Dynamic and automatic tuning of a gas turbine engine using exhaust temperature and inlet guide vane angle

1. One or more computer-readable media that, when invoked by computer-executable instructions, perform a method for dynamically auto-tuning a gas turbine engine, the method comprising:

monitoring one or more parameters of the gas turbine engine during operation at a stable operating point within predetermined upper and lower limits;

determining that the one or more monitored parameters of the gas turbine engine are within the predetermined upper and lower limits such that a margin exists for the one or more monitored parameters;

while maintaining the gas turbine engine at a plurality of stable operating points within the predetermined upper and lower limits:

(1) performing a first incremental adjustment of an inlet guide vane (IGV) angle of the gas turbine engine;

(2) upon performing the first incremental adjustment of the IGV angle, determining that the one or more monitored parameters of the gas turbine engine are still within the predetermined upper and lower limits;

(3) performing a second incremental adjustment of the IGV angle of the gas turbine engine;

(4) upon performing the second incremental adjustment of the IGV angle, determining that the one or more monitored parameters of the gas turbine engine are still within the predetermined upper and lower limits; and

determining that a predetermined value of the IGV angle has been reached such that the IGV angle is not to be further increased or decreased.

2. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein the one or more parameters are associated with at least one of combustion dynamics or emission composition.

3. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 , further comprising storing a value associated with the second incremental adjustment of the IGV angle of the gas turbine engine such that the value can be accessed and used for similar ambient conditions.

4. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein the IGV angle is increased to increase power output of the gas turbine engine.

5. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein the IGV angle is decreased to decrease power output of the gas turbine engine.

6. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 , further comprising:

performing a third incremental adjustment of the IGV angle of the gas turbine engine; and

upon performing the third incremental adjustment of the IGV angle, determining that the one or more monitored parameters of the gas turbine engine are still within the predetermined upper and lower limits.

7. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first incremental adjustment or the second incremental adjustment of the IGV angle increases the IGV angle such that a flow of air is increased.

8. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein increasing the flow of air decreases a fuel-air ratio in the gas turbine engine.

9. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first incremental adjustment or the second incremental adjustment of the IGV angle decreases the IGV angle such that a flow of air is decreased.

10. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the IGV angle of the gas turbine engine while monitoring the one or more parameters of the gas turbine engine allows for maximization of power output of the gas turbine engine while maintaining emissions and dynamics of the gas turbine engine within acceptable limits.

11. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein the one or more monitored parameters include at least one of lean blowout, cold tone, low NOx, hot tone, high hot tone, high NOx, carbon monoxide, and a ratio of the lean blowout to the hot tone.

12. One or more computer-readable media that, when invoked by computer-executable instructions, perform a method for dynamically auto-tuning a gas turbine engine, the method comprising:

monitoring one or more parameters of the gas turbine engine during operation at a stable operating point within predetermined upper and lower limits;

determining that the one or more monitored parameters of the gas turbine engine are within the predetermined upper and lower limits;

while maintaining the gas turbine engine at a plurality of stable operating points within the predetermined upper and lower limits:

(1) making a first incremental adjustment of an exhaust temperature of the gas turbine engine, wherein adjusting the exhaust temperature results in an adjustment of fuel flow into the gas turbine engine;

(2) upon making the first incremental adjustment of the exhaust temperature, determining that the one or more monitored parameters of the gas turbine engine are still within the predetermined upper and lower limits;

(3) making a second incremental adjustment of the exhaust temperature;

(4) upon making the second incremental adjustment of the exhaust temperature, determining that the one or more monitored parameters of the gas turbine engine are still within the predetermined upper and lower limits; and

determining that a predetermined value of the exhaust temperature has been reached such that the exhaust temperature is not to be further increased or decreased.

13. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 12 , further comprising storing a value associated with the second incremental adjustment of the exhaust temperature of the gas turbine engine such that the value can be accessed and used for similar ambient conditions.

14. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 12 , wherein the parameters quantify at least one of combustion dynamics or emission composition.

15. One or more computer-readable media that, when invoked by computer-executable instructions, perform a method for dynamically auto-tuning a gas turbine engine, the method comprising:

monitoring parameters of the gas turbine engine during operation at a stable operating point within predetermined upper and lower limits, wherein the parameters quantify at least one of combustion dynamics or emission composition;

determining that the monitored parameters of the gas turbine engine are within the predetermined upper and lower limits such that margin exists for the monitored parameters;

while maintaining the gas turbine engine at a plurality of stable operating points within the predetermined upper and lower limits:

(1) performing at least one incremental adjustment of an inlet guide vane (IGV) angle of the gas turbine engine;

(2) upon performing the at least one incremental adjustment of the IGV angle, determining that at least one of the monitored parameters of the gas turbine engine is outside of predefined upper and lower limits or that a predetermined value of the IGV angle has been reached;

(3) determining that the margin still exists for the monitored parameters;

(4) upon determining that the margin still exists for the monitored parameters, making at least one incremental adjustment of an exhaust temperature of the gas turbine engine, wherein adjusting the exhaust temperature results in an adjustment of fuel flow into the gas turbine engine; and

upon at least one of the monitored parameters being outside of the predefined upper and lower limits or when the exhaust temperature has reached a value that is not to be either further increased or decreased, discontinuing the incremental adjustment of the exhaust temperature.

16. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein the margin exists for the monitored parameters when it is determined that the one or more monitored parameters are within the predefined upper and lower limits.

17. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein when the predetermined value of the IGV angle has been reached, the IGV angle is not to be either further increased or decreased.

18. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein determining that the margin still exists for the monitored parameters further comprises determining that a difference between a current value of any of the monitored parameters and a value of an upper limit or a lower limit for a respective monitored parameter is greater than a predetermined threshold value.

19. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein adjusting the exhaust temperature is accomplished by adjusting fuel flow into the gas turbine engine.

20. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein the IGV angle is increased to increase power output of the gas turbine engine or is decreased if one or more of the parameters of the gas turbine engine are out of tune.

21. One or more computer-readable media that, when invoked by computer-executable instructions, perform a method for dynamically auto-tuning a gas turbine engine, the method comprising:

monitoring one or more parameters of the gas turbine engine during operation at a stable operating point within predetermined upper and lower limits;

determining that the one or more monitored parameters of the gas turbine engine are within the predetermined upper and lower limits;

while maintaining the gas turbine engine at a plurality of stable operating points within the predetermined upper and lower limits:

(1) making a first incremental adjustment of a firing temperature of the gas turbine engine, wherein adjusting the firing temperature results in an adjustment of fuel flow into the gas turbine engine;

(2) upon making the first incremental adjustment of the firing temperature, determining that the one or more monitored parameters of the gas turbine engine are still within the predetermined upper and lower limits;

(3) making a second incremental adjustment of the firing temperature;

(4) upon making the second incremental adjustment of the firing temperature, determining that the one or more monitored parameters of the gas turbine engine are still within the predetermined upper and lower limits; and

determining that a predetermined value of the firing temperature has been reached such that the firing temperature is not to be further increased or decreased.