Control systems for controlling power systems based on fuel consumption and related program products

1. A system, comprising:

a power plant system including a turbine component of a gas turbine system; and

at least one computing device in communication with the power plant system, the at least one computing device configured to control the power plant system by performing processes including:

defining a turbine inlet temperature range for a combustion gas flowing through the turbine component of the gas turbine system, the turbine inlet temperature range bound by and including a minimum turbine inlet temperature and a maximum turbine inlet temperature for maintaining a single, desired operational load for the power plant system;

determining a fuel cost range for maintaining the single, desired operational load for the power plant system within the turbine inlet temperature range, the fuel cost range bound by and including:

a minimum fuel cost associated with the maximum turbine inlet temperature of the turbine inlet temperature range; and

a maximum fuel cost associated with the minimum turbine inlet temperature of the turbine inlet temperature range;

determining a maintenance cost range for maintaining the single, desired operational load for the power plant system within the turbine inlet temperature range, the maintenance cost range bound by and including:

a minimum maintenance cost associated with the minimum turbine inlet temperature of the turbine inlet temperature range; and

a maximum maintenance cost associated with the maximum turbine inlet temperature of the turbine inlet temperature range;

generating a combined fuel and maintenance cost range using the determined fuel cost range and the determined maintenance cost range, the generated combined fuel and maintenance cost range within the turbine inlet temperature range;

calculating a desired turbine inlet temperature range for the combustion gas flowing through the turbine component of the gas turbine system based on the generated, combined fuel and maintenance cost range; and

adjusting an actual turbine inlet temperature of the combustion gas flowing through the turbine component to be within the calculated, desired turbine inlet temperature range for the combustion gas flowing through the turbine component,

wherein the determined fuel cost range includes a cost of fuel per operational hour of the turbine component for each turbine inlet temperature of the defined turbine inlet temperature range, and

wherein the determined maintenance cost range includes a cost of maintenance per operational hour for the turbine component for each turbine inlet temperature of the defined turbine inlet temperature range.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one computing device is configured to adjust the actual turbine inlet temperature of the combustion gas flowing through the turbine component of the gas turbine system by performing processes including:

regulating the mass flow of a fluid flowing through a compressor of the gas turbine system.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one computing device is configured to regulate the mass flow of the fluid flowing through the compressor by performing processes including at least one of:

adjusting a variable inlet guide vane positioned on the compressor of the gas turbine system, or

adjusting a variable stator vane positioned within the compressor of the gas turbine system.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one computing device is configured to adjust the actual turbine inlet temperature of the combustion gas flowing through the turbine component of the gas turbine system by performing processes including:

regulating a mass flow of fuel flowing to a combustor of the gas turbine system.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processes performed by the at least one computing device to control the power plant system further include:

reducing fuel consumption by the gas turbine system of the power plant system.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one computing device is configured to define the turbine inlet temperature range for the combustion gas flowing through the turbine component of the gas turbine system by performing processes including:

determining operational parameters of the gas turbine system of the power plant system; and

generating the turbine inlet temperature range for the combustion gas flowing through the turbine component of the gas turbine system based on the determined operational parameters of the gas turbine system of the power plant system.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processes performed by the at least one computing device to control the power plant system further include:

continuously adjusting the actual turbine inlet temperature of the combustion gas to be within the calculated, desired turbine inlet temperature range to maintain the single, desired operational load for the power plant system.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processes performed by the at least one computing device to control the power plant system further include:

calculating a single, preferred turbine inlet temperature included within the calculated, desired turbine inlet temperature range, the calculated, single preferred turbine inlet temperature including a lowest cost per operational hour included in the generated, combined fuel and maintenance cost range.

9. A non-transitory computer readable medium wherein is stored a computer program product, the computer program product comprising program code, which when executed by at least one computing device, causes the at least one computing device to control a power plant system including a turbine component of a gas turbine system, by performing processes including:

defining a turbine inlet temperature range for a combustion gas flowing through the turbine component of the gas turbine system, the turbine inlet temperature range bound by and including a minimum turbine inlet temperature and a maximum turbine inlet temperature for maintaining a desired operational load for the power plant system;

determining a fuel cost range for maintaining the desired operational load for the power plant system within the turbine inlet temperature range, the fuel cost range bound by and including:

a minimum fuel cost associated with the maximum turbine inlet temperature of the turbine inlet temperature range; and

a maximum fuel cost associated with the minimum turbine inlet temperature of the turbine inlet temperature range;

determining a maintenance cost range for maintaining the desired operational load for the power plant system within the turbine inlet temperature range, the maintenance cost range bound by and including:

a minimum maintenance cost associated with the minimum turbine inlet temperature of the turbine inlet temperature range; and

a maximum maintenance cost associated with the maximum turbine inlet temperature of the turbine inlet temperature range;

generating a combined fuel and maintenance cost range using the determined fuel cost range and the determined maintenance cost range, the generated combined fuel and maintenance cost range within the turbine inlet temperature range;

calculating a desired turbine inlet temperature range for the combustion gas flowing through the turbine component of the gas turbine system based on the generated, combined fuel and maintenance cost range; and

adjusting an actual turbine inlet temperature of the combustion gas flowing through the turbine component to be within the calculated, desired turbine inlet temperature range for the combustion gas flowing through the turbine component,

wherein the determined fuel cost range includes a cost of fuel per operational hour of the turbine component for each turbine inlet temperature of the defined turbine inlet temperature range, and

wherein the determined maintenance cost range includes a cost of maintenance per operational hour for the turbine component for each turbine inlet temperature of the defined turbine inlet temperature range.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the adjusting of the actual turbine inlet temperature of the combustion gas flowing through the turbine component of the gas turbine system includes regulating at least one of:

a mass flow of a fluid flowing through a compressor of the gas turbine system, or

a mass flow of fuel flowing to a combustor of the gas turbine system.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the regulating of the mass flow of a fluid flowing through a compressor of the gas turbine system includes at least one of:

adjusting a variable inlet guide vane positioned on the compressor of the gas turbine system, or

adjusting a variable stator vane positioned within the compressor of the gas turbine system.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 , the defining of the turbine inlet temperature range for the combustion gas flowing through the turbine component of the gas turbine system includes:

determining operational parameters of the gas turbine system of the power plant system; and

generating the turbine inlet temperature range for the combustion gas flowing through the turbine component of the gas turbine system based on the determined operational parameters of the gas turbine system of the power plant system.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the at least one computing device performs additional processes including:

calculating a single, preferred turbine inlet temperature included within the calculated, desired turbine inlet temperature range, the calculated, single preferred turbine inlet temperature including a lowest cost per operational hour included in the generated, combined fuel and maintenance cost range.

14. A system comprising:

a gas turbine system including a turbine component; and

at least one computing device in communication with the gas turbine system, the at least one computing device configured to control the gas turbine system by performing processes including:

defining a turbine inlet temperature range for a combustion gas flowing through the turbine component of the gas turbine system, the turbine inlet temperature range bound by and including a minimum turbine inlet temperature and a maximum turbine inlet temperature for maintaining a desired operational load for the gas turbine system;

determining a fuel cost range for maintaining the desired operational load for the gas turbine system within the turbine inlet temperature range, the fuel cost range bound by and including:

a minimum fuel cost associated with the minimum turbine inlet temperature of the turbine inlet temperature range; and

a maximum fuel cost associated with the maximum turbine inlet temperature of the turbine inlet temperature range;

determining a maintenance cost range for maintaining the desired operational load for the gas turbine system within the turbine inlet temperature range, the maintenance cost range bound by and including:

a minimum maintenance cost associated with the minimum turbine inlet temperature of the turbine inlet temperature range; and

a maximum maintenance cost associated with the maximum turbine inlet temperature of the turbine inlet temperature range;

generating a combined fuel and maintenance cost range using the determined fuel cost range and the determined maintenance cost range, the generated combined fuel and maintenance cost range within the turbine inlet temperature range;

calculating a desired turbine inlet temperature range for the combustion gas flowing through the turbine component of the gas turbine system based on the generated, combined fuel and maintenance cost range; and

adjusting an actual turbine inlet temperature of the combustion gas flowing through the turbine component to be within the calculated, desired turbine inlet temperature range for the combustion gas flowing through the turbine component,

wherein the determined fuel cost range includes a cost of fuel per operational hour of the turbine component for each turbine inlet temperature of the defined turbine inlet temperature range, and

wherein the determined maintenance cost range includes a cost of maintenance per operational hour for the turbine component for each turbine inlet temperature of the defined turbine inlet temperature range.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the at least one computing device is configured to adjust the actual turbine inlet temperature of the combustion gas flowing through the turbine component of the gas turbine system by performing processes including at least one of:

regulating the mass flow of a fluid flowing through a compressor of the gas turbine system, or

regulating a mass flow of fuel flowing to a combustor of the gas turbine system.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the at least one computing device is configured to regulate the mass flow of the fluid flowing through the compressor by performing processes including at least one of:

adjusting a variable inlet guide vane positioned on the compressor of the gas turbine system, or

adjusting a variable stator vane positioned within the compressor of the gas turbine system.

17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the processes performed by the at least one computing device to control the gas turbine system further include:

continuously adjusting the actual turbine inlet temperature of the combustion gas to be within the calculated, desired turbine inlet temperature range to maintain the desired operational load for the gas turbine system.

18. The system of claim 14 , wherein the at least one computing device is configured to adjust the actual turbine inlet temperature of the combustion gas flowing through the turbine component of the gas turbine system by performing processes including:

adjusting the actual turbine inlet temperature of the combustion gas to be identical to a preferred turbine inlet temperate for the combustion gas, the preferred turbine inlet temperate for the combustion gas within the calculated, desired turbine inlet temperature range.