Patent ID: 7356383
Filing Date: 2008-04-08
Classification: G05B,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method of operating a combined cycle electrical generating plant that facilitates optimizing the combined cycle electrical generating plant performance and that includes at least one electrical generating power plant coupled in heat transfer communication to a steam-utilizing process plant, said method comprising: simulating the power plant performance to determine power plant simulation results; simulating the process plant performance to determine process plant simulation results; parameterizing plant equipment and plant performance using the power plant and process plant simulation results; determining a current condition in the combined cycle electrical generating/steam-utilizing process plant; determining an expected performance for the combined cycle electrical generating/steam-utilizing process plant; solving parameterized simultaneous equations and constraints with an objective function to determine parameter settings that facilitate enhancing an efficiency of the combined cycle electrical generating/steam-utilizing process plant; outputting the determined parameter settings to a user via the computer; tracking power plant and process plant equipment degradation to facilitate identifying changes in plant power and heat rate; and recommending adjustments to the parameter settings based on identified changes in plant power and heat rate, wherein the adjustments facilitate modifying the current condition of the combined cycle electrical generating/steam-utilizing process plant to substantially equal the expected performance of the combined cycle electrical generating/steam-utilizing process plant.