Detecting flashback by monitoring engine-dynamic spikes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9376963-B2
Application number	US-201313742401-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 16, 2013
Priority date	Jan 16, 2013
Publication date	Jun 28, 2016
Grant date	Jun 28, 2016

Abstract

A tuning process is provided for dynamically tuning a gas-turbine (GT) engine to correct for flashback events without directly measuring occurrences of the flashback events at the GT engine. Initially, readings are taken that measure low-frequency dynamics at the GT engine. A determination of whether flashback criteria are met by an instantaneous signal that quantifies a detected spike within the measured low-frequency dynamics is carried out, where the flashback criteria include the following: identifying the spike overcomes a multiple of an average of the low-frequency dynamics measured over a predefined period of time; and identifying the spike overcomes a preestablished minimum amplitude. Upon the spike meeting the flashback criteria, a count is added to a running record of spikes, which is compared to an alarm limit. If the alarm limit is triggered, action(s) are invoked to address the flashback events, such as adjusting fuel-flow splits of the GT engine.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computerized method, implemented by a processing unit, for automatically tuning a combustor of a gas turbine (GT) engine to address the occurrences of flashback events, the method comprising:
monitoring one or more low-frequency dynamics within the GT engine;
detecting a spike in the one or more monitored low-frequency dynamics;
determining whether an amplitude measured from the spike satisfies at least one flashback criterion;
when the spike's measured amplitude satisfies the at least one flashback criterion:
(1) adding a count to a running record of spikes detected from the GT engine;
(2) identifying that a number of spikes that satisfy the at least one flashback criterion that are detected within a predefined time interval surpasses a threshold number;
(3) causing a flashback-addressing action to commence, wherein the flashback-addressing action serves to influence the occurrences of flashback events within the GT engine; and

when the monitored one or more low-frequency dynamics do not satisfy at least one flashback criterion, refraining from causing the flashback-addressing action.

2. The computerized method of claim 1 , further comprising, upon determining that the running record of spikes triggers an alarm limit, causing the flashback-addressing action to commence.

3. The computerized method of claim 2 , wherein causing the flashback-addressing action to commence comprises adjusting one or more fuel-flow splits while maintaining a total fuel flow to the GT engine substantially constant.

4. The computerized method of claim 1 , wherein monitoring one or more low-frequency dynamics within the GT engine comprises measuring low-frequency dynamics.

5. The computerized method of claim 4 , wherein the low-frequency dynamics include lean blowout (LBO) of the GT engine.

6. The computerized method of claim 4 , further comprising calculating an average of the one or more low-frequency dynamics over a predefined period of time.

7. The computerized method of claim 6 , wherein determining whether an amplitude measured from the spike satisfies at least one flashback criterion comprises determining whether the spike's measured amplitude overcomes a first predetermined value, wherein the first predetermined value represents a multiple of the calculated average of the one or more low-frequency dynamics.

8. The computerized method of claim 7 , wherein determining whether an amplitude measured from the spike satisfies at least one flashback criterion comprises determining whether the spike's measured amplitude overcomes a second predetermined value, wherein the second predetermined value represents a preestablished minimum amplitude.

9. The computerized method of claim 8 , further comprising adding a count to a running record of spikes detected from the GT engine upon determining that the spike's measured amplitude overcomes the first and second predetermined values.

10. A computerized method, implemented by a processing unit, for automatically tuning a combustor of a GT engine to address the occurrences of flashback events, the method comprising:
measuring an amplitude of one or more low-frequency dynamics of the GT engine;
calculating an average of the amplitude of the one or more low-frequency dynamics over a predefined period of time;
detecting a spike in the amplitude of the one or more measured low-frequency dynamics;
determining whether the spike's measured amplitude overcomes a first predetermined value, wherein the first predetermined value represents a multiple of the calculated average of the one or more low-frequency dynamics;
when the spike's measured amplitude overcomes the first predetermined value, causing a flashback-addressing action to commence, wherein the flashback-addressing action serves to influence the occurrences of flashback events within the GT engine; and
otherwise, refraining from causing the flashback-addressing action.

11. The computerized method of claim 10 , further comprising:
determining whether the spike's measured amplitude overcomes a second predetermined value, wherein the second predetermined value represents a preestablished minimum amplitude.

12. The computerized method of claim 11 , further comprising:
upon determining that the spike's measured amplitude overcomes the first and second predetermined values, adding a count to a running record of spikes detected from the GT engine.

13. A computer system comprising:
a processor coupled to a computer storage medium, the computer storage medium having stored thereon a plurality of computer software components executable by the processor configured for performing a method of auto-tuning a gas turbine (GT) engine using engine dynamics to adjust for flashback events, the method comprising:
measuring an amplitude of one or more low-frequency dynamics of the GT engine;
calculating an average of the amplitude of the one or more low-frequency dynamics over a predefined period of time;
detecting a spike in the amplitude of the one or more measured low-frequency dynamics;
determining whether the spike's measured amplitude overcomes a first predetermined value, wherein the first predetermined value represents a multiple of the calculated average of the one or more measured low-frequency dynamics;
when the spike's measured amplitude overcomes the first predetermined value, causing a flashback-addressing action to commence, wherein the flashback-addressing action serves to influence the occurrences of flashback events within the GT engine; and
otherwise, refraining from causing the flashback-addressing action.

14. The computer system of claim 13 , wherein causing the flashback-addressing action to commence comprises adjusting one or more fuel-flow splits while maintaining a total fuel flow to the GT engine substantially constant.

15. The computer system of claim 13 , wherein the low-frequency dynamics include LBO of the GT engine.

16. The computer system of claim 13 , further comprising:
determining whether the spike's measured amplitude overcomes a second predetermined value, wherein the second predetermined value represents a preestablished minimum amplitude.

17. The computer system of claim 16 , further comprising:
adding a count to a running record of spikes detected from the GT engine upon determining that the spike's measured amplitude overcomes the first and second predetermined values; and
upon adding the count to the running record of spikes, determining whether a new running record or spikes triggers an alarm limit.

18. The computer system of claim 17 , further comprising:
upon determining the new running record of spikes triggers the alarm limit, adjusting one or more fuel-flow splits while maintaining total fuel flow to the GT engine substantially constant.

19. The computer system of claim 17 , further comprising:
upon determining the new running record of spikes does not trigger the alarm limit, refraining from adjusting one or more fuel-flow splits.

20. The computer system of claim 13 , wherein the first predetermined value is four times the calculated average of the measured low-frequency dynamics.

Assignees

• Alstom Technology Ltd

Inventors

• Soni Sumit
• Gauthier Donald
• Rizkalla Hany
• Oumejjoud Khalid
• Stuttaford Peter

Classifications

• F23N2231/28

  preventing flash-back or blow-back · CPC title

• F23D2209/10

  Flame flashback · CPC title

• F23R3/34

  Feeding into different combustion zones · CPC title

• F23D14/82

  Preventing flashback or blowback · CPC title

• F02C9/28

  Regulating systems responsive to plant or ambient parameters, e.g. temperature, pressure, rotor speed (F02C9/30 - F02C9/38, F02C9/44 take precedence) · CPC title