Abstract:
A disclosed airfoil health monitoring system and method obtains a signal comprising a waveform indicative of an airfoil path with a sensor. Features of the waveform are determined and compared waveform characteristics indicative of a vibrational mode. A vibrational mode of the airfoil may then be determined based on the comparison between the predetermined waveform characteristics and the obtained waveform indicative of the airfoil path.
Abstract:
A system of a machine includes a network of a plurality of sensing / control / identification devices (68a, 68b) distributed throughout the machine, each of the sensing / control / identification devices (68a, 68b) associated with at least one sub-system component (70, 74) of the machine and operable to communicate through a plurality of electromagnetic signals (86). The system also includes shielding (84) surrounding at least one of the sensing / control / identification devices (68a, 68b) to contain the electromagnetic signals (86) proximate to the at least one sub-system component (70, 74). The system further includes an electromagnetic sensing system to read the plurality of electromagnetic signals (86) for detection of at least one condition of the sub-system component (70, 74) of the machine. The system yet further includes a remote processing unit (66) operable to communicate with the network of the sensing / control / identification devices (68a, 68b) through the electromagnetic signals (86).
Abstract:
An aeromechanical identification system (62) for turbomachine includes at least one actuator (64) mounted on a stationary structure (14) to excite rotatable airfoils (42). At least one sensor (66) is mounted proximate the airfoils (42) for measuring a response of the airfoils (42) responsive to excitation from the at least one actuator (64). A controller (68) is configured to determine a damping characteristic of an aeromechanical mode of the rotating airfoils (42) based on the excitation and the response. A gas turbine engine (20) and a method of determining a flutter boundary for an airfoil (42) of a turbomachine are also disclosed.
Abstract:
A rotor assembly (30) comprising a rotor (32) having an annular array of rotor blades (34), the rotor mounted to a shaft (38). A phonic wheel (40) coupled to the shaft. A speed sensor (44) axially aligned with the phonic wheel and configured to measure voltage (V), amplitude of the voltage being proportional to clearance (46) between the sensor and phonic wheel. A processor (48) configured to: receive the voltage measurement; derive shaft speed (ω) from the voltage measurement; identify modulation of the voltage amplitude at a frequency which is an integer multiple of the shaft speed; compare voltage amplitude to a threshold; and output a rotor damage signal based on the comparison.
Abstract:
Systems (100) and methods (200) for protecting rotating machines (105) are provided. Measurements data collected by a plurality of sensors (110, 115) may be received (205) by a controller (120) that includes one or more computers. The plurality of sensors (110, 115) may be configured to monitor vibrations associated with the rotating machine (105). Based at least in part upon the measurements data, the controller (120) may determine (240) that a respective amplitude change for at least two of the plurality of sensors (110, 115) exceeds a threshold condition. The controller (120) may also determine (245) that the threshold condition is exceeded for a predetermined period of time. Based at least in part upon determining that the threshold condition is exceeded for a predetermined period of time, the controller (120) may identify (265) an alarm event.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a method of detecting and localizing partial rotor-stator rubbing during the operation of a turbine, in which the rotor (1) of the turbine is monitored by means of at least one pair of sensors (3, 30, 4, 40) of the rotor vibrations arranged in one plane of measuring (330, 440) perpendicular to the axis of the rotor (1) and by at least one pair of sensors of the absolute vibrations of the bearings (2, 20). When using this method of processing, synchronically digitalized signals of the sensors (3, 30, 4, 40) of rotor vibrations, first the arithmetic mean of the individual harmonic bands in full spectrum in the frequency domain is calculated, by which means the information about the subharmonic components and their multiples in the full spectrum of these signals is transfered into the frequency band -1 X to 1 X (where X indicates the rotational frequency of the rotor (1)), at the same time is by the calculation of the median estimated the level of the signal noise, with which individual frequency bands of the full spectrum are encumbered, and which is subtracted from the amplitudes in the individual frequency bands of full spectrum of the signals of the sensors. Thus normalized accumulated full spectrum of the signals of the sensors of rotor vibrations is created, in which, subsequently, the amplitude of the predetermined subharmonic component/components of the signals of rotor vibrations is compared with the amplitudes of the frequency components in its proximity determined by the Fourier transform or by approximation with the Fourier series. Simultaneously, the presence of the monitored subharmonic component of the signals of the rotor vibrations in the spectrum of these signals is deduced, on the basis of which subsequently the occurrence of rotor-stator rubbing is deduced. In case of the rubbing occurrence the place/places of the turbine where it takes place is further localized.
Abstract:
A method (100) for monitoring for a surge condition includes detecting a surge condition through vibration signals measured at at least one location in a turbomachine. Detecting a surge condition includes: - determining a ratio-metric indicator R BR by comparing a blade frequency band Ω B to a reference frequency band Ω R ; - calculating a surge score SS (106) with the following equation: SS = (R BR - R µ ) / R σ wherein R µ is a sample mean of a set of ratio-metric indicators and R σ is a sample standard deviation of a set of ratio-metric indicators; and - determining whether a surge condition exists based on the surge score (108).
Abstract:
A method to determine inertia of components of a rotating shaft system. The shaft system comprising a shaft (30, 32, 34) coupling a turbine (26, 24, 22) to drive the rotation and a load (14, 16, 18) to be driven by the rotation. The method comprising steps to: a) apply a feedback (-Gθ) to a forcing input to the shaft system; b) measure resonant frequency (ω r ) of the shaft; c) iterate steps a) and b) for different feedbacks (-Gθ); d) plot resonant frequency squared (ω r 2 ) against gain (G); and e) determine inverse of gradient from the plot to give inertia of the turbine (J 2 ). Also a method to determine shaft stiffness using the inertia of the turbine.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a measurement method (11) for early detection of damage to a blade (26) of an impeller of a turbine (10). According to the invention, during operation of the turbine (10), in a rotational direction (17) of the blade (26) along a circumference (24) which surrounds the impeller, at a plurality of points, in each case a plurality of magnetic fields are generated next to one another substantially in an oscillation direction (18) of the blade (26), which magnetic fields are influenced by a tip (15) of a turbine blade (14) of the blade (26) during transit. Positional values (19) of the tip (15) are detected (32) by way of the influencing at the plurality of points. A positional profile (20) of the turbine blade (14) is then formed (33) from the positional values (19) and a frequency (22) is determined (34) from the positional profile (20). Said frequency (22) is compared (35) with defined frequency values. An alarm event (23) is recognized (36) in the case of a sudden and/or pronounced change in the frequency (22). In addition, a turbine (10) is claimed which is configured to carry out the measurement method (11) according to the invention.