Pavilion Technologies, Inc.

Alstom Technology Limited

Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated

Neuco, Inc.

Pegasus Technologies, Inc.

General Electric Company

Stephen William Piche

Gregory D Martin

Eugene Boe

Mark Gerules

John P Havener

James David Keeler

Scott A Boyden

Douglas Timmer

Eric J Hartman

Fred Francis Pickard

Donald Semrad

Jianhu Jia

W Hardey Beaver

Steven J McGarel

John McDermott

Neel J Parikh

Brian K Stephenson

John Robert James

Kadir Liano

Yan Liu

Carsten Peterson

William Douglas Johnson

Nurali Virani

David J Wroblewski

Robert Nicholas Petro

James David Keller

A method for modeling a system that includes a disturbance rejection model configured for modeling an operation of the system so to generate a predicted value for a system output. The disturbance rejection model having a network for mapping system inputs to the system output, and input-output pairings, each representing a unique pairing of one of the system inputs with the system output. The method may include the steps of: calculating a confidence metric for a selected input-output pairing of the disturbance rejection model; and recommending a modification be made to the disturbance rejection model based upon the confidence metric calculated for the selected one of the input-output pairing. The confidence metric may indicate a probability that a predicted sign of a gain in the system output made by the disturbance rejection model is correct when the system input of the selected input-output pairing is varied.

System and method for process modeling and control using disturbance rejection models

A system that includes: a gas turbine having a combustion system; a control system operably connected to the gas turbine for controlling an operation thereof; and a combustion auto-tuner, which is communicatively linked to the control system, that includes an optimization system having an empirical model of the combustion system and an optimizer; sensors configured to measure the inputs and outputs of the combustion system; a hardware processor; and machine-readable storage medium on which is stored instructions that cause the hardware processor to execute a tuning process for tuning the operation of the combustion system. The tuning process includes the steps of: receiving current measurements from the sensors for the inputs and outputs; given the current measurements received from the sensors, using the optimization system to calculate an optimized control solution for the combustion system; and communicating the optimized control solution to the control system.

Control and tuning of gas turbine combustion

A method for modeling an operation of a system that may include a disturbance rejection model that is configured to generate a predicted value for a system output at a future time. The disturbance rejection model may include a neural network for mapping system inputs to the system output. The method may include the steps of: training the disturbance rejection model per a training dataset; and calculating a confidence metric for the disturbance rejection model. The confidence metric is configured to indicate a probability that a predicted sign of a gain in the system output at the future time made by the disturbance rejection model is correct.

System modeling, control and optimization

A method for training a disturbance rejection model that is configured to model an operation of a system so to calculate a predicted value for a system output at a future time. The disturbance rejection model may include a network for mapping system inputs to the system output, the network including a weight vector and a feedback coefficient. The method may include: obtaining a training dataset, and training the disturbance rejection model pursuant to the training dataset. The training may include calculating updated values for each of the weight vector and the feedback coefficient of the network by minimizing an error function that include a first hyperparameter and a second hyperparameter. The first hyperparameter may include a vector for penalizing the weight vector and the second hyperparameter may include a scalar.

A method for providing independent static and dynamic models in a prediction, control and optimization environment utilizes an independent static model () and an independent dynamic model (). The static model () is a rigorous predictive model that is trained over a wide range of data, whereas the dynamic model () is trained over a narrow range of data. The gain K of the static model () is utilized to scale the gain k of the dynamic model (). The forced dynamic portion of the model () referred to as the bvariables are scaled by the ratio of the gains K and k. Thereafter, the difference between the new value input to the static model () and the prior steady-state value is utilized as an input to the dynamic model (). The predicted dynamic output is then summed with the previous steady-state value to provide a predicted value Y.

Method and apparatus for minimizing error in dynamic and steady-state processes for prediction, control, and optimization

A method and apparatus for estimating and/or controlling mercury emissions in a steam generating unit. A model of the steam generating unit is used to predict mercury emissions. In one embodiment of the invention, the model is a neural network (NN) model. An optimizer may be used in connection with the model to determine optimal setpoint values for manipulated variables associated with operation of the steam generating unit.

Model based control and estimation of mercury emissions

A system and method for predicting operation of a plant or process receive an input value from the plant or process. An integrity of a non-linear model corresponding to a local input space of the input value may be determined. The non-linear model may include an empirical representation of the plant or process. If the integrity is above a first threshold, non-linear model may be used to provide a first output value. However, if the integrity is below the first threshold, a linearized first principles model may be used to provide a second output value. The linearized first principles model may include an analytic representation of the plant or process. Additionally, the analytic representation of the plant or process may be independent of the empirical representation of the plant or process. The first output value and/or the second output value may be usable to manage the plant or process.

System and method for utilizing a hybrid model

A method and apparatus for optimizing the operation of a single or multiple power generating units using advanced optimization, modeling, and control techniques. In one embodiment, a plurality of component optimization systems for optimizing power generating unit components are sequentially coordinated to allow optimized values determined by a first component optimization system to be fed forward for use as an input value to a subsequent component optimization system. A unit optimization system may be provided to determine goals and constraints for the plurality of component optimization systems in accordance with economic data. In one embodiment of the invention, a multi-unit optimization system is provided to determine goals and constraints for component optimization systems of different power generating units. Both steady state and dynamic models are used for optimization.

System and method for multi-unit optimization of boiler and SCR operations

A control system for controlling operation of a fossil fuel fired power generating unit. The control system including both a combustion optimization system and an oxygen optimization system. Both the combustion optimization system and oxygen optimization system each including a model for predicting values of controlled variables and an optimizer for determining optimal setpoint values.

Control system for operation of a fossil fuel power generating unit

A sootblowing control system that uses predictive models to bridge the gap between sootblower operation and boiler performance goals. The system uses predictive modeling and heuristics (rules) associated with different zones in a boiler to determine an optimal sequence of sootblower operations and achieve boiler performance targets. The system performs the sootblower optimization while observing any operational constraints placed on the sootblowers.

Sootblowing optimization for improved boiler performance

System for optimizing power generating unit

A virtual analyzer is provided to estimate either an attribute of a reactant applied during performance of, or an amount of a reactant exhausted by, a process having multiple process parameters (MPPs) that is performed to control an amount of a pollutant emitted into the air. The virtual analyzer includes an interface which receives signals corresponding to attributes of the MPPs. If the process is a wet flue gas desulfurization (WFGD) process, the signals include a signal corresponding to a measured pH level of the applied reactant. If the process is a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) process, the signals include a signal corresponding to a measured amount of the reactant exhausted by the process.

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Austin, TX, United States of America

Stephen William Piche