Gas Turbine Performance Software – Autonomous Tuning

To improve the performance of your gas turbine, there are several key strategies aimed at increasing efficiency, output and operational reliability.

• Improved design and materials: Engineers can work on designs that emphasize faster starts and quicker ramp-ups by implementing upgrades to the turbine technology.
• Digital Solutions: Several companies offer digital solution to optimize gas turbine operations, including advanced solutions with AI/ML technology, physics-based modeling, and digital twins.
• Temperature and Humidity Control are an important factor for performance. Since turbines use air, changes in mass flow or density of air impacts performance. Controlling ambient temperature is crucial to improve output and heat rate. If in a humid area, controlling the air emerging from the combustion inlet is important for efficiency and emissions.
• Fuel Type Optimization ensures the fuel quality and suitability for the specific turbine design.
• Other crucial improvements include loss management (excessive clearance between blades and casing, clogged air filters), regeneration, intercooling, and reheating all can increase net output. By implementing these key strategies, gas turbines can more easily maintain entitlement and operate at peak performance.

Calculating the efficiency of a gas turbine involves comparing the work output of the turbine to the energy input in the form of fuel. To calculate the efficiency, you would need the following data:

1. Power Output: The actual power output of the gas turbine in megawatts (MW).
2. Fuel Flow Rate: The rate at which fuel is consumed by the turbine, typically in kilograms per second (kg/s).
3. Heating Value of Fuel: The amount of energy released when a certain amount of fuel is burned, usually given in megajoules per kilogram (MJ/kg).

A simplified formula to calculate the thermal efficiency of a gas turbine n= work output/heat input = power output/(fuel flow rate x heating value of fuel). There are more detailed calculations that include the compressor and turbine efficiencies, pressure ratios and specific heats of the gases at constant pressure. These require complex calculations involving thermodynamic equations and isentropic processes.

Performance optimization of a gas turbine engine are methods and strategies to achieve optimal performance. This is achieved by implementing strategies to improve efficiency, reliability and overall performance. Common techniques include methods to reduce fuel consumption while maintaining output, maximizing thrust for same fuel consumption while reducing turbine blade temperature (source Science Direct).

Methods to improve efficiency of gas turbines include:

• Thermodynamic Optimization: Involves improving the thermodynamic cycle of the turbine, for instance, optimizing the pressure ratio. Thermodynamic Optimization enhances efficiency by maximizing the energy extracted from the fuel.
• Component Efficiency: Enhances the efficiency of individual components like compressors, combustors and turbines. Improved cooling techniques or aerodynamic designs help to achieve component efficiency.
• Control System Optimization: Improves transient response and overall performance such as reinforcement learning to ensure the turbine operates within its most efficient parameters.
• Maintenance and Monitoring Optimization: Achieved with regular maintenance and real-time monitoring. Predictive data analytics of the turbine's performance provides even more optimization with early issue identification and by preventing issues that could lead to energy losses or reduced output.
• Fuel Optimization: May involve higher quality or alternative fuels for improved combustion efficiency. New technology that uses AI/ML can also automatically improve combustion and reduce fuel and emissions.

Sources: Cambridge.org, Ntrs.nasa.gov, Science Direct

Several factors affect the performance of gas turbines. Examples include compressor pressure ratio, turbine inlet temperature, humidity, altitude, compressor efficiency, compressor exit diffuser Cp, combustor pressure loss, turbine efficiency, and blade metal allowable temperature. Inlet air temperature, for example, impacts performance because the temperature of the air entering the turbine affects its density. Cooler air is denser and can improve the mass flow rate, leading to better performance. On the other hand, maintenance and fouling are more controlled by plant teams and teams that perform regular maintenance can prevent fouling and degradation of components that impact performance.

There are different methods of calculation for fuel consumption of a gas turbine. The choice of formula depends on the specific application and available data. Here are 3 examples of common formulas used to calculate fuel consumption of a gas turbine:

1. Specific Fuel Consumption (SFC) represents the amount of fuel consumed per unit of power output. It is particularly useful for assessing the efficiency of a gas turbine in terms of fuel consumption.
2. Empirical Approximation which is good for simple-cycle gas turbines.
3. Heat Rate Method is used for combined-cycle plants and relates fuel consumption to the power output.