Patent Application
20160146705
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to sensing devices, and more specifically, to systems and methods for providing state holding and autonomous sensing devices.
Certain rotating or fixed machines such as generators, turbines, electric motors, and the like may generally include a number of sensors to measure various parameters of the machines during operation. The sensors measuring the operational conditions of such machines may be subject to harsh conditions (e.g., high temperatures, high pressures, etc.) and may be instrumental to the optimal operation of such machinery. The sensors may thus require continuous power and warrant frequent maintenance and retrofitting. Moreover, while some operational parameters corresponding to the routine or normal operating conditions of these machines may be subject to continuous monitoring, certain other parameters may warrant less frequent or even sporadic monitoring. It may be thus useful to provide sensors equipped for prolonged usage.
Certain embodiments commensurate in scope with the originally claimed invention are summarized below. These embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention, but rather these embodiments are intended only to provide a brief summary of possible forms of the invention. Indeed, the invention may encompass a variety of forms that may be similar to or different from the embodiments set forth below.
In a first embodiment, a passive sensor is configured to detect one or more operational parameters of a gas turbine. The passive sensor is coupled to the gas turbine. The passive sensor is also configured to extract a portion of energy from the one or more operational parameters to utilize for operation, store an indication of a value of the one or more operational parameters, transition from a first mechanical state to a second mechanical state according to the value of the one or more operational parameters, and to provide a signal in response to receiving an interrogation signal. The signal comprises the indication of the value of the one or more operational parameters.
In a second embodiment, a system includes a a turbine system and one or more state-holding sensors coupled to the turbine system and configured to sense a vibration, a strain, a temperature, or a pressure of the turbine system. The one or more state-holding sensors include a storage mechanism including a latching device configured to hold or change a mechanical state in response to energy derived from the sensed vibration, strain, temperature, or pressure. The mechanical state of the storage mechanism includes an indication of a value of the sensed vibration, strain, temperature, or pressure. The one or more state-holding sensors also include communication circuitry configured to wirelessly provide the indication of the value of the sensed vibration, strain, temperature, or pressure upon receipt of one or more interrogation signals.
In a third embodiment, a device includes a state-holding sensing device configured to detect one or more physical parameters of an external system, extract a portion of energy from the one or more physical parameters to be utilized for operation of the state-holding sensing device, store a non-volatile indication of a value of the one or more physical parameters, and to change from a first mechanical state to a second mechanical state according to the value of the one or more physical parameters. Upon detection of an interrogation signal, and if a switch of the state-holding device is in a first state, the state-holding sensing device is configured to receive a first quantity of energy of the interrogation signal, and to reflect the first quantity of energy of the interrogation signal. If the switch of the state-holding device is in a second state, the state-holding sensing device is configured to receive a second quantity of energy of the interrogation signal, and to reflect the second quantity of energy of the interrogation signal. Reflecting the second quantity energy of the interrogation signal includes providing the indication of the value of the one or more physical parameters to an external device. The state-holding sensing device is also configured to reset the state-holding sensing device to the first mechanical state based at least in part on the interrogation signal.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:
One or more specific embodiments of the invention will be described below. In an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, all features of an actual implementation may not be described in the specification. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure.
When introducing elements of various embodiments of the invention, the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.
Present embodiments relate to a state holding and autonomous sensing device that may be used to passively detect and store operational and/or environmental parameters associated with, for example, industrial machinery, industrial processes, or various other applications requiring long-term and/or infrequent monitoring. In certain embodiments, the sensing device may include a detection and communication system and power extraction source. The power extraction source may be used to extract energy from a sensed measurand and convert the extracted energy into an electrical signal to power the sensing device. The detection and communication system may include electromagnetic circuitry (e.g., antenna and impedance matching network) and one or more microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) or nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) devices that may be used to passively detect and store non-volatile values of sensed operational and/or environmental parameters. In one embodiment, the values of the parameters obtained by the sensing device may be read by generating a radio frequency (RF) signal and detecting an amount of reflected (e.g., passively reflected) energy from the sensing device. Further, because the sensing device may be both passive and autonomous (e.g., self-operative), the sensing device may allow for long-term (e.g., over periods of days, months, years, and so forth) monitoring of certain operational and/or environmental parameters in harsh environments without the need of external power or frequent maintenance, repair, or retrofitting.
Indeed, although the present embodiments may be discussed primarily with respect to state holding and autonomous sensors for turbine systems and/or other industrial machinery, it should be appreciated that the techniques described herein may also be extended to sensors useful in any of various applications such as, for example, sensors for medical applications (e.g., noninvasive sensing, heart monitoring), security related sensors (e.g., surveillance, motion detection), sensors for manufacturing and distribution applications (e.g., products manufacturing and products tracking systems), oil and gas exploration related sensing devices (e.g., sensors useful in downhole and subsea environments), sensors for energy extraction applications (e.g., coal mines, tunnels, and so forth), sensors for aerospace applications, and the like. As used herein, “passive” may refer to a condition in which a device may become operable autonomously or by way of one or more environmental conditions such that the device is self-powered and/or self-activated. Similarly, “passive” may refer to an electronic circuit or device that does not contain a source of energy, or that includes one or more components (e.g., resistors, capacitors, inductors, and so forth) that consume, but do not produce energy (e.g., power) in the electronic circuit as would otherwise be the case with active devices such as transistors. Similarly, “passive” may refer to a component or a system that is capable to operate without an external power source. Similarly, “passive” may refer to a component or a system that is capable to operate without using any electronics that need an external power source. As used herein, a “mechanical state” may refer to a physical state in which a change thereto or therefrom involves the physical movement of one or more parts of one or more mechanisms of a device or machine from one steady state to another. Furthermore, the term “mechanical state” may encompass a rest state or a transitional state of a microelectromechanical system (MEMS), nanoelectromechanical system (NEMS), or other system, which may include one or more moving parts that move or are displaced in response to a mechanical, electrical, chemical, magnetic, or other physical perturbation.
With the foregoing in mind, it may be useful to describe an embodiment of an industrial system, such as an example industrial system 10 illustrated in
As illustrated in
The air-fuel mixture may combust in the combustion system 22 to generate hot combustion gases, which flow downstream into the turbine 26 to drive one or more turbine 26 stages. For example, the combustion gases move through the turbine 26 to drive one or more stages of turbine 26 blades, which may in turn drive rotation of a shaft 32. The shaft 32 may connect to a load 34, such as a generator that uses the torque of the shaft 32 to produce electricity. After passing through the turbine 26, the hot combustion gases may vent as exhaust gases 36 into the environment by way of the exhaust section 28. The exhaust gas 36 may include gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and so forth.
In certain embodiments, the system 10 may also include a number of state-holding sensing devices 40 (e.g., sensors) and an interrogation device or reader 42. The interrogation device or reader 42 may receive data from the state-holding sensing devices 40 via an antenna 43 or other transceiver device. In certain embodiments, the state-holding sensing devices 40 may be any of various sensors useful in providing various operational data to the interrogation device or reader 42 including, for example, pressure and temperature of the compressor 20, speed and temperature of the turbine 26, vibration of the compressor 20 and the turbine 26, CO2 levels in the exhaust gas 36, carbon content in the fuel 31, temperature of the fuel 31, temperature, pressure, clearance of the compressor 20 and the turbine 26 (e.g., distance between the compressor 20 and the turbine 26 and/or between other stationary and/or rotating components that may be included within the industrial system 10), flame temperature or intensity, vibration, combustion dynamics (e.g., fluctuations in pressure, flame intensity, and so forth), load data from load 34, and so forth. It should be appreciated that the aforementioned parameters are included merely for the purpose of example. In other embodiments, the state holding sensing device 40 may be useful in measuring any of various measurands including, but not limited to: temperature, pressure, flow rate, fluid level, displacement, acceleration, speed, torque, clearance, strain, stress, vibration, voltage, current, humidity, electromagnetic radiation, mass, magnetic flux, creep, crack, heat spots (e.g., hot spots), equipment condition, metal temperature, system health, and so forth. Furthermore, the state-holding sensing devices 40 may be useful in withstanding and operating within one or more harsh environments (e.g., an internal environment, external environment, or intra-machine environment that includes one or more of temperatures greater than or equal to 300° C., 500° C., 1200° C., or greater, pressures between approximately 1000 pounds per square inch (psi) and 18,000 psi, vibrations between approximately 5 mils and 20 mils, speeds between approximately 5,000 revolutions per minute (rpm) and 17,500 rpm, and so forth) in which active electronic devices may generally malfunction or become inoperable.
In certain embodiments, the reader 42 may be used to periodically (e.g., daily, monthly, annually, bi-annually, and so forth) or continuously (e.g., over minute intervals, hourly) obtain data from the state-holding sensing devices 40 as an indication of the operating condition of one or more components (e.g., the compressor 20, the turbine 26, the combustors 22, the load 34, and so forth) of the industrial system 10 and/or other environmental characteristics. The reader 42 may also be used to reset the state-holding sensing devices 40. Similar to the reader 42, the state-holding sensing devices 40 may also include an antenna 46 or other transceiver device for communicating with the reader 42. As will be further appreciated, the state-holding sensing devices 40 may include a passive (e.g., self-powered and including non-active electronic devices) device that may be useful in passively detecting and storing operational and/or environmental parameters associated with components of the industrial system 10 or other similar system or environment.
In certain embodiments, as illustrated in
As further illustrated, the detection and communication system 48 may be communicatively coupled to the power extraction source 50. For example, during operation, as a measurand (e.g., operational and/or environmental parameter) is detected via the detection and communication system 48, the power extraction source 50 may extract energy from the measured operational and/or environmental parameter, and may temporarily store the extracted energy for use by, for example, the detection and communication system 48. In one embodiment, the detection and communication system 48 along with the power extraction source 50 may convert the measurand (e.g., temperature, pressure, flow rate, fluid level, displacement, acceleration, speed, torque, clearance, strain, stress, vibration, voltage, current, humidity, electromagnetic radiation, mass, magnetic flux, creep, crack, hot spots, equipment condition, metal temperature, system health, and so forth) to an electrical signal for power. In one embodiment, the power extraction source 50 may include a passive energy harvesting device (e.g., photovoltaic device, piezoelectric device, thermoelectric generator [TEG], or other similar energy harvesting device) that may be useful extracting energy from the measurands and/or one or more environmental sources. As will be further appreciated, the detection and communication system 48 may include electromagnetic circuitry (e.g., antenna and impedance matching network) and one or more microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) or nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) devices that may be useful in passively detecting and storing measurands (e.g., operational and/or environmental parameters) associated with the industrial system 10 or other similar system or environment. Specifically, one or more components of the detection and communication system 48 may change a physical state, which may include a chemical, electrical, or mechanical physical state, on the sensed measurands.
For example, as illustrated in
Thus, when an electromagnetic signal (e.g., RF interrogation signal) is detected at the antenna 46, and when the latching device is in the open position, complete transmittance of the energy of the electromagnetic signal may occur. However, the load impedance 56 (e.g., ZL) may generally not be matched to the source impedance 52 (e.g., ZA) and the characteristic impedance 54 (e.g., Z0). Thus, in certain embodiments, when the latching device 58 is in the closed position, the load impedance (e.g., ZL) 56 may be introduced into the electromagnetic circuitry 51. This may thus create a change in impedance in the electromagnetic circuitry 51. Further, because of the mismatch in impedance between, for example, the source impedance 52 (e.g., ZA) and the characteristic impedance 54 (e.g., Z0) and the load impedance 56 (e.g., ZL) (e.g., corresponding to a condition in which ZA∥Z0≠ZL*), strong reflectance of the electromagnetic energy detected at the antenna 46 may occur. Such a strong reflectance of the electromagnetic signal (e.g., RF interrogation signal) from the state-holding sensing device 40 back to, for example, the reader 42 may indicate the value of the sensed measurand. Furthermore, the electromagnetic signal (e.g., RF interrogation signal) generated by the reader 42 may be used to reset (e.g., reset or revert the physical state) the state-holding sensing device 40 to begin monitoring again or continue monitoring once the value of the sensed measurand has been obtained.
In certain embodiments, as further depicted in
Referring to the mass-spring system 60B, based on a sensed measurand (e.g., temperature, pressure, flow rate, fluid level, displacement, acceleration, speed, torque, clearance, strain, stress, vibration, voltage, current, humidity, electromagnetic radiation, mass, magnetic flux, creep, crack, hot spots, equipment condition, metal temperature, system health, and so forth), a passive displacement of the proof mass 62B and the spring 64B may occur in response to the energy of the measurand. This may cause the proof mass 62B to latch to the multistable structures 66B (e.g., bi-stable structures). In another embodiment, the mass-spring system 60 may include a mass (e.g., proof mass 62), a spring (e.g., spring 64), and an additional damping element, and may be modeled, for example, as lumped-element model.
In certain embodiments, the displacement of the proof mass 62B, and, by extension, the latching of the proof mass 62B by the multistable structures 66B (e.g., bi-stable structures) may correspond to the storing of a value of a sensed measurand. For example, as further illustrated, the proof mass 62B becoming latched by the first couplet of multistable structures 66B may represent the storing of a first value of the measurand, while the latching of the proof mass 62B by the second illustrated couplet of multistable structures 66B may represent the storing of a second value of a sensed measurand. In other embodiments, the mass-spring system 60 (e.g., 60A and 60B) may include any number of couplets or sets (e.g., 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or more) of the multistable structures 66 (e.g., bi-stable structures 66A and 66B) to store any number of values of one or more sensed measurands. The latching of the proof mass 62B to any of the sets of multistable structures 66B may also correspond to the latching device 58 switching from the open position to the closed position. As previously discussed, the electromagnetic circuitry 51 may then form a closed circuit, and thus a change of the total impedance of the electromagnetic circuitry 51 may occur. The change in impedance may be indicative of the value of the sensed measurand. The value of the sensed measurand may be then obtained by the reader 42, for example, through a reflectance of an electromagnetic signal (e.g., RF interrogation signal) reflected by the state-holding sensing device 40. In this way, the state-holding sensing device 40 may passively detect and store measurands without the use of an external power source or excessive human intervention through maintenance, repair, or retrofitting.
In other embodiments, as further depicted in
During operation, the cogwheel 70 may rotate in response to the detection and storage (e.g., non-volatile storage) of a sensed measurand. Specifically, as a force (e.g., pressure) is applied to the diaphragm 69, the lever 72 may cause the cogwheel 70 to rotate from, for example, the tooth 74A of the cogwheel 70 to, for example, the tooth 74B of the cogwheel 70. This change or change in state (e.g., rotation of the cogwheel 70) of the cogwheel and coupling system 68 (e.g., diaphragm system) may correspond to the storage (e.g., non-volatile storage) of a sensed measurand. In one embodiment, the cogwheel 70 may also include an extended tooth 76, which may, in some embodiments, include an electrode to transmit a voltage signal to close the latching device 58. As noted above, the electromagnetic circuitry 51 may then form a closed circuit, and thus a change of the total impedance of the electromagnetic circuitry 51 may occur. This change in impedance may be indicative of the value of the sensed measurand. The value of the sensed measurand may be then obtained by the reader 42, for example, through a reflectance of an electromagnetic signal (e.g., RF interrogation signal) reflected the state-holding sensing device 40. In another embodiment, the electromagnetic circuitry 51, and, by extension, the latching device 58 systems may also be useful in detecting or indicating a tampering of the state holding sensing device 40. For example, a foreign magnetic interference (e.g., an interference other than an authorized read signal provided by the reader 42) may cause the latching device 58 MEMS or NEMS systems to at least partially change physical states. This foreign magnetic interference may be determined when a subsequent read of the state holding sensing device 40 is performed.
Yet still, in another embodiment, as further depicted in
Turning now to
The process 80 may then continue with the state holding sensing device 40 generating (block 84) extracting a portion of energy from the one or more operational parameters. For example, the state holding sensing device 40 may include a power extraction source 50 that may be useful in extracting energy from the measured operational and/or environmental parameter, and may temporarily store the extracted energy for use by the state holding sensing device 40. The state holding sensing device 40 may then store (block 86) an indication of respective values of the operational parameters. For example, as noted above with respect to
The process 80 may then conclude with the state holding sensing device 40 changing (block 88) a state according to the respective values of the operational parameters. For example, the state holding sensing device 40 may change a physical state (e.g., chemically, electrically, or mechanically) to provide an indication of one or more values of a sensed operational and/or environmental parameter by way of electromagnetic energy reflectance in response to an electromagnetic read signal (e.g., RF interrogation signal) transmitted to the state-holding sensing device 40. In this way, the state-holding sensing device 40 may passively detect and store measurands without the use of an external power source or excessive human intervention through maintenance, repair, or retrofitting.
Technical effects of the present invention relate to a state holding and autonomous sensing device that may be used to passively detect and store operational and/or environmental parameters associated with, for example, industrial machinery, industrial processes, or various other applications requiring long-term and/or infrequent monitoring. In certain embodiments, the sensing device may include a detection and communication system and power extraction source. The power extraction source may be used to extract energy from a sensed measurand and convert the extracted energy into an electrical signal to power the sensing device. The detection and communication system may include electromagnetic circuitry (e.g., antenna and impedance matching network) and one or more microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) or nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) devices that may be used to passively detect and store non-volatile values of sensed operational and/or environmental parameters. In one embodiment, the values of the parameters obtained by the sensing device may be read by generating a radio frequency (RF) signal and detecting an amount of reflected (e.g., passively reflected) energy from the sensing device. Further, because the sensing device may be both passive and autonomous (e.g., self-operative), the sensing device may allow for long-term (e.g., over periods of days, months, years, and so forth) monitoring of certain operational and/or environmental parameters in harsh environments without the need of external power or frequent maintenance, repair, or retrofitting.
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.
