Systems and methods for controlling flow valves in a turbine

1. A system for controlling fluid flow in a turbine, said system comprising:

at least one flow valve configured to regulate fluid intake through the turbine; and

a control system operatively coupled to said at least one flow valve, said control system comprising an operator console, memory, and at least one processor configured to:

receive a percent value flow command and a rated load constant, the rated load constant comprising a predetermined unit value received from the memory;

convert the percent value flow command to a first unit value flow command by at least multiplying the percent value flow command by the rated load constant of the turbine to obtain the first unit value flow command;

determine a first unit value stroke command based on the first unit value flow command;

control a position of said at least one flow valve using the first unit value stroke command;

receive an updated rated load constant from the operator console;

convert the percent value flow command to a second unit value flow command using the updated rated load constant;

determine a second unit value stroke command based on the second unit value flow command; and

control the position of said at least one flow valve using the second unit value stroke command.

2. The system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said at least one processor is further configured to:

convert the first unit value flow command to the first unit value stroke command via a flow/stroke data array; and

convert the second unit value flow command to the second unit value stroke command via the flow/stroke data array.

3. The system in accordance with claim 2 , wherein the flow/stroke data array includes a plurality of unit values flow rates that each correspond to a respective unit value valve stroke position.

4. The system in accordance with claim 2 , wherein said at least one processor is further configured to selectively modify the flow/stroke data array to compensate for turbine back pressure.

5. The system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said at least one processor is further configured to apply a calibrated valve range of said at least one flow valve, the calibrated valve range includes a maximum valve stroke position defined by a full stroke unit value and a minimum valve stroke position value defined by a closed end over travel (CEOT) unit value.

6. A method of controlling fluid flow in a turbine, said method comprising:

receiving a percent value flow command and a rated load constant, the rated load constant comprising a predetermined unit value received from a memory;

converting the percent value flow command to a first unit value flow command by at least multiplying the percent value flow command by the rated load constant of the turbine to obtain the first unit value flow command;

determining a first unit value stroke command based on the first unit value flow command;

controlling a position of a flow valve using the first unit value stroke command;

receiving an updated rated load constant from an operator console;

converting the percent value flow command to a second unit value flow command using the updated rated load constant;

determining a second unit value stroke command based on the second unit value flow command; and

controlling the position of the flow valve using the second unit value stroke command.

7. The method in accordance with claim 6 , wherein determining the first unit value stroke command comprises converting the first unit value flow command to the first unit value stroke command via a flow/stroke data array, and wherein determining the second unit value stroke command comprises converting the second unit value flow command to the second unit value stroke command via the flow/stroke data array.

8. The method in accordance with claim 7 , wherein converting the first unit value flow command to the first unit value stroke command via the flow/stroke data array and converting the second unit value flow command to the second unit value stroke command via the flow/stroke data array each comprise interpolating among a plurality of unit value flow rates that each correspond to a respective unit value valve stroke position.

9. The method in accordance with claim 7 , further comprising selectively modifying the flow/stroke data array to compensate for turbine back pressure.

10. The method in accordance with claim 6 , wherein determining the first unit value stroke command and determining the second unit value stroke command each further comprise applying a calibrated valve range, wherein the calibrated valve range includes a maximum valve stroke position value defined by a full stroke unit value and a minimum valve stroke position value defined by a closed end over travel (CEOT) unit value.

11. At least one non-transitory computer readable storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon, wherein when executed by at least one processor, the computer-executable instructions cause the at least one processor to:

receive a percent value flow command and a rated load constant, the rated load constant comprising a predetermined unit value received from at least one memory device coupled to the at least one processor;

convert the percent value flow command to a first unit value flow command by at least multiplying the percent value flow command by the rated load constant of the turbine to obtain the first unit value flow command;

determine a first unit value stroke command based on the first unit value flow command;

control a position of a flow valve of a turbine using the first unit value stroke command;

receive an updated rated load constant from an operator console;

convert the percent value flow command to a second unit value flow command using the updated rated load constant;

determine a second unit value stroke command based on the second unit value flow command; and

control the position of the flow valve using the second unit value stroke command.

12. The computer-readable storage media in accordance with claim 11 , wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the at least one processor to:

convert the first unit value flow command to the first unit value stroke command via a flow/stroke data array stored in the at least one memory device coupled to the at least one processor; and

convert the second unit value flow command to the second unit value stroke command via the flow/stroke data array.

13. The computer-readable storage media in accordance with claim 12 , wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the at least one processor to selectively modify the flow/stroke data array to compensate for turbine back pressure.

14. The computer-readable storage media in accordance with claim 11 , wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the at least one processor to apply a calibrated valve range of the flow valve, the calibrated valve range including a maximum valve stroke position defined by a full stroke unit value and a minimum valve stroke position value defined by a closed end over travel (CEOT) unit value.