Patent ID: 8200369
Filing Date: 2012-06-12
Classification: F23N,G05B,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A method of monitoring the performance of a power generating unit, comprising: collecting first data related to a primary performance indication for the power generating unit at numerous different times within a time period during which the power generating unit is operating, the first data including data corresponding to at least one cost in addition to a cost of fuel; determining the primary performance indication based on the collected first data; collecting second data related to each of a plurality of operating parameters of the power generating unit within the time period; performing a correlation analysis on the first data and the second data to quantitatively determine, for each of the plurality of operating parameters, a correlation between the each of the plurality of operating parameters and the primary performance indication; determining from the correlation analysis a subset of the plurality of operating parameters that most affect the primary performance indication for the power generating unit; and altering the control of one or more of the subset of the plurality of operating parameters during subsequent operation of the power generating unit based on the correlation analysis to thereby enhance the primary performance indication during subsequent operation of the power generation unit.