System and method for turbomachinery vane diagnostics

• US 10,125,779 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2016
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology, LLC (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Chapman, Seth Harmon, Maters, John Carver, Trayhan, David Terry
• Primary Examiner(s): Lin, Jason
• Application Number:
  US15/371,020
• Publication Number:
  US 20180156226A1
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 17/162 for axial flow, i.e. the vanes turning around axes which are essentially perpendicular to the rotor centre line F01D17/167 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 9/041 using blades F01D5/148 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 27/001 Testing thereof; Determination or simulation of flow characteristics; Stall or surge detection, e.g. condition monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 27/002 by varying geometry within the pumps, e.g. by adjusting vanes
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/542 Bladed diffusers fixing blades to stators F01D9/042
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/563 specially adapted for elastic fluid pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2250/51 Inlet
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/80 Diagnostics
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2270/46 redundant, i.e. failsafe operation
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2270/62 Electrical actuators
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2270/64 Hydraulic actuators
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2270/80 Devices generating input signals, e.g. transducers, sensors, cameras or strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/402 characterised by control arrangements for positioning, e.g. centring a tool relative to a hole in the workpiece, additional detection means to correct position G05B19/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32234 Maintenance planning
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/39221 Control angular position of joint by length of linear actuator
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0283 Predictive maintenance, e.g. involving the monitoring of a system and, based on the monitoring results, taking decisions on the maintenance schedule of the monitored system; Estimating remaining useful life [RUL] preventive maintenance, i.e. planning maintenance according to the available resources without monitoring the system G06Q10/06

Abstract

Systems and methods include an actuation system of turbomachinery includes a first actuator configured to control pitch of vanes of the turbomachinery and a first positioner configured to position the first actuator to control the pitch of the vanes. The actuation system also includes a second actuator configured to control the pitch of the vanes of the turbomachinery and a second positioner configured to position the second actuator to control the pitch. The actuation system also includes a controller system communicably coupled to the first and second positioners where the controller system is configured to drive the first positioner in an operation mode based at least in part on a set point. The controller system is also configured to set the second positioner in a diagnostic mode and obtain data from the first positioner and the second positioner where the data indicates operating conditions of the turbomachinery.

Claims

1. An actuation system of turbomachinery, comprising:

a first actuator configured to control pitch of vanes of the turbomachinery;

a first positioner configured to position the first actuator to control the pitch of the vanes;

a second actuator configured to control the pitch of the vanes of the turbomachinery;

a second positioner configured to position the second actuator to control the pitch; and

a controller system communicably coupled to the first and second positioners, wherein the controller system is configured to;

drive the first positioner in an operation mode based at least in part on a set point of the turbomachinery, wherein the operation mode comprises driving the first actuator to exert a first force;

set the second positioner in a diagnostic mode rather than the operation mode, wherein the diagnostic mode comprises backdriving the second actuator to exert a second force in an opposite direction of the first force;

obtain data from the first positioner and the second positioner, wherein the data indicates operating conditions of the turbomachinery; and

control the turbomachinery based at least in part on the operating conditions of the turbomachinery.

2. The actuation system of claim 1, wherein the vanes of the turbomachinery are vanes of a compressor of the turbomachinery.

3. The actuation system of claim 2, wherein the first and second actuators are coupled to one or more inlet guide vanes (IGVs) of the compressor, the first and second actuators are configured to move the IGVs of the compressor, and the first and second positioners are configured to respectively position the first and second actuators to move the IGVs to a first target pitch.

4. The actuator system of claim 2, wherein the first and second actuators are coupled to one or more variable stator vanes (VSVs) of the compressor, the first and second actuators are configured to move the VSVs of the compressor, and the first and second positioners are configured to position the first and second actuator to move the VSVs to a second target pitch.

5. The actuator system of claim 2, wherein the operating condition for the turbomachinery comprises operating conditions within the compressor.

6. The actuator system of claim 5, comprising:

a first motor coupled to the first positioner,

a second motor couple to the second positioner.

7. The actuator system of claim 6, wherein the first motor is configured to drive the first actuator, and the second motor is configured to drive the second actuator.

8. The actuator system of claim 7, wherein the first and second motor each comprise an electric motor, and an amount of the first force comprises a current used for the target pitch.

9. The actuator system of claim 8, wherein each electric motor receives a respective current that sets a level of force exerted and a direction of the force exerted.

10. The actuator system of claim 1, wherein the diagnostic mode comprises driving the second actuator at a lower power level than used to drive the first actuator.

11. Tangible, non-transitory, and computer-readable medium storing instructions thereon, wherein the instructions, when executed, are configured to cause a processor to:

drive a first positioner of a first actuator of vanes of turbomachinery in an operation mode based at least in part on a set point of the turbomachinery;

set a second positioner of a second actuator of the vanes in a diagnostic mode rather than the operation mode, wherein the diagnostic mode comprises backdriving the second actuator against the first actuator;

obtain data from the first positioner and the second positioner, wherein the data indicates operating conditions of the turbomachinery; and

control the turbomachinery based at least in part on the operating conditions of the turbomachinery.

12. The tangible, non-transitory, and computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein operating conditions comprise a wear condition of the second actuator.

13. The tangible, non-transitory, and computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein controlling the turbomachinery comprises scheduling a maintenance of the second actuator.

14. A turbine system comprising:

a compressor comprising;

a plurality of inlet guide vanes (IGV) each with a variable IGV pitch and each guiding incoming fluid into the compressor; and

a plurality of variable stator vanes (VSV) each with a variable VSV pitch and each controlling flow of fluid through the compressor;

a first IGV actuator configured to control pitch of the each of the IGVs of the plurality of IGVs;

a second IGV actuator configured to control pitch of the each of the IGVs of the plurality of IGVs;

a first VSV actuators configured to control pitch of each of the VSVs of the plurality of VSVs;

a second VSV actuators configured to control pitch of each of the VSVs of the plurality of VSVs;

a plurality of positioners each configured to respectively position the first IGV actuator, the second IGV actuator, the first VSV actuator, or the second VSV actuator to control the pitch of the IGVs or VSVs, respectively;

a controller system communicably coupled to the plurality of positioners, wherein the controller system is configured to;

drive a first positioner of the plurality of positioners in a drive mode based at least in part on a set point of the turbine system;

place a second positioner in a diagnostic mode rather than the drive mode wherein the diagnostic mode comprises driving the second actuator at a lower power level than used to drive the first actuator;

obtain data from the first positioner and the second positioner, wherein the data indicates wear of the second positioner and its associated actuator.

15. The turbine system of claim 14, wherein the diagnostic mode comprises a backdrive mode or a non-driving mode.

16. The turbine system of claim 14, comprising:

an IGV unison ring coupling the first and second IGV actuators to the IGVs and transferring force from the first and second IGV actuators to the IGVs; and

a VSV unison ring coupling the first and second VSV actuators to the VSVs and transferring force from the first and second VSV actuators to the VSVs.