failure of said primary fuel supply.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
68 words
A gas turbine electric power plant as set forth in claim 3 wherein said plant further comprises an operator''s control panel having plural fuel system operating mode selection means thereon for selecting operation on either said primary or said secondary fuel over a first interval of turbine operation, and for selecting automatic transfer to the other of said fuels on the occurrence of one or more predefined events.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
A gas turbine electric power plant as set forth in claim 5 wherein said operator''s control panel further provides means for indicating a desired ratio of primary and secondary fuels to sustain gas turbine operation over a second time interval and wherein automatic fuel mixing is provided on the occurrence of one or more predefined events.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
94 words
An electric power plant as set forth in claim 1 wherein There are additionally provided a plurality of sensors disposed to monitor selected turbine parameters, said plurality of sensors comprising at least an arrangement of fuel pressure sensors, said plurality of sensors providing control system inputs representative of said turbine parameters and wherein said computer operating means determines said total fuel demand and said time varying ratio of individual fuels in response to time varying combinations of said sensor inputs, each of said combinations comprising at least an input from said fuel pressure sensors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
An electric power plant as set forth in claim 7 wherein said computer operating means operates to determine control actions for simultaneous implementation by said plural fuel subsystem operating means to maintain gas turbine operation over a predefined range of exhaust temperatures, over at least one interval of gas turbine operation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
An electric power plant as set forth in claim 8 wherein means are provided for detecting generator load and said computer operating means further provides for controlling said plural fuel subsystems operating means in response to detected load to regulate the generator load substantially to a predetermined value.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-11-10 | 1979-05-12 | 1979-11-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-10 | 1983-05-12 | 1983-11-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-10 | 1987-05-12 | 1987-11-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |