Christopher L Long

US Patent:

8171717, May 8, 2012

Filed:

May 14, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/780187

Inventors:

Matthew John Mosley - Simpsonville SC, US
Christopher Eugene Long - Greer SC, US
David Spencer Ewens - Greer SC, US

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

F02C 9/00
F02K 3/00

US Classification:

60 3927, 60240, 60773

Abstract:

A coordinated air-fuel controller and associated method provide a fuel controller, a combustion air controller and a steady-state air versus fuel model. The fuel controller generates a fuel control output signal and the combustion air controller generates a combustion air control output signal. The fuel controller determines a preliminary fuel control signal based on at least one of first and second loop control signals, and determines the fuel control output signal based on the preliminary fuel control signal. The steady-state air versus fuel model processes the preliminary fuel control signal to determine an expected steady-state combustion air control signal. The combustion air controller determines a preliminary combustion air control signal based on at least one of a third loop control signal and a fourth loop control signal, and determines the combustion air control output signal based on the preliminary combustion air control signal and the expected steady-state combustion air control signal.

US Patent:

8195339, Jun 5, 2012

Filed:

Sep 24, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/565945

Inventors:

Christopher Eugene Long - Greer SC, US
Daniel Holzhauer - Burnt Hills NY, US
Ratna Manedhar Punjala - Andhra Pradesh, IN
Rohan Saraswat - Madhapur Hyderabad, IN
Fernando D'Amato - Niskayuna NY, US
Susan Peterson - Loveland CO, US
Luis Blasini - Loveland CO, US

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

G06F 19/00

US Classification:

700291, 700287, 60646

Abstract:

A method for forecasting a start period for a combined cycle power generation system including a gas turbine engine, a steam turbine and a computer control system, the method including: inputting a desired time at which the power generation system is to reach a dispatchable load; inputting a current value of a predetermined operational condition of the power generation system; the computer control system retrieving historical data relating the predetermined operational condition to prior start periods of the power generation system or a similar power generation system; the computer control system executing an algorithm which generates a forecasted start time based on the desired time, current value and the retrieve data, wherein the power generation system is predicted to reach the dispatchable load at the desired time when started at the forecasted start time, and the computer system outputting the forecasted start time to the output device.

US Patent:

8437880, May 7, 2013

Filed:

May 17, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/781775

Inventors:

Christopher Eugene Long - Greer SC, US
Robert Joseph Iasillo - Atlanta GA, US
Jonathan Carl Thatcher - Liberty SC, US
Kevin Thomas McCarthy - Troy NY, US
Sameer Vittal - Atlanta GA, US

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

G06F 1/26
G06G 7/62
G06Q 10/00

US Classification:

700287, 700291, 703 18

Abstract:

A system and method for enhancing operation of a power generation system. The method includes receiving forecasts at a predictive control unit. The method also includes accessing via a controller real-time lifing models or near real-time lifing models in the predictive control unit. Additionally, the method includes accessing via the controller an enhancer configured to simulate operation of a power generating unit in the power generation system to generate an enhancement of the power generation system based on the forecasts and the real-time or near real-time lifing models.

US Patent:

8516829, Aug 27, 2013

Filed:

May 27, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/472927

Inventors:

David Ewens - Greer SC, US
Kevin Wilkes - Greenville SC, US
Christopher Long - Greer SC, US
Noemie Dion Ouellet - Greenville SC, US

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

F02C 9/28

US Classification:

60793, 60 3924, 60803, 702130, 702136, 374 43, 374 44, 7311201

Abstract:

Embodiments of the invention can provide systems and methods for modifying the operation and/or performance of a gas turbine. According to one embodiment, a method for modifying the performance of a gas turbine comprising one or more combustors can be provided. The method can include measuring a gas exhaust temperature for the gas turbine and estimating a heat transfer rate for the gas turbine based at least in part on the gas exhaust temperature. After estimating the heat transfer rate, the method can continue by estimating a transiently accurate combustion reference temperature and using this parameter to control the one or more combustors of the gas turbine. In doing so, the performance of the gas turbine can be modified to ensure reliable and consistent operation.

US Patent:

8565929, Oct 22, 2013

Filed:

Nov 17, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/947910

Inventors:

Christopher Eugene Long - Greer SC, US
Laura Lea Boes - Greenville SC, US

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

G06F 19/00

US Classification:

700287

Abstract:

Methodology is provided for enhancing plant level support for grid reconstruction following a blackout. A plant based grid reconstruction manager develops solutions for reconstruction sequence steps to be carried out automatically or to be communicated to site personnel for manual implementation. The sequence steps are based on high-fidelity modeling of the capabilities all of the power production units present in a power plant and take into consideration grid specified load expectations, ambient conditions including ambient temperature and gas turbine operating levels. The methodology also provides for consideration of possible subsequent steps in the sequence to maximize the ability to pick-up additional load in such subsequent steps.

US Patent:

8639480, Jan 28, 2014

Filed:

Sep 20, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/886120

Inventors:

Robert Walter Arnold - Greenville SC, US
Christopher Eugene Long - Greenville SC, US
Matthew John Mosley - Greenville SC, US
David Spencer Ewens - Greenville SC, US

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

G06F 17/50

US Classification:

703 2, 703 6, 415118, 428469

Abstract:

Methods and systems for modeling turbine operation are disclosed. In one embodiment a method for modeling turbine operation may include: determining current performance parameters of a turbine; providing at least one external factor for current or future operation of the turbine; and modeling, by a predictive model, at least one operating characteristic of the turbine based at least in part on the current performance parameters of the turbine and the at least one external factor.

US Patent:

20120022712, Jan 26, 2012

Filed:

Jul 20, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/839699

Inventors:

Matthew John Mosley - Simpsonville SC, US
John Rogers Huey - Greenville SC, US
Christopher Eugene Long - Greer SC, US

Assignee:

GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

G06F 1/28

US Classification:

700297

Abstract:

A grid frequency rate limiting system for a droop governor is disclosed, the grid frequency rate limiting system including: a rate limit calculator for: obtaining data including at least one of: a transient power response requirement indicator, a turbo-generator power level indicator, a grid stability indicator, a fuel transfer indicator, a combustion mode timing indicator, or a temperature matching indicator; and defining rate limits according to the obtained data; a rate limiter operably connected to the rate limit calculator, the rate limiter for: obtaining a grid frequency reading associated with a grid frequency of an electrical grid; obtaining the defined rate limits; and filtering the grid frequency using the defined rate limits to provide a filtered frequency; and a droop governor operably connected to the grid frequency rate limiting system, the droop governor for: obtaining the filtered frequency; and providing a power response to the electrical grid based upon the filtered frequency.

US Patent:

20120210257, Aug 16, 2012

Filed:

Feb 11, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/025335

Inventors:

Matthew John Mosley - Simpsonville SC, US
Christopher Eugene Long - Greer SC, US
Rohan Saraswat - Hyderabad, IN
Ratna Manedhar Punjala - Hyderabad, IN
Venkatesh Mani Selvaraj - Hyderabad, IN

Assignee:

GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

G06F 3/048
G06F 15/00

US Classification:

715764, 702182

Abstract:

Systems and methods for analyzing and displaying power plant data are able to access continuous live and/or historical operational data and identify within the data: (a) instances of at least one given type of power plant operation, (b) key events that may occur during an instance of the at least one given type of power plant operation, and (c) one or more time-based segments based on the key events and a physical segmentation of the power plant. Performance aspects for selected identified power plant operation instances can be quantified by comparing the identified instances with metrics that are predefined relative to the key events and segmentation within each type of power plant operation. Selected data associated with the identified instances are provided as electronic output to a user.