Method and apparatus for monitoring turbine parameters of turbine/alternator on common shaft
View Patent ↗An electrical system and apparatus for a turbine/alternator comprising a gas driven turbine and a permanent magnet alternator rotating on a common shaft includes an inverter circuit connectable either to an output circuit or the stator winding of the alternator. A control circuit during a start-up mode switches the inverter circuit to the stator winding of the alternator and during a power out mode switches the inverter circuit to the output circuit. The operating parameters of the turbine are monitored during start-up and/or the power out mode.
1. A method of controlling a turbine/alternator comprising a gas driven turbine and permanent magnet alternator on a common shaft comprising:
providing electric power to said turbine/alternator through an inverter circuit that outputs electrical power to said turbine/alternator at frequencies and voltages required to start said turbine/alternator to achieve self-sustained operation of said turbine/alternator;
reconfiguring said inverter circuit by switches internal to the inverter circuit to output electric power from said turbine/alternator at desired frequencies unrelated to turbine/alternator rotation speed when self-sustained operation of said turbine/alternator is achieved; and
monitoring turbine operation parameters prior to self-sustained operation to activate the reconfiguring step and to monitor and control turbine operation before and after the reconfiguring step.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising logging a history of the turbine operation parameters.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein monitoring turbine operation parameters is performed by a controller comprising a microprocessor.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising monitoring interfacing sensors.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein said controller comprises a plurality of microprocessors each having its own associated memory programmed to run independently.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the microprocessor comprising said plurality of microprocessors communicates with each other through a high speed serial link.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising monitoring a control panel for providing a user interface for system operation and diagnostics.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing a user interface configured to provide a user with line tie options, start-up options or shut-down options.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising monitoring and/or controlling fuel flow of said gas driven turbine.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising monitoring and/or controlling ignition of said gas driven turbine.
11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising monitoring and/or controlling rotation speeds of said turbine/alternator.
12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising monitoring and/or controlling temperature of said turbine/alternator.
13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising monitoring and/or controlling pressures of said turbine/alternator.
14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising monitoring and/or controlling run time of said turbine/alternator.
15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising monitoring and/or controlling diagnostics of said turbine/alternator.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein during providing electric power to said turbine/alternator, controlled combustion of fuel and air is provided to said gas driven turbine of the turbine/alternator.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein when reconfiguring said inverter circuit, said inverter circuit is connected to said turbine/alternator through a rectifier.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein said inverter circuit comprises an output filter for filtering said electric power, which output filter is removed when providing electric power to said turbine/alternator through said inverter circuit.
19. An electric system for a turbine/alternator comprising a gas driven turbine and permanent magnet alternator on a common shaft comprising:
an inverter provided for operation of said turbine/alternator;
means to provide electric power to said turbine/alternator through said inverter to start said turbine/alternator to achieve self-sustained operation of said turbine/alternator;
means to reconfigure said inverter to output electric power from said permanent magnet turbine/alternator to supply the electric power to a load; and
a controller for monitoring turbine operation parameters prior to self-sustained operation to activate the reconfiguring step and to monitor and control turbine operation before and after the reconfiguring step.
20. The electric system of claim 19 , wherein said controller is adapted to log a history of turbine operation parameters.
21. The electric system of claim 20 , wherein said controller comprises a microprocessor devoted to monitoring turbine operation parameters.
22. The electric system of claim 20 , wherein said controller comprises a microprocessor directed to monitoring interfacing sensors.
23. The electric system of claim 20 , wherein said controller comprises a plurality of microprocessors each having its own associated memory programmed to run independently.
24. The electric system of claim 23 , wherein the microprocessor comprising said plurality of microprocessors communicates with each other through a high speed serial link.
25. The electric system of claim 19 , wherein said controller comprises a microprocessor for monitoring a control panel for providing a user interface for system operation and diagnostics.
26. The electric system of claim 19 , further comprising a user interface configured to provide a user with line tie options, start-up options or shut-down options.
27. The electric system of claim 19 , wherein said controller is adapted for control and/or monitoring of fuel flow of said gas driven turbine.
28. The electric system of claim 19 , wherein said controller is adapted for controlling and/or monitoring of the ignition of said gas driven turbine.
29. The electric system of claim 19 , wherein said controller is adapted for controlling and/or monitoring of rotation speeds of said turbine/alternator.
30. The electric system of claim 19 , wherein said controller is adapted for controlling and/or monitoring of temperatures of said turbine/alternator.
31. The electric system of claim 19 , wherein said controller is adapted for controlling and/or monitoring of pressures of said turbine/alternator.
32. The electric system of claim 19 , wherein said controller is adapted for controlling and/or monitoring of run time of said turbine/alternator.
33. The electric system of claim 19 , wherein said controller is adapted for controlling and/or monitoring of diagnostics of said turbine/alternator.
34. The electric system of claim 19 , further comprising means to provide controlled combustion of fuel and air to said gas driven turbine to achieve self-sustained operation of said turbine/alternator.
35. The electric system of claim 19 , wherein said means to reconfigure said inverter connects said inverter to said turbine/alternator through a rectifier.
36. The electric system of claim 19 , wherein said load comprises a power line, and said means to reconfigure said inverter supplies electric power to said power line at a common line voltage and frequency.
37. The electric system of claim 19 , wherein said inverter circuit comprises an output filter for filtering said electric power, which output filter is removed when providing electric power to said turbine/alternator through said inverter circuit.