Power plants Methods and systems for increased control of power generation units

摘要

A method for optimizing a generation of an output level over a selected operating period by a power block (860,902), wherein the power block comprises multiple gas turbines for collectively generating the output level, the control method including the steps of: receiving current state data regarding measured operating parameters for each of the gas turbines of the power block (860,902); based on the current state data, defining competing operating modes for the power block (860,902), wherein each of the competing operating modes comprises a unique generating configuration for the power block (860,902); based on the generating configurations of each of the competing operating modes, deriving a predicted value for a performance parameter regarding the operation of the power block (860,902) over the selected operating period; determining a cost function and, pursuant thereto, evaluating the operation of the power block (860,902) based on the predicted value of the performance parameter so to determine a projected cost; and comparing the projected costs from each of the competing operating modes so to select therefrom an optimized operating mode; communicatively linking a block controller (855) to mechanical control devices at each of the multiple gas turbines for controlling the multiple gas turbines pursuant to any one of the competing operating modes; and actuating the mechanical control devices via the block controller (855) so to control the multiple gas turbines pursuant to the optimized operating mode.