General Electric Company

Bret Stephen Dalton

Frederick William Block

Richard Lee Nichols

George Allen Ellis

Joseph Law

Bryan Edward Sweet

Robert Lester Brooks

Christian-Anghel Solacolu

Kenneth Lee Leary

Eric Stephen Kaufman

Melinda Stephanie Ammerman

Jay Lynn Johnson

Joseph Robert Law

Embodiments of the disclosure provide a method for controlling a power generation system during on-line maintenance. The method includes operating the power generation system in a first maintenance mode, which causes a controller of the power generation system to disable an automated response to at least one operational fault of the power generation system; monitoring a risk parameter of the power generation system or at least one sensor within the power generation system while operating the power generation system in the first maintenance mode; and operating the power generation system in a second maintenance mode in response to detecting an override command, an elapsed time exceeding a time limit, or the monitored risk parameter exceeding a safety threshold. The second maintenance mode causes the controller of the power generation system to enable the automated response to the at least one operational fault of the power generation system.

Control of power generation system during online maintenance using multiple maintenance modes

Embodiments of the present invention have the technical effect of automatically testing an overspeed protection system of a powerplant machine comprising at least one shaft. An embodiment of the present invention may automatically test the overspeed protection system while the powerplant machine is decelerating from full-speed-no-load (FSNL). Another embodiment of the present invention may automatically test the overspeed protection system of the powerplant machine while the powerplant machine is accelerating to FSNL.

Method and system for testing an overspeed protection system of a powerplant machine

Embodiments of the present invention have the technical effect of automatically testing an overspeed protection system of a powerplant machine comprising a shaft and integrated with a safety control system. An embodiment of the present invention may automatically test the overspeed protection system while the powerplant machine is in the process of shutting down. Another embodiment of the present invention may automatically test the overspeed protection system of the powerplant machine by adjusting the speed of a shaft while operating at full-speed-no-load.

Embodiments of the present invention have the technical effect of determining when to test an overspeed protection system of a powerplant machine. As described herein, embodiments of the present invention may be applied to a wide variety of powerplant machines, each comprising a shaft. After determining that test of the overspeed protection system should be performed, embodiments of the present invention may allow for a variety of methods to test the overspeed protection system.

Method for determining when to perform a test of an overspeed protection system of a powerplant machine

A method for analyzing a system for safety to personnel is disclosed comprising: identifying at least one operating parameter of a first subcomponent of said product; identifying an inherent hazard of said first subcomponents based on an analysis of the at least one operating parameter; identifying features of the structure or operation of the subcomponent corresponding to the inherent hazard; identifying design modifications for the identified features that would mitigate the inherent hazard; identifying safety instrumented control functions and their probability of failure requirements that would mitigate the inherent hazard; prioritizing the identified features with respect to the effect that each of said features has on safety of the product; and determining whether an unsafe condition could result from the inherent hazard.

Growing community of inventors

Greer, SC, United States of America

Bret Stephen Dalton