Power plant for controlling the renewable energy use in an LNG train

1 . A power plant, comprising:

a load;

a hybrid power train having:

a through shaft mechanically connected to the load,

a gas turbine mechanically connected to the shaft; and

an electric motor/generator mechanically connected to the shaft;

a variable frequency device connected to the electric motor/generator, a power generation plant, and a renewable energy source, wherein the variable frequency device is operable to allow the electric motor/generator transforming the energy from the power generation plant and the renewable energy source to drive the load or to help the operation of the gas turbine; and

a plant control unit operably connected to the gas turbine, the electric motor/generator, and the variable frequency device,

wherein the plant control unit is configured to control the hybrid power train in response to health indexes for each of the gas turbine, the electric motor/generator, and the variable frequency device to maximize the energy used from the renewable energy source by increasing the driving load of the electric motor/generator and

wherein the load of the gas turbine is kept above the combustor premix transfer threshold (Pmx Load ).

2 . The power plant according to claim 1 , wherein the combustor premix transfer threshold (Pmx Load ) includes a load margin (Δ Load ).

3 . The power plant according to claim 1 , wherein the plant control unit comprises:

a processor;

a bus, to which the processor is connected to;

a database, connected to the bus, so as to be accessed and controlled by the processor;

a computer-readable memory, connected to the bus, so as to be accessed and controlled by the processor, a receiving-transmitting module, connected to the bus, for receiving and transmitting data and signals from/to the hybrid power train.

4 . The power plant according to claim 1 , wherein the renewable energy source is a photovoltaic plant (PV), a wind plant, a concentrated solar power system.

5 . The power plant according to claim 1 , wherein the load comprises one or more centrifugal compressors for refrigerating natural gas.

6 . The power plant according to claim 1 , wherein the load comprises a pump.

7 . The power plant according to claim 1 , wherein the health indexes relate to a status for the hybrid power train.

8 . The power plant according to claim 1 , wherein the plant control unit is configured to execute a computer program with steps for detecting, in real-time, conditions on the hybrid power train.

9 . The power plant according to claim 1 , wherein the plant control unit is configured to execute a computer program with steps for:

receiving input parameters from each of the gas turbine, the electric motor/generator, and the variable frequency device.

10 . The power plant according to claim 1 , wherein the plant control unit is configured to execute a computer program with steps for:

receiving input parameters from each of the gas turbine, the electric motor/generator, and the variable frequency device,

assigning a parametric membership function, and

using the parametric membership function to obtain the health indexes for the gas turbine, the electric motor/generator/and the variable frequency device.

11 . The power plant according to claim 1 , wherein the plant control unit is configured to execute a computer program with steps for:

receiving input parameters from each of the gas turbine, the electric motor/generator, and the variable frequency device,

assigning a logic state function with values that correspond with a condition for the gas turbine, the electric motor/generator/and the variable frequency device, and

using the logic state function to obtain the health indexes for the gas turbine, the electric motor/generator/and the variable frequency device.

12 . The power plant according to claim 1 , wherein the plant control unit is configured to execute a computer program with steps for:

receiving input parameters from each of the gas turbine, the electric motor/generator, and the variable frequency device,

assigning a parametric membership function comprising a logic state function with possible values that correspond with a condition for the gas turbine, the electric motor/generator/and the variable frequency device, and

using the parametric membership function to obtain the health indexes for the gas turbine, the electric motor/generator/and the variable frequency device.

13 . The power plant according to claim 1 , wherein the plant control unit is configured to execute a computer program with steps for:

receiving input parameters from each of the gas turbine, the electric motor/generator, and the variable frequency device,

assigning a parametric membership function comprising a logic state function with possible values that correspond with a condition for the gas turbine, the electric motor/generator and the variable frequency device,

using the parametric membership function to obtain the health index for the gas turbine, the electric motor/generator/and the variable frequency device, and

using the health indexes, determining an equipment membership function for the electric motor/generator.

14 . The power plant according to claim 1 , wherein the plant control unit is configured to execute a computer program with steps for:

receiving input parameters from each of the gas turbine, the electric motor/generator, and the variable frequency device,

assigning a parametric membership function comprising a logic state function with possible values that correspond with a condition for the gas turbine, the electric motor/generator/and the variable frequency device,

using the parametric membership function to obtain the health index for the gas turbine, the electric motor/generator and the variable frequency device, and

using the health indexes, determining an equipment membership function for the gas turbine.