Control of power generation system by visually monitoring component during operation

1. A method for controlling a power generation system, the power generation system including a controller, the controller configured for performing actions in the method including:

visually monitoring a component of the power generation system;

detecting a heat distribution across the component of the power generation system from a thermal output of the component during operation of the power generation system;

calculating a projected heat distribution across the component based on a library of modeling data for the power generation system;

calculating whether a difference between the heat distribution and the projected heat distribution exceeds a thermal threshold;

adjusting the power generation system in response to the difference exceeding the predetermined threshold, wherein the adjusting includes modifying an operating setting of the power generation system; and

wherein the power generation system is positioned at a first geographic location, the controller is positioned at least partially at a second geographic location remote and different from the first geographic location, and wherein the power generation system is one of a plurality of power generation systems, each of the plurality of power generation systems being positioned at a different respective geographic location.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the library of modeling data includes at least one of operating data of the power generation system, or operating data of a different power generation system.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the library of modeling data includes at least one of projected operating data of the power generation system or a different power generation system.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting an acoustic disturbance from a source external to the power generation system;

determining whether the detected acoustic disturbance corresponds to a predetermined operational violation; and

modifying the operating setting of the power generation system in response to determining that the detected acoustic disturbance corresponds to the predetermined operational violation.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the visually monitoring the component of the power generation system includes causing an infrared camera to capture an image of the component, the infrared camera being operationally independent of the power generation system.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the adjusting of the power generation system is implemented via a system controller in communication with the infrared camera and the power generation system.

7. A program product stored on a computer readable storage medium for controlling a power generation system, the power generation system including a controller, the controller including the computer readable storage medium comprising program code for causing a computer system to perform actions including:

visually monitoring a component of the power generation system;

detecting a heat distribution across the component of the power generation system based on a thermal output of the component during operation of the power generation system;

calculating a projected heat distribution across the component based on a library of modeling data for the power generation system;

calculating whether a difference between the heat distribution and the projected heat distribution exceeds a thermal threshold;

adjusting the power generation system in response to the difference exceeding the predetermined threshold, wherein the adjusting includes modifying an operating setting of the power generation system; and

wherein the power generation system is positioned at a first geographic location, the controller is positioned at least partially at a second geographic location remote and different from the first geographic location, and wherein the power generation system is one of a plurality of power generation systems, each of the plurality of power generation systems being positioned at a different respective geographic location.

8. The program product of claim 7 , wherein the library of modeling data includes at least one of operating data of the power generation system, or operating data of a different power generation system.

9. The program product of claim 7 , wherein the library of modeling data includes at least one of projected operating data of the power generation system or a different power generation system.

10. The program product of claim 7 , wherein visually monitoring the component of the power generation system includes causing an infrared camera to capture an image of the component, the infrared camera being operationally independent of the power generation system.

11. The program product of claim 7 , wherein modifying the operating setting of the power generation system includes initiating a system shutdown of the power generation system.

12. The program product of claim 7 , further comprising program code for causing the computer system to perform actions including:

detecting an acoustic disturbance from a source external to the power generation system;

determining whether the detected acoustic disturbance corresponds to a predetermined operational violation; and

modifying the operating setting of the power generation system in response to determining that the detected acoustic disturbance corresponds to the predetermined operational violation.

13. A system for controlling a power generation system, the system comprising:

an infrared camera operable to visually monitor a component of the power generation system;

a system controller in communication with the infrared camera and operable to, during operation of the power generation system, perform actions including:

detecting a heat distribution across a component of the power generation system based on a thermal output of the component;

calculating a projected heat distribution across the component based on a library of modeling data for the power generation system;

calculating whether a difference between the heat distribution and the projected heat distribution exceeds a thermal threshold;

adjusting the power generation system in response to the difference exceeding the predetermined threshold, wherein the adjusting includes modifying an operating setting of the power generation system; and

wherein the power generation system is positioned at a first geographic location, the controller is positioned at least partially at a second geographic location remote and different from the first geographic location, and wherein the power generation system is one of a plurality of power generation systems, each of the plurality of power generation systems being positioned at a different respective geographic location.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the system controller further performs actions including:

detecting an acoustic disturbance from a source external to the power generation system;

determining whether the detected acoustic disturbance corresponds to a predetermined operational violation; and

modifying the operating setting of the power generation system in response to determining that the detected acoustic disturbance corresponds to the predetermined operational violation.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the library of modeling data includes at least one of operating data of the power generation system, or operating data of a different power generation system.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the library of modeling data includes at least one of projected operating data of the power generation system or a different power generation system.

17. The system of claim 13 , wherein modifying the operating setting of the power generation system includes initiating a system shutdown of the power generation system.