Achalesh Kumar Pandey

Development of Steam Quality Measurement and Monitoring Technique Using Absorption Spectroscopy With Diode Lasers

Techniques using a tunable diode laser (TDL) and multiple broadband lasers have been developed and tested for measuring the steam quality or steam wetness fraction. The steam wetness fraction was estimated using a ratiometric technique combining measured absorbance of water and water vapor overtone transitions in the near infrared spectral band. Using these techniques we were able to measure a wide variation in steam quality ranging from saturated steam condition to 80% mass fraction of steam with less than 1% error. Our sensor can be tailor-made to suit cost, sensitivity, and operating conditions as per requirements, and could be used eventually for measuring the quality of steam in the low pressure stage of steam turbines.

Prediction of Gas Turbine Trip Due to Electro Hydraulic Control Valve System Failures

Gas turbines are the main power producing components in combined cycle and simple cycle power plants. A gas turbine trip is a rapid uncontrolled shutdown of the turbine that is initiated by the turbine controller to protect it from failures. The turbine loses significant amount of life due to strong thermal transients during a trip and the utility company loses revenue because of lost power generation. Therefore, prediction of trips has significant financial impact. This paper presents a method to predict gas turbine trips due to electro hydraulic control valve system failures. This paper also provides methods to detect gas control valve system failures in their incipient phase and methods to identify various failure signatures for diagnostics. The methodology presented here could be extended beyond the current application to other causes of trips in the gas turbine, thereby impacting availability and reliability of the turbine.Copyright