![](/sites/g/files/jwhtju1881/files/styles/original_image_style/public/2024-08/kv_4.jpg?itok=SThzEVh4)
Industry: Electric power generation
ISSUE
Avoiding start-up failures
![Some monitors reflect data.](/sites/g/files/jwhtju1881/files/styles/original_image_style/public/2024-08/tpp_case-study_img_1.jpg?itok=hIO59Q_F)
While Mitsubishi Power prides itself on leading the world in gas turbine start-up reliability, sometimes plants fail to fire up because an anomaly manifests itself at start-up, triggering a protective mechanism. Such start-up failures must be avoided in the interests of ensuring the reliability of the electricity supply. However, such failures are still observed around the world, even in turbines that utilize the latest technologies.
Most turbine trips actually caused by auxiliary equipment
![Cylinder](/sites/g/files/jwhtju1881/files/styles/original_image_style/public/2024-08/tpp_case-study_img_2.jpg?itok=SIb5wtLj)
The issue is that anomalies of the gas turbines themselves are not the chief cause of turbine trips. Rather, according to the big data obtained through TOMONI HUB, the leading causes of trips are problems with fuel valves, bleed valves, ignition valves, or other auxiliary equipment. This means that plant staff need to pay attention to not only the gas turbines themselves, but also to associated systems.
Unable to identify anomalies with auxiliary equipment in advance
![Two workers wearing helmets discuss a data.](/sites/g/files/jwhtju1881/files/styles/original_image_style/public/2024-08/tpp_case-study_img_3.jpg?itok=QwCd9jBv)
Previously, there was not a solution available that could predict problems with auxiliary equipment. The plant operator, who is the subject of this case study, was forced to perform repeated inspections of all auxiliary equipment, on a daily basis, adversely affecting productivity.
SOLUTION
KEY POINTS TO THE SOLUTION
- Trip Prevention Package minimizes incidence of start-up failure
- Status visualization and remote monitoring enable immediate response to problems
- A flexible solution tested and refined under real-world conditions
Trip Prevention Package minimizes incidence of start-up failure
The Trip Prevention Package is a diagnostic and response system (application) that is designed to minimize the incidence of turbine failures, in particular, failures at start-up. The system performs diagnostic checks while the turbine is offline, to identify any anomalies. If an anomaly is found, also identifying the location of the problem, the system indicates what response should be taken.
![Graph of 'GT Pilot A FCV Diagnosis Result'](/sites/g/files/jwhtju1881/files/styles/original_image_style/public/2024-08/tpp_case-study_img_4_0%EF%BC%88%E4%BF%AE%E6%AD%A3%E7%89%88%EF%BC%89.png?itok=t1nmS_z-)
Status visualization and remote monitoring enable immediate response to problems
The Trip Prevention Package runs on an Edge Computing platform installed in the power plant, here diagnostic information can be obtained. Diagnostic data can also be sent to the cloud, enabling verification remotely, via a web application.
![Image of TOMONI use case model](/sites/g/files/jwhtju1881/files/styles/original_image_style/public/2024-08/tpp_case-study_img_5_0%EF%BC%88%E4%BF%AE%E6%AD%A3%E7%89%88%EF%BC%89.png?itok=taHX97r8)
A flexible solution tested and refined under real-world conditions
The Trip Prevention Package is available as part of the TOMONI® intelligent solution from Mitsubishi Power.
TOMONI is a highly refined intelligent solution that operates at the T-Point 2 verification GTCC power plant at Mitsubishi Power's Takasago Works in Hyogo. The plant is subjected to the same operational inputs as a commercial power plant, while also undergoing improvements and enhancements.
![T-Point2 Remote Moniroting](/sites/g/files/jwhtju1881/files/styles/original_image_style/public/2024-08/tpp_case-study_img_6.jpg?itok=wC2AW1pM)
EXPECTED OUTCOME
Significant reduction in start-up failures
![Global network of TOMONI HUB](/sites/g/files/jwhtju1881/files/styles/original_image_style/public/2024-08/tpp_case-study_img_7.jpg?itok=mqdeG9Hg)
- An analysis of turbine trip events recorded in TOMONI HUB arising over the last 10 years found that 24% of trips occurred during start-up or acceleration. Of these, 18% were caused by fuel valves, 6% by bleed valves, and 4% by ignitor plugs (a total of 28%). Mitsubishi Power's Trip Prevention Package firstly aims to significantly reduce these leading causes.
- By reducing the leading causes of trips, the Trip Prevention Package avoids missed sales opportunities and minimizes grid penalties.
- By focusing on auxiliary equipment, identifying and acting on problem locations in advance, the Trip Prevention Package minimizes turbine trips.
- Because the system performs diagnostics by actually operating valves and other equipment, while the turbine is offline, it is able to identify trouble spots in advance. This enables operators to perform repairs or plan responses and avoid the need to shut down the plant or perform recovery operations.
- If an anomaly is discovered, in relation to a piece of equipment, the system provides specific advice in addition to the 'GOOD'/'NOT GOOD' diagnosis result. Also, the measured parameters can be confirmed by historical trend in the long-time range that allows to grasp the tendency whether the condition of equipment is becoming worse or not. It helps owner to make a maintenance plan even if the diagnosis result is still keeping 'GOOD'.
- In future, there are plans to provide online maintenance, or even enable automatic maintenance, in the event of a negative diagnostic result. By allowing operators to experience and use one fundamental element of the autonomous power plant design at this early stage, the Trip Prevention Package gives them advance access to the autonomous technology of the future.