Real-Time On-Line Performance Diagnostics of Heavy-Duty Industrial Gas Turbines

Abstract

This paper describes the results of real-time, on-line performance monitoring of two gas turbines over a period of five months in 1997. A commercially available software system is installed to monitor, analyze and store measurements obtained from the plant’s distributed control system. The software is installed in a combined-cycle, cogeneration power plant, located in Massachusetts, USA, with two Frame 7EA gas turbines in Apr. 1997. Vendor’s information such as correction and part load performance curves are utilized to calculate expected engine performance and compare it with measurements. In addition to monitoring the general condition and performance of the gas turbines, user-specified financial data is used to determine schedules for compressor washing and inlet filter replacement by balancing the associated costs with lost revenue. All measurements and calculated information are stored in databases for real-time and historical trending and tabulating. The data is analyzed ex post facto to identify salient performance and maintenance issues.