Gas Turbine Health State Prognostics by Means of Bayesian Hierarchical Models

Author(s):  
Enzo Losi ◽  
Mauro Venturini ◽  
Lucrezia Manservigi

Abstract The prediction of the time evolution of gas turbine performance is an emerging requirement of modern prognostics and health management (PHM), aimed at improving system reliability and availability, while reducing life cycle costs. In this work, a data-driven Bayesian Hierarchical Model (BHM) is employed to perform a probabilistic prediction of gas turbine future health state thanks to its capability to deal with fleet data from multiple units. First, the theoretical background of the predictive methodology is outlined to highlight the inference mechanism and data processing for estimating BHM predicted outputs. Then, BHM is applied to both simulated and field data representative of gas turbine degradation to assess its prediction reliability and grasp some rules of thumb for minimizing BHM prediction error. For the considered field data, the average values of the prediction errors were found to be lower than 1.0 % or 1.7 % for single- or multi-step prediction, respectively.

2019 ◽  
Vol 141 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Enzo Losi ◽  
Mauro Venturini ◽  
Lucrezia Manservigi

Abstract The prediction of time evolution of gas turbine (GT) performance is an emerging requirement of modern prognostics and health management (PHM), aimed at improving system reliability and availability, while reducing life cycle costs. In this work, a data-driven Bayesian hierarchical model (BHM) is employed to perform a probabilistic prediction of GT future behavior, thanks to its capability to deal with fleet data from multiple units. First, the theoretical background of the predictive methodology is outlined to highlight the inference mechanism and data processing for estimating BHM-predicted outputs. Then, the BHM approach is applied to both simulated and field data representative of GT degradation to assess its prediction reliability and grasp some rules of thumb for minimizing BHM prediction error. For the considered field data, the average values of the prediction errors are found to be lower than 1.0% or 1.7% for single- or multi-step prediction, respectively.


Author(s):  
Enzo Losi ◽  
Mauro Venturini ◽  
Lucrezia Manservigi

Abstract Gas turbine industry currently implements prognostic and health management systems as a fundamental task to predict the deteriorated characteristics of a gas turbine at future states and in turn plan maintenance actions. Thus, economic losses caused by system breakdowns and unnecessary repair actions can be reduced. In this work, a data-driven Bayesian Hierarchical Model (BHM) is implemented by means of an innovative autoregressive structure to predict gas turbine progressive deterioration. The novel autoregressive model provides an estimate of the output variable which depends on time and its previous values. In such a model, lagged values of the output are used as predictor variables. The autoregressive BHM, called ARBHM in this paper, is applied to highly heterogeneous field data taken from the literature, characterized by different degradation rates and referred to the power output of a large-size heavy duty gas turbine. The ARBHM tested in this paper includes up to a third-order lag and is compared to a BHM that only uses time as the regression variable. The comparison is carried out by performing both single-step prediction and multi-step prediction of power output. The results demonstrate that, in the considered degradation scenarios, the innovative ARBHM is usually preferable to BHM, since prediction errors decrease up to 2.0 % in the best case.


Author(s):  
Guixiu Qiao ◽  
Brian A. Weiss

Robot accuracy degradation sensing, monitoring, and assessment are critical activities in many industrial robot applications, especially when it comes to the high accuracy operations which may include welding, material removal, robotic drilling, and robot riveting. The degradation of robot tool center accuracy can increase the likelihood of unexpected shutdowns and decrease manufacturing quality and production efficiency. The development of monitoring, diagnostic and prognostic (collectively known as prognostics and health management (PHM)) technologies can aid manufacturers in maintaining the performance of robot systems. PHM can provide the techniques and tools to support the specification of a robot’s present and future health state and optimization of maintenance strategies. This paper presents the robotic PHM research and the development of a quick health assessment at the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The research effort includes the advanced sensing development to measure the robot tool center position and orientation; a test method to generate a robot motion plan; an advanced robot error model that handles the geometric/nongeometric errors and the uncertainties of the measurement system, and algorithms to process measured data to assess the robot’s accuracy degradation. The algorithm has no concept of the traditional derivative or gradient for algorithm converging. A use case is presented to demonstrate the feasibility of the methodology.


Author(s):  
Mauro Venturini ◽  
Nicola Puggina

The performance of gas turbines degrades over time and, as a consequence, a decrease in gas turbine performance parameters also occurs, so that they may fall below a given threshold value. Therefore, corrective maintenance actions are required to bring the system back to an acceptable operating condition. In today’s competitive market, the prognosis of the time evolution of system performance is also recommended, in such a manner as to take appropriate action before any serious malfunctioning has occurred and, as a consequence, to improve system reliability and availability. Successful prognostics should be as accurate as possible, because false alarms cause unnecessary maintenance and nonprofitable stops. For these reasons, a prognostic methodology, developed by the authors, is applied in this paper to assess its prediction reliability for several degradation scenarios typical of gas turbine performance deterioration. The methodology makes use of the Monte Carlo statistical method to provide, on the basis of the recordings of past behavior, a prediction of future availability, i.e., the probability that the considered machine or component can be found in the operational state at a given time in the future. The analyses carried out in this paper aim to assess the influence of the degradation scenario on methodology prediction reliability, as a function of a user-defined threshold and minimum value allowed for the parameter under consideration. A technique is also presented and discussed, in order to improve methodology prediction reliability by means a correction factor applied to the time points used for methodology calibration. The results presented in this paper show that, for all the considered degradation scenarios, the prediction error is lower than 4% (in most cases, it is even lower than 2%), if the availability is estimated for the next trend, while it is not higher than 12%, if the availability is estimated five trends ahead. The application of a proper correction factor allows the prediction errors after five trends to be reduced to approximately 5%.


Author(s):  
Nicola Puggina ◽  
Mauro Venturini

To optimize both production and maintenance, from both a technical and an economical point of view, it would be advisable to predict the future health condition of a system and of its components, starting from field measurements taken in the past. For this purpose, this paper presents a methodology, based on the Monte Carlo statistical method, which aims to determine the future operating state of a gas turbine. The methodology allows the system future availability to be estimated, to support a prognostic process based on past historical data trends. One of the most innovative features is that the prognostic methodology can be applied to both global and local performance parameters, as, for instance, machine specific fuel consumption or local temperatures. First, the theoretical background for developing the prognostic methodology is outlined. Then, the procedure for implementing the methodology is developed and a simulation model is set up. Finally, different degradation-over-time scenarios for a gas turbine are simulated and a sensitivity analysis on methodology response is carried out, to assess the capability and the reliability of the prognostic methodology. The methodology proves robust and reliable, with a prediction error lower than 2%, for the availability associated with the next future data trend.


Author(s):  
Carl S. Byington ◽  
Matthew J. Watson ◽  
Sudarshan P. Bharadwaj

The authors have developed model-based and data-driven techniques aimed at providing a more reliable health assessment of gas turbine engine accessory components, which have contributed to a significant number of events that compromise mission success and equipment availability in military aircraft. As part of this approach, a physical model is used to derive parameters indicative of component-specific faults. Statistical fault classifiers and evolutionary prognostics methods are then used to track these parameters and identify the most likely health state and time to failure for each component. This assessment is fused with the results of independent data-driven routines, which are also used to analyze dynamic signal response and detect faults that would be difficult to incorporate into physical models. The developed approach was demonstrated using an experimental setup representative of aircraft fuel and lubrication systems. Pump leakage, pump gear damage, and valve blockage were seeded on the setup, and the developed routines were trained with high-bandwidth experimental data. The approach produced wide separation between baseline and faulted cases, yielding negligible missed detection rates for moderate faults and reasonable missed detection rates for an incipient valve blockage fault. The demonstration produced a quantifiable estimate of achievable performance using the hybrid techniques.


Author(s):  
N. Puggina ◽  
M. Venturini

In the field of system engineering, the main goal is the prediction of the future health condition of a system and of its components, starting from field measurements taken in the past. This is aimed to optimize both production and maintenance, from both a technical and an economical point of view. In this context, this paper presents a methodology, based on the Monte Carlo statistical method, which aims to determine the future operating state of a gas turbine. The methodology allows the system future availability to be estimated, to support a prognostic process based on past historical data trends. One of the most innovative features is that the prognostic methodology can be applied to both global and local performance parameters, as for instance machine specific fuel consumption and local temperatures. First, the theoretical background for developing the prognostic methodology is outlined. Then, the procedure for implementing the methodology is developed and a simulation model is set up. Finally, different degradation-over-time scenarios for a gas turbine are simulated and a sensitivity analysis on methodology response is carried out, to assess the capability and the reliability of the prognostic methodology. The methodology proves robust and reliable, with a prediction error lower than 2%, for the availability associated with the next future data trend.


Author(s):  
Stefania Della Gatta ◽  
Paolo Adami

The possibility to get information about gas turbine “health” state is largely based on availability and reliability of operational data and on-line acquisition systems. However, further instruments are needed in order to deduce useful information in maintenance scheduling from actually measured data. In Gas Path Analysis approaches, a model to simulate the engine behavior is required. Furthermore, in order to individuate, locate and evaluate faulty conditions, a diagnostic approach needs to be developed and introduced. This paper presents a critical discussion of the problem to highlight the main requirements of a diagnostic approach. Furthermore, some procedures to verify the ability of a diagnostic tool can be obtained directly from the theoretical background of GPA. To demonstrate how these procedures work, an application case has been examined. An engine model has been specifically developed for the monitored heavy-duty gas turbine. It allows to calculate thermodynamics data and to identify performance parameters through a mathematical modeling process. The suitability of this model to be introduced in a diagnostic system has been investigated. An exhaustive description of the procedures and discussion of results are reported.


Author(s):  
Mauro Venturini ◽  
Nicola Puggina

The performance of gas turbines degrades over time and, as a consequence, a decrease in gas turbine performance parameters also occurs, so that they may fall below a given threshold value. Therefore, corrective maintenance actions are required to bring the system back to an acceptable operating condition. In today’s competitive market, the prognosis of the time evolution of system performance is also recommended, in such a manner as to take appropriate action before any serious malfunctioning has occurred and, as a consequence, to improve system reliability and availability. Successful prognostics should be as accurate as possible, because false alarms cause unnecessary maintenance and non-profitable stops. For these reasons, a prognostic methodology, developed by the authors, is applied in this paper to assess its prediction reliability for several degradation scenarios typical of gas turbine performance deterioration. The methodology makes use of the Monte Carlo statistical method to provide, on the basis of the recordings of past behavior, a prediction of future availability, i.e. the probability that the considered machine or component can be found in the operational state at a given time in the future. The analyses carried out in this paper aim to assess the influence of the degradation scenario on methodology prediction reliability, as a function of a user-defined threshold and minimum value allowed for the parameter under consideration. A technique is also presented and discussed, in order to improve methodology prediction reliability by means a correction factor applied to the time points used for methodology calibration. The results presented in this paper show that, for all the considered degradation scenarios, the prediction error is lower than 4% (in most cases, it is even lower than 2%), if the availability is estimated for the next trend, while it is not higher than 12%, if the availability is estimated five trends ahead. The application of a proper correction factor allows the prediction errors after five trends to be reduced to approximately 5%.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-22
Author(s):  
Qinming Liu ◽  
Ming Dong

Health management for a complex nonlinear system is becoming more important for condition-based maintenance and minimizing the related risks and costs over its entire life. However, a complex nonlinear system often operates under dynamically operational and environmental conditions, and it subjects to high levels of uncertainty and unpredictability so that effective methods for online health management are still few now. This paper combines hidden semi-Markov model (HSMM) with sequential Monte Carlo (SMC) methods. HSMM is used to obtain the transition probabilities among health states and health state durations of a complex nonlinear system, while the SMC method is adopted to decrease the computational and space complexity, and describe the probability relationships between multiple health states and monitored observations of a complex nonlinear system. This paper proposes a novel method of multisteps ahead health recognition based on joint probability distribution for health management of a complex nonlinear system. Moreover, a new online health prognostic method is developed. A real case study is used to demonstrate the implementation and potential applications of the proposed methods for online health management of complex nonlinear systems.


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