ROBERT URAM
Engineers in East Pgh, PA

License number
Pennsylvania PE012646E
Category
Engineers
Type
Professional Engineer
Address
Address
East Pgh, PA 15112

Professional information

Robert Uram Photo 1

Accurate, Stable And Highly Responsive Gas Turbine Startup Speed Control With Fixed Time Acceleration Especially Useful In Combined Cycle Electric Power Plants

US Patent:
4010605, Mar 8, 1977
Filed:
Aug 8, 1974
Appl. No.:
5/495729
Inventors:
Robert Uram - East Pittsburgh PA
Assignee:
Westinghouse Electric Corporation - Pittsburgh PA
International Classification:
F02C 726
US Classification:
60 3914
Abstract:
A combined cycle electric power plant includes gas and steam turbines and steam generators and a digital/analog control system. An automatic digital portion of the control system includes a speed control which generates a speed error from the actual turbine speed and a turbine speed reference, and a proportional plus integral controller acts on the speed error to generate a fuel reference for the gas turbine fuel valve position controls after ignition and during wide range speed control. A speed reference generator includes a stored representation of speed as a function of time with zero time made equal to the point in time at which the flame goes on. The speed versus time characterization is made up of three linear parts having different slopes. Fixed time acceleration is achieved by causing the speed reference to increase to the synchronous value in accordance with the characterization over the fixed time period and by operating the turbine with the speed control so that the actual turbine speed quickly and accurately follows the speed reference. If a speed hold or speed runback occurs during startup acceleration, the speed reference characterization can be adjusted to provide partial or full makeup of time lost during the hold or runback.


Robert Uram Photo 2

Combined Cycle Electric Power Plant With A Steam Turbine Having An Improved Valve Control System

US Patent:
4013877, Mar 22, 1977
Filed:
Aug 13, 1974
Appl. No.:
5/497344
Inventors:
Robert Uram - East Pittsburgh PA
Ross T. Marano - Murrysville PA
Richard S. Heiser - Pittsburgh PA
Jeong Y. Surh - Pittsburgh PA
Assignee:
Westinghouse Electric Corporation - Pittsburgh PA
International Classification:
F01K 2300
US Classification:
23515121
Abstract:
A combined cycle electric power plant includes two gas turbines, a steam turbine, and a digital control system with an analog or manual backup. Each of the gas turbines has an exhaust heat recovery steam generator connected to a common header from which the steam is supplied by one or both of the steam generators for operating the steam turbine. Both the digital and the analog systems provide a digital input to an interface for controlling the steam turbine valves. The analog system is controlled to operate a respective valve by an input to its interface which determines valve position in accordance with its duration. The digital system is controlled to operate a respective valve by an input to the interface in accordance with the repetitive duration of the signal. The analog system input and digital system input is applied to an interface for each valve. A plurality of the valves are operated singly through parallel connected interfaces in response to plant conditions, and a plurality of the valves are operated sequentially through respective individual disconnected interfaces in response to plant physical conditions.


Robert Uram Photo 3

Combined Cycle Electric Power Plant With Feedforward Afterburner Temperature Setpoint Control

US Patent:
4333310, Jun 8, 1982
Filed:
Apr 2, 1975
Appl. No.:
5/564563
Inventors:
Robert Uram - East Pittsburgh PA
Assignee:
Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA
International Classification:
F02C 618
US Classification:
60 3918B
Abstract:
A combined cycle electric power plant includes gas and steam turbines and a steam generator for recovering the heat in the exhaust gases exited from the gas turbine and for using the recovered heat to produce and supply steam to the steam turbine. The steam generator includes a superheater tube through which a fluid, e. g. water, is directed to be additionally heated into superheated steam by the exhaust gas turbine gases. An afterburner further heats the exhaust gas turbine gases passed to the superheater tube. The temperature of the gas turbine exhaust gases is sensed for varying the fuel flow to the afterburner by a fuel valve, whereby the temperatures of the gas turbine exhaust gases and therefore of the superheated steam, are controlled. The afterburner fuel flow is controlled through a feedforward setpoint signal derived as a predetermined function of sensed gas turbine exhaust temperature.


Robert Uram Photo 4

Multiple Turbine Electric Power Plant Having A Coordinated Control System With Improved Flexibility

US Patent:
4222229, Sep 16, 1980
Filed:
Oct 18, 1978
Appl. No.:
5/952585
Inventors:
Robert Uram - East Pittsburgh PA
Assignee:
Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA
International Classification:
F02C 618
US Classification:
60 3903
Abstract:
A combined cycle electric power plant includes gas and steam turbines and a steam generator for recovering the heat in the exhaust gases exited from the gas turbine and for using the recovered heat to produce and supply steam to the steam turbine. Afterburners further heat the exhaust gases from each gas turbine prior to their passage to respective heat recovery sections of the steam generator. The power plant control system provides coordinated plant control or coordinated control of selected turbines and afterburners in both startup and load operations, with load distribution optimized according to the turbines under coordinated control. Transfer between coordinated control and alternate modes of plant control may be done by operator selection or automatically upon sensed conditions.


Robert Uram Photo 5

Combined Cycle Electric Power Plant With A Steam Turbine Having A Sliding Pressure Main Bypass And Control Valve System

US Patent:
4201924, May 6, 1980
Filed:
Aug 13, 1974
Appl. No.:
5/497503
Inventors:
Robert Uram - East Pittsburgh PA
Assignee:
Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA
International Classification:
H02P 904
US Classification:
290 40R
Abstract:
A combined cycle electric power plant includes two gas turbines, a steam turbine, and a digital control system with an operator analog or manual backup. Each of the gas turbines has an exhaust heat recovery steam generator connected to a common header from which the steam is supplied by one or both of the steam generators for operating the steam turbine. The control system is of the sliding pressure type and maintains a predetermined steam pressure as a function of steam flow according to a predetermined characterization depending on the number of steam generators in service to limit the maximum steam velocity through the steam generators, and reduce the probability of water carryover into the steam turbine. Such control is always maintained by the bypass valve. The turbine control valve responds to the speed/load demand only, except when the bypass valve is closed and the rate of steam generation is insufficient to maintain a predetermined pressure flow relationship.


Robert Uram Photo 6

System And Method For Operating A Steam Turbine With Improved Organization Of Logic And Other Functions In A Sampled Data Control

US Patent:
3934128, Jan 20, 1976
Filed:
Oct 16, 1973
Appl. No.:
5/407024
Inventors:
Robert Uram - East Pittsburgh PA
Assignee:
Westinghouse Electric Corporation - Pittsburgh PA
International Classification:
F01d 1702, G05b 1500, G06f 1506
US Classification:
23515121
Abstract:
The throttle and governor valves of a steam turbine are operated by a digital computer control system to provide speed and load control for the turbine. The computer includes a speed and load control which periodically generates control outputs and a separate logic control which responds to panel and contact inputs to generate logicals which structure the speed and load control. An analog scan periodically enters feedback parameters into the computer for use by the controls. An input contacts scan enters feedback logicals into the computer on demand, or under certain conditions periodically. A monitor operates with an auxiliary synchronizer to control the execution of the scans and the controls. The speed and load controls are bid for execution once each second to generate the control outputs which are applied to an external electrohydraulic control for the valves. The analog scan is bid for execution once each half second and the logic control is bid for execution on demand for performance of a logic function.


Robert Uram Photo 7

Manual/Automatic System For Synchronizing Multiple Turbines In A Combined Cycle Electric Power Plant

US Patent:
4032793, Jun 28, 1977
Filed:
Aug 8, 1974
Appl. No.:
5/495713
Inventors:
Robert Uram - East Pittsburgh PA
Assignee:
Westinghouse Electric Corporation - Pittsburgh PA
International Classification:
F02C 904, F01K 2300
US Classification:
290 40C
Abstract:
A combined cycle electric power plant includes gas and steam turbines and steam generators and a digital/analog control system. In the control system, an automatic digital computer control generates position setpoints for the gas turbine fuel valves and the steam turbine inlet valves to control turbine speed and load. A synchronizer system includes an automatic synchronizer subsystem and a manual synchronizer subsystem. The automatic synchronizer subsystem includes a sequencer which is largely embodied in the digital computer and it further includes a synchronizer which is external to the automatic control. The automatic sequencer connects the synchronizer to synchronize the three generators in a sequence which depends on the startup and loading operation of the turbines, the synchronization operation of the synchronizer and the operation of the breakers. The manual synchronizer subsystem responds to operator inputs to generate a speed reference for the synchronization of each turbine. The synchronization system further includes logic structure needed to permit synchronization to occur and to define the synchronization mode.


Robert Uram Photo 8

Digital Computer System And Method For Operating A Steam Turbine With Efficient Control Mode Selection

US Patent:
4220869, Sep 2, 1980
Filed:
Mar 8, 1974
Appl. No.:
5/449562
Inventors:
Robert Uram - East Pittsburgh PA
Assignee:
Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA
International Classification:
H02P 904
US Classification:
290 40R
Abstract:
A control system for a steam turbine includes an operator's panel and a programmed digital computer which generates valve position signals for the turbine throttle and governor valves. Mode select signals are generated at the panel and the computer includes a mode selector which provides for structuring the control system to implement external synchronizer, load runback, automatic turbine startup, operator automatic, manual and other mode selections.


Robert Uram Photo 9

Systems And Method For Organizing Computer Programs For Operating A Steam Turbine With Digital Computer Control

US Patent:
4227093, Oct 7, 1980
Filed:
Aug 24, 1973
Appl. No.:
5/391406
Inventors:
Robert Uram - East Pittsburgh PA
Juan J. Tanco - Buenos Aires, AR
Assignee:
Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA
International Classification:
H02P 904
US Classification:
290 40R
Abstract:
Steam flow and pressure conditions needed in a turbine to satisfy the speed and load demand of an electric power generating system are controlled by a programmed digital computer system during start-up, synchronization and operation. Manual backup control is provided for the computer control. An operator interface is provided with the computer through a panel and various communication devices.


Robert Uram Photo 10

System And Method For Starting, Synchronizing And Operating A Steam Turbine With Digital Computer Control

US Patent:
4267458, May 12, 1981
Filed:
Oct 23, 1973
Appl. No.:
5/408962
Inventors:
Robert Uram - East Pittsburgh PA
Theodore C. Giras - Pittsburgh PA
Assignee:
Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA
International Classification:
H02P 904
US Classification:
290 40R
Abstract:
Steam flow and pressure conditions needed in a turbine to satisfy the speed and load demand of an electric power generating system are controlled by a programmed digital computer system during start-up, synchronization and load operation. Manual backup control is provided for the computer control. Throttle valve tests are provided under digital control and transfers are made to manual backup control if predetermined task errors occur.