Industrial Gas Turbine Health and Performance Assessment With Field Data

Author(s):  
I. Roumeliotis ◽  
N. Aretakis ◽  
A. Alexiou

The paper presents a thorough analysis of historical data and results acquired over a period of two years through an online real-time monitoring system installed at a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant. For gas turbine health and performance assessment, a Gas Path Analysis tool based on the adaptive modeling method is integrated into the system. An engine adapted model built through a semi-automated method is part of a procedure which includes a steam/water cycle simulation module and an economic module used for power plant performance and economic assessment. The adaptive modeling diagnostic method allowed for accurate health assessment during base and part load operation identifying and quantifying compressor recoverable deterioration and the root cause of an engine performance shift. Next the performance and economic assessment procedure was applied for quantifying the economic benefit accrued by implementing daily on-line washing and for evaluating the financial gains if the off-line washings time intervals are optimized based on actual engine performance deterioration rates. The results demonstrate that this approach allows continuous health and performance monitoring at full and part load operation enhancing decision making capabilities and adding to the information that can be acquired through traditional analysis methods based on heat balance and base load correction curves.

Author(s):  
I. Roumeliotis ◽  
N. Aretakis ◽  
A. Alexiou

The paper presents a thorough analysis of the historical data and results acquired over a period of two years through an on-line real-time monitoring system installed at a combined heat and power (CHP) plant. For gas turbine health and performance assessment, a gas path analysis tool based on the adaptive modeling method is integrated into the system. An engine adapted model built through a semi-automated method is part of a procedure which includes a steam/water cycle simulation module and an economic module used for power plant performance and economic assessment. The adaptive modeling diagnostic method allowed for accurate health assessment during base and part load operation identifying and quantifying compressor recoverable deterioration and the root cause of an engine performance shift. Next, the performance and economic assessment procedure was applied for quantifying the economic benefit accrued by implementing daily on-line washing and for evaluating the financial gains if the off-line washings time intervals are optimized based on actual engine performance deterioration rates. The results demonstrate that this approach allows continuous health and performance monitoring at full and part load operation enhancing decision making capabilities and adding to the information that can be acquired through traditional analysis methods based on heat balance and base load correction curves.


Author(s):  
Panteleimon Kazatzis ◽  
Riti Singh ◽  
Pericles Pilidis ◽  
Jean-Jacques Locquet

The power-speed requirements of warships and the poor part load efficiency of simple cycle gas turbines has given rise to the design of many ship installations where two types of gas turbines are used. A large type for high speed, at full power, and a small one for cruise. It is common to mount two units of each type. This design results in a large amount of bulky and heavy ducting, much more voluminous and heavy than the gas turbines themselves. The present paper outlines an investigation into a novel intercooled split-cycle with some deck mounted components. This reduces the requirement for internal ducts in the ships hull, essentially, to those needed by the cruise engine. The engine performance has been predicted and a comparison is carried out between a traditional installation and the one investigated. An estimate has been carried out of the flow conditions of the duct to assess the change in losses for operation in the cruise and the full power condition. The new scheme appears to be promising.


Author(s):  
Christina Salpingidou ◽  
Dimitrios Misirlis ◽  
Zinon Vlahostergios ◽  
Stefan Donnerhack ◽  
Michael Flouros ◽  
...  

This work presents an exergy analysis and performance assessment of three recuperative thermodynamic cycles for gas turbine applications. The first configuration is the conventional recuperative (CR) cycle in which a heat exchanger is placed after the power turbine (PT). In the second configuration, referred as alternative recuperative (AR) cycle, a heat exchanger is placed between the high pressure and the PT, while in the third configuration, referred as staged heat recovery (SHR) cycle, two heat exchangers are employed, the primary one between the high and PTs and the secondary at the exhaust, downstream the PT. The first part of this work is focused on a detailed exergetic analysis on conceptual gas turbine cycles for a wide range of heat exchanger performance parameters. The second part focuses on the implementation of recuperative cycles in aero engines, focused on the MTU-developed intercooled recuperative aero (IRA) engine concept, which is based on a conventional recuperation approach. Exergy analysis is applied on specifically developed IRA engine derivatives using both alternative and SHR recuperation concepts to quantify energy exploitation and exergy destruction per cycle and component, showing the amount of exergy that is left unexploited, which should be targeted in future optimization actions.


Author(s):  
Michel L. Verbist ◽  
Wilfried P. J. Visser ◽  
Rene Pecnik ◽  
Jos P. van Buijtenen

Performance models are effective tools for analysis of engine condition throughout the life cycle of a gas turbine engine. Component maps necessary for accurate performance modeling are typically not provided by the original equipment manufacturers. To compensate for the missing information, available maps of similar components are scaled to match component performance at one or more reference points. Although scaled maps can provide sufficiently accurate results close to the reference points, modeling errors tend to increase further away from these reference points. For applications such as gas path analysis, the resulting modeling errors can be of the same order of magnitude as the deterioration to be detected. This severely limits the application of such techniques. This article presents a component map tuning procedure that tunes maps with more detail than just scaling. The tuned maps are a closer match to real component performance. The tuning procedure combines the adaptive modeling capability of the Gas turbine Simulation Program (GSP) and on-wing measured engine performance data. On-wing measured engine performance data allows map tuning over a wider range of power settings compared to engine performance data measured in a test cell. Effects of measurement uncertainty and scatter, and effects of compressor bleed flows on the map tuning procedure are analyzed and discussed. The tuned component maps enabled more accurate component condition estimations, mainly characterized by less scatter. By improving the accuracy of gas path analysis with on-wing measured performance data, this work has enabled more effective use of performance diagnostic techniques in the aero-engine maintenance industry.


Author(s):  
W. P. J. Visser ◽  
H. Pieters ◽  
M. Oostveen ◽  
E. van Dorp

SKF’s primary tool for gas turbine engine performance analysis is GSP (Gas turbine Simulation Program), a component based modeling environment that is developed at National Aerospace Laboratory NLR and Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands. One of the applications is gas path analysis (GPA) using GSP’s generic adaptive modeling capability. With GSP, gas path analysis has been applied to different aero engines at several maintenance facilities. Additional functionalities have been developed to analyze multiple engine operating points and combine results of different adaptive modeling configurations automatically, resulting in more accurate and reliable GPA results. A ‘multi-point calibration’ method for the reference model was developed providing a significant improvement of GPA accuracy and stability. Also, a method was developed using ‘multiple analysis cycles’ on different condition indicator subsets, which successfully generated values for all condition parameters in cases with fewer measurement parameters than condition indicators and where measurement data are unreliable. The method has been successfully demonstrated on the GEM42 turbo shaft engine. A number of case studies have shown GPA results corresponding to available maintenance notes and inspection data. The extension of the GSP GPA tool with a database system provides a useful tool for analyzing engine history and comparison of analyzed component conditions throughout the fleet. When a large amount of analysis data is stored in the database, statistic analyses, trending and data mining can be performed. Also maintenance work scope effect on engine performance can be predicted. In this paper, the newly developed GSP gas path analysis functionalities are described and experiences and results with the GEM42 engine operational environment are presented.


Author(s):  
Kenneth W. Van Treuren

The gas turbine industry is experiencing growth in many sectors. An important part of teaching a gas turbine course is exposing students to the practical applications of the gas turbine. This laboratory proposes an opportunity for students to view an operating gas turbine engine in an aircraft propulsion application and to model the engine performance. A Pratt and Whitney PT6A-20 turboprop was run at a local airfield and engine parameters typical of cockpit instrumentation were taken. The students, in teams of two, then modeled the system using the software PARA and PERF in an attempt to match the manufacturer’s specifications. This laboratory required students to research the parameters necessary to model this engine that were not part of the data set provided by the manufacturer. The research and modeling encompassed areas such as technology level, efficiencies, fuel consumption, and performance. The end result was a two-page report containing the students’ calculations comparing the actual performance of the engine with the manufacturer’s specifications. Supporting graphs and figures were included as appendices. The same type laboratory could be adapted for co-generation gas turbines. Over 121 colleges and universities have co-generation facilities on campus and that presents a unique opportunity for the students to observe the operation of a land-based gas turbine used for power generation. A 5 MW TB5000 manufactured by Ruston (Alstom) Gas Engines is available on the Baylor University campus and is highlighted as an example. Potential problems encountered with using the Baylor University gas turbine are discussed which include lack of appropriate engine instrumentation.


Author(s):  
Jerald A. Caton

Abstract A thermodynamic cycle simulation was developed for a spark-ignition engine which included the use of multiple zones for the combustion process. This simulation was used to complete analyses for a commercial, spark-ignition V-8 engine operating at a part load condition. Specifically, the engine possessed a compression ratio of 8.1:1, and had a bore and stroke of 101.6 and 88.4 mm, respectively. A part load operating condition at 1400 rpm with an equivalence ratio of 1.0 was examined. Results were obtained for overall engine performance, for detailed in-cylinder events, and for the thermodynamics of the individual processes. In particular, the characteristics of the engine operation with respect to the combustion process were examined. Implications of the multiple zones formulation for the combustion process are described.


Author(s):  
Ioanna Aslanidou ◽  
Valentina Zaccaria ◽  
Evangelia Pontika ◽  
Nathan Zimmerman ◽  
Anestis I. Kalfas ◽  
...  

This paper addresses the teaching of gas turbine technology in a third-year undergraduate course in Sweden and the challenges encountered. The improvements noted in the reaction of the students and the achievement of the learning outcomes is discussed. The course, aimed at students with a broad academic education on energy, is focused on gas turbines, covering topics from cycle studies and performance calculations to detailed design of turbomachinery components. It also includes economic aspects during the operation of heat and power generation systems and addresses combined cycles as well as hybrid energy systems with fuel cells. The course structure comprises lectures from academics and industrial experts, study visits, and a comprehensive assignment. With the inclusion of all of these aspects in the course, the students find it rewarding despite the significant challenges encountered. An important contribution to the education of the students is giving them the chance, stimulation, and support to complete an assignment on gas turbine design. Particular attention is given on striking a balance between helping them find the solution to the design problem and encouraging them to think on their own. Feedback received from the students highlighted some of the challenges and has given directions for improvements in the structure of the course, particularly with regards to the course assignment. This year, an application developed for a mobile phone in the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki for the calculation of engine performance will be introduced in the course. The app will have a supporting role during discussions and presentations in the classroom and help the students better understand gas turbine operation. This is also expected to reduce the workload of the students for the assignment and spike their interest.


Author(s):  
George F. Gramatikas ◽  
Daniel L. Davis

This paper describes a program that groups gas turbines from one or more sites for the purpose of efficient monitoring and performance evaluation. Cost-improved gas turbine and power plant operation is achieved by a new, unified-yet-flexible service approach which combines state-of-the-art microprocessor-based monitoring with routine and emergency evaluation by a core of highly skilled personnel many miles from the operating site. This unique approach delivers expertise which supplements the gas turbine owner’s in-house resources. It is based on a modular concept of condition health monitoring and performance evaluation, including scheduled as well as on-line services. Portable condition health monitoring equipment provides the capability for scheduled plant performance evaluation by service engineers without investment in additional equipment. On-line monitoring includes a PC-based software system and a computer link to the service engineer’s headquarters. Both scheduled and on-line monitoring services include trend evaluation, projected maintenance requirements, maintenance planning assistance and suggestions for performance enhancement.


Author(s):  
Jerald A. Caton

This investigation quantified the effects of compression ratio (CR) and expansion ratio (ER) on performance, efficiency, and second law parameters for an automotive, spark-ignition engine. The well known increase in engine performance for increasing CR and ER is demonstrated. These increases for brake engine performance are modest for CRs greater than about 10 for the conditions studied. The results demonstrated that the increasing friction and heat losses for the higher CRs are of the same order as the thermodynamic gains. Also, the results included the destruction of availability during combustion. For a part load condition, the availability destroyed decreased from about 23% to 21% for CRs of 4 and 10, respectively. In addition, this study examined cases with greater ERs than CRs. The overall cycle for these cases is often called an “Atkinson” cycle. For most cases, the thermal efficiency first increased as ER increased, attained a maximum efficiency, and then decreased. The decrease in efficiency after the maximum value was due to the increased heat losses, increased friction, and ineffective exhaust processes (due to the reduced cylinder pressure at the time of exhaust valve opening). For part load cases, the higher ER provided only modest gains due to the increased pumping losses associated with the constant load requirement. For the wide open throttle cases, however, the higher ERs provided significant gains. For example, for a compression ratio of 10, expansion ratios of 10 and 30 provided brake thermal efficiencies of about 34% and 43%, respectively. Although the net thermodynamic gains are significant, large ERs such as 30 may not be practical in most applications.


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