Patent Document ID: 5433079
Application ID: 08208151
Patent Flag: 1

Claim One:
1. A startup method for a steam turbine in a steam plant, the method employing a fuzzy logic controller to generate control signals for steam plant system actuators so as to apply steam to the turbine so as to warm up the turbine in accordance with a selected optimized warmup profile, the method comprising the steps of: producing control signals for a selected turbine regulatory function by means of a fuzzy inference calculation in accordance with a selected fuzzy-logic rule base and a selected turbine startup profile; and applying said control signals for said selected turbine regulatory function to a respective function controller so as to govern operation of said steam plant system actuators such that said selected turbine startup profile is implemented, said steam plant system actuators comprising a steam supply valve actuator controlled by signals generated by function controller, said steam supply valve actuator controlling a supply valve disposed in said steam plant so as to admit steam to said turbine for purposes of warming the turbine: the step of producing control signals further comprising the steps of generating a plurality of regulatory control directions for control of said turbine and generating by means of said fuzzy inference calculation a weight for at least selected ones of said regulatory control directions, said weight being applied to determine the respective control signal applied to said steam plant system actuators.