Methods and systems related to calculating equpment consumption rates for power plant maintenance and service

1. A computer-implemented method for improving operations of a generating unit in a part load capacity, wherein an output of the generating unit is produced by a generator to which the generating unit operably connects, the method comprising the steps of:

obtaining from a computer system memory a usage period for the generating unit for which an equipment consumption rate for operating the generating unit is to be determined;

monitoring the output of the generating unit during the usage period using one or more sensors coupled to the generating unit and, therefrom, calculating an output level for the generating unit for the usage period, wherein the output level includes a total amount of power generated by the generating unit during the usage period;

providing a tiered function that defines tiers as a function of output level, wherein at least one of the tiers is associated with a part load output level;

analyzing previous usage period data from a data resource to determine a part load threshold value, wherein the part load threshold value is based on an amount of time the generating unit operated at a part load during previous usage periods;

determining the equipment consumption rate for the usage period using an applicable tier from the tiered function in which the output level dictates the applicable tier;

in response to the applicable tier being associated with the part load output level, determining if the output level exceeds the part load threshold value and applying a capped amount of hours at which the generating unit is allowed to operate at the part load output level; and

in response to the output level exceeding the part load threshold value, increasing the equipment consumption rate for operating the generating unit at the part load output level,

wherein the generating unit has an increased number of days available for dispatching and operating in the part load capacity, and wherein within the days available for dispatching, operating hours at the part load output level of the generating unit is increased up to the capped amount of hours.

2. The method according to claim 1 ,

wherein the generating unit comprises at least one of: a gas turbine; a steam turbine; and a combine cycle power plant that includes both a gas turbine and a steam turbine.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the tiers are sequential, continuous, and non-overlapping over a spectrum of potential output levels of the generating unit.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the output level of a first tier comprises a part load generating condition of the generating unit.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the usage period comprises a current usage period, and usage periods occurring prior to the current usage period are designated previous usage periods;

further comprising the steps of:

based on the output level from one or more of the previous usage periods, calculating a cumulative time that the output level of the generating unit comprises the part load generating condition of the first tier;

determining if the cumulative time of the part load generating condition exceeds a predetermined threshold; and

conditionally assessing a surcharge to the first tier for the current usage period depending on whether the cumulative time exceeds the predetermined threshold.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the step of conditionally assessing the surcharge to the first tier for the current usage period depending on whether the cumulative time exceeds the predetermined threshold includes:

assessing the surcharge of the first tier for the current usage period when the cumulative time exceeds the predetermined threshold; and

not assessing the surcharge to the first tier for the current usage period when the cumulative time does not exceed the predetermined threshold.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the amount of the surcharge is configured so that the surcharge plus the equipment consumption rate of the first tier is equal to the equipment consumption rate of a tier that includes the output level that corresponds to a full load of the generating unit.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of monitoring the output of the generating unit during the usage period to determine the output level for the usage period comprises receiving one or more measured values for the output of the generating unit during the usage period; and

wherein the one or more measured values for the output of the generating unit each comprises an indication of mega-watts being generated by the generator.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of monitoring the output of the generating unit during the usage period to determine the output level for the usage period comprises:

providing a sensor for measuring the output of the generator;

taking measurements with the sensor of the output of the generator during the usage period; and

using the measurements taken by the sensor to determine the output level for the usage period.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein

a range of output levels included within a first tier includes a part load condition for the generating unit;

a range of output levels included within a second tier includes a full load condition for the generating unit; and

a range of output levels included within a third tier includes an over full load condition for the generating unit.

11. A system for improving operations of a generating unit in a part load capacity, wherein an output of the generating unit is produced by a generator to which the generating unit operably connects, the system comprising:

one or more hardware processors; and

a machine-readable storage medium on which is stored instructions that cause the one or more hardware processors to execute a method that includes:

determining a usage period for the generating unit for which an equipment consumption rate for operating the generating unit is to be determined;

monitoring the output of the generating unit during the usage period using one or more sensors coupled to the generating unit and, therefrom, calculating an output level for the generating unit for the usage period, wherein the output level includes a total amount of power generated by the generating unit during the usage period;

providing a tiered function that defines tiers as a function of output level, wherein at least one of the tiers is associated with a part load output level;

analyzing previous usage period data from a data resource to determine a part load threshold value, wherein the part load threshold value is based on an amount of time the generating unit operated at a part load during previous usage periods;

determining the equipment consumption rate for the usage period using an applicable tier from the tiered function in which the output level dictates the applicable tier;

in response to the applicable tier being associated with the part load output level, determining if the output level exceeds the part load threshold value and applying a capped amount of hours at which the generating unit is allowed to operate at the part load output level; and

in response to the output level exceeding the part load threshold value, increasing the equipment consumption rate for operating the generating unit operates at the part load output level,

wherein the generating unit has an increased number of days available for dispatching and operating in the part load capacity, and wherein within the days available for dispatching, operating hours at the part load output level of the generating unit is increased up to the capped amount of hours.

12. The system according to claim 11 ,

wherein the generating unit comprises at least one of: a gas turbine; a steam turbine; a combine cycle power plant that includes both a gas turbine and a steam turbine; a solar generating unit; a wind turbine; a hydro-electric generating unit; and a reciprocating internal combustion engine.