Patent ID: 8661880

Claim:
A method of testing an overspeed protection system of a powerplant, the method comprising: providing a powerplant comprising multiple powerplant machines operationally integrated by a shaft that rotates during operation of the multiple powerplant machines; providing an overspeed protection system configured for detecting an overspeed event associated with the shaft; selecting a methodology for testing the overspeed protection system; wherein the methodology determines whether the multiple powerplant machines are operating in a shutdown mode or an operating mode; determining whether the speed of the shaft exceeds a shutdown value representative of the overspeed event, if the multiple powerplant machines are in the shutdown mode; determining whether the speed of the shaft exceeds an overspeed trip value representative of the overspeed event, if the multiple powerplant machines are in the operating mode; changing the overspeed trip value; and determining whether the overspeed protection system would operate to trip the multiple powerplant machines; wherein the method reduces the possibility of a trip occurring during testing of the overspeed protection system.