Patent Application
20130231893
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to turbines. More particularly, aspects of the invention include an apparatus and a related monitoring system.
Conventional approaches to monitoring turbine operations can be hindered by the environmental operating conditions within a turbine (e.g., a gas turbine). In particular, electronic monitoring equipment, such as sensors and transmission devices, can have trouble functioning under the high operating temperatures within a gas turbine. Faults in these sensors can necessitate unscheduled repairs, shutdowns, or potentially prevent diagnosis of a turbine fault.
Various embodiments of the invention include an apparatus and a related monitoring system. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a turbine rotor having: a rotor body; sets of rotor blades axially dispersed along the rotor body and extending radially from the rotor body; a spacer region axially separating two adjacent sets of the sets of rotor blades along the rotor body; a conductive element located within the spacer region for initiating an electrical current; and a module electrically connected with the conductive element for receiving the electrical current from the conductive element and powering at least one monitoring device onboard the rotor body.
A first aspect of the invention includes an apparatus having: a rotor body; sets of rotor blades axially dispersed along the rotor body and extending radially from the rotor body; a spacer region axially separating two adjacent sets of the sets of rotor blades along the rotor body; a conductive element located within the spacer region for initiating an electrical current; and a module electrically connected with the conductive element for receiving the electrical current from the conductive element and powering at least one monitoring device onboard the rotor body.
A second aspect of the invention includes an apparatus having: a turbine stator including: a stator body; a set of stator vanes extending radially from the stator body; and a magnet operably connected to a vane in the set of stator vanes; and a turbine rotor having: a rotor body and axially dispersed sets of rotor blades extending radially from the rotor body; a spacer region axially separating two adjacent sets of the sets of rotor blades along the rotor body; a conductive element located within the spacer region for initiating an electrical current from interaction with the magnet; and a module electrically connected with the conductive element for receiving the electrical current from the conductive element and powering at least one monitoring device onboard the rotor body.
A third aspect of the invention includes a monitoring system for an apparatus, the monitoring system including: at least one generating coil located on the apparatus, the at least one generating coil for initiating an electrical current in response to movement within a magnetic field; a sensor operably connected to the apparatus for sensing an operating condition of the apparatus; and a monitoring module electrically connected with the at least one generating coil and the sensor, the monitoring module configured to perform the following: receive the electrical current from the at least one generating coil and provide a power supply to the sensor; and receive sensor data from the sensor and provide the sensor data to an external data acquisition system.
These and other features of this invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description of the various aspects of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings that depict various embodiments of the invention, in which:
It is noted that the drawings of the invention are not to scale. The drawings are intended to depict only typical aspects of the invention, and therefore should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention. In the drawings, like numbering represents like elements between the drawings.
As noted, the subject matter disclosed herein relates to turbines. More particularly, aspects of the invention include a turbine apparatus and a related monitoring system.
Embodiments of the invention include a self-powered apparatus monitoring system (e.g., a turbine apparatus monitoring system) which is independent of external power sources. This system can utilize electric coils affixed to the turbine's rotor, and a corresponding magnet on the turbine's stator, to generate electric current within the coils. The electric current can be transmitted to monitoring devices, including, e.g., sensors, gauges, seals, etc. In various embodiments, a voltage regulator module can be used to regulate the transmitted power in the case that the voltage exceeds a desired level. In some cases, a rectifier can be employed when converting from alternating-current (AC) to direct-current (DC).
Various embodiments of the invention include an apparatus (e.g., a gas turbine compressor rotor) having: a rotor body; sets of rotor blades axially dispersed along the rotor body, those sets of rotor blades extending radially from the rotor body. The rotor can further include a spacer region axially separating two adjacent sets of the sets of rotor blades along the rotor body. The rotor can further include a conductive element located within the spacer region for initiating an electrical current; and a module electrically connected with the conductive element for receiving the electrical current from the conductive element and powering at least one monitoring device onboard the rotor body.
Various other embodiments of the invention include an apparatus (e.g., gas turbine compressor) having a turbine stator and a turbine rotor. The turbine stator can include: a stator body; a set of stator vanes extending radially from the stator body; and a magnet operably connected to a vane in the set of stator vanes. The turbine rotor can include: a rotor body and axially dispersed sets of rotor blades extending radially from the rotor body. The turbine rotor can further include a spacer region axially separating two adjacent sets of the sets of rotor blades along the rotor body. Additionally, the turbine rotor can include a conductive element located within the spacer region for initiating an electrical current from interaction with the magnet; and a module electrically connected with the conductive element for receiving the electrical current from the conductive element and powering at least one monitoring device onboard the rotor body.
Other embodiments of the invention include a monitoring system for an apparatus (e.g., a turbine apparatus, a valve, and/or a seal component), the monitoring system having: at least one generating coil located on the apparatus, the at least one generating coil for initiating an electrical current in response to movement within a magnetic field; a sensor operably connected to the apparatus for sensing an operating condition of the apparatus; and a monitoring module electrically connected with the at least one generating coil and the sensor, the monitoring module configured to perform the following: receive the electrical current from the at least one generating coil and provide a power supply to the sensor; and receive sensor data from the sensor and provide the sensor data to an external data acquisition system.
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In some cases, the monitoring module 18 can be located in a different portion of the apparatus 2 (e.g., gas turbine) than the at least one monitoring device 20. That is, in some cases, the monitoring module 18 is located in a cold end of a turbine, where operating temperatures range from approximately 130 degrees Fahrenheit (F) to approximately 180 degrees F. In this case, the at least one monitoring device 20 can be located in a hot end of the turbine, where operating temperatures can exceed approximately 700 degrees F., and in some cases, can exceed 800 degrees F. In contrast to conventional monitoring systems, various aspects of the invention place much of the analytic circuitry and components in the monitoring module 18, which is located in a relatively low-temperature section of the apparatus 2. Because the monitoring module 18 is located in this lower-temperature area of the apparatus, it can be designed to include processing circuitry which may not withstand the operating temperatures in the hot end of the turbine, especially over the life cycle of that circuitry. Data is transmitted between the monitoring module 18 and the at least one monitoring device 20 via signal lead lines 19, which may run along the axis of the rotor body 4, and in some cases, may be affixed to or otherwise connected (e.g., via sleeves, clamps, integral pathways, etc.) to the rotor body 4.
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In contrast to conventional monitoring systems for turbines (e.g., gas turbines), aspects of the invention provide for a monitoring system which can provide reliable data about operating conditions of a turbine without the need for expensive, temperature resistant circuitry in the hot end of the turbine. The monitoring system described herein provides placement of analytic and communicative circuitry in the cold end of the turbine, thereby improving reliability and reducing costs when compared with conventional monitoring systems.
It is understood that the apparatuses described herein can be utilized according to various embodiments to generate electrical current from the movement of a number of apparatuses having one or more industrial components, e.g., valves, seals, etc. In these cases, the conductive element (e.g., conductive element 10) could be affixed to or in contact with any number of moving apparatus parts such as a valve flap, a seal seating, etc. The principles of operation of the electrical generation apparatus could remain substantially unchanged in these circumstances, and the apparatus could utilize the connection between the conductive element and the module as described herein. Additionally, the monitoring system could be used to monitor one or more of these types of apparatuses and/or components.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. It is further understood that the terms “front” and “back” are not intended to be limiting and are intended to be interchangeable where appropriate.
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.
