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Abstract

An apparatus and method to assess the performance of a start of a turbine is described. The apparatus includes an accumulator to compare a set of on-line data signals corresponding to the starting performance of the turbine to a set of normative starting parameters so as to identify a set of comparison signals. The comparison signals may also be identified by comparing the set of on-line data signals with a database of historical information relating to starts and design profiles of the turbine. In addition, the comparison signals may be identified by comparing the set of on-line data signals with information in an expert system defining fault conditions in previous starts of the turbine. The comparison signals are processed by an analyzer to identify those comparison signals that exceed predetermined thresholds. Those comparison signals that exceed the predetermined thresholds are processed by a risk factor assessor, which generates quality-of-start predication signals corresponding to the likelihood of success of future starts of the turbine. An anticipator then processes the quality-of-start prediction signals and generates output signals that are used to improve the starting performance of the turbine.

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