Doppler radar sensing system for monitoring turbine generator components

• US 20050264275A1
• Filed: 05/27/2004
• Published: 12/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Bosselmann, Thomas, Willsch, Michael, Perez, Francisco Javier Sevilla, Sanjana, Zal
• Granted Patent: US 7,095,221 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/71.100
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/50 Systems of measurement based on relative movement of target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/88 Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications electromagnetic prospecting or detecting of objects, e.g. near-field detection, G01V3/00

Abstract

The invention provides a sensing system and a method for monitoring the damage to turbine components in a turbine generator. The sensing system comprises an electromagnetic wave generator that generates an electromagnetic wave; a transmitter that transmits the generated electromagnetic wave from a first turbine component; a second turbine component that receives the transmitted electromagnetic wave and reflects the electromagnetic wave; a receiver that receives the reflected electromagnetic wave; and a processor that interprets the received electromagnetic wave.

Claims

1. An apparatus for the non-destructive monitoring of a coated metallic turbine component, comprising:

an electromagnetic wave generator that generates an electromagnetic wave;

a transmitter that transmits the generated electromagnetic wave from a first turbine component;

a second turbine component that receives the transmitted electromagnetic wave and reflects the electromagnetic wave;

a receiver that receives the reflected electromagnetic wave; and

a processor that interprets the received electromagnetic wave.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic wave generator is a Doppler radar and the electromagnetic wave generated is a microwave.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmitter and receiver is an antenna and is a horn antenna.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein a plurality of antennae are located on the surface of the turbine component and each antenna is adapted to send and receive the electromagnetic wave and transmit a signal to a processor.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the metallic turbine component is coated with a ceramic thermal barrier coating.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the metallic turbine component is a super-alloy blade or vane.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmitter and receiver are embodied as the same component.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frequency of the generated electromagnetic wave is between of 1 giga hertz and 100 giga hertz.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the frequency of the generated electromagnetic wave is between 20 giga hertz and 50 giga hertz.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the radar generates and emits the electromagnetic wave continually, randomly, intermittently, or graduated.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wave-guide comprises a plurality of sections having differing cross sectional geometries interconnected to form a continuous wave-guide.

12. A turbine blade or vane adapted for monitoring thermal barrier coating damage, comprising:

a blade or vane having an aerodynamic shape and a depression located on a surface of the blade or vane; and

an antenna having a geometry adapted to be operatively associated with the depression and adapted to closely match the aerodynamic shape of the turbine component.

13. The turbine blade or vane as claimed in claim 12, wherein the turbine blade or vane is coated with a ceramic thermal barrier coating.

14. The turbine blade or vane as claimed in claim 12, wherein the antenna is adapted to be mounted on the blade or vane.

15. The turbine blade or vane as claimed in claim 12, wherein the antenna is adapted to be mounted in the blade or vane.

16. The turbine blade or vane as claimed in claim 12, wherein the antenna is adapted to be mounted in contact with the blade or vane.

17. The turbine blade or vane as claimed in claim 12, wherein the antenna is adapted to be directly connected to the blade or vane.

18. The turbine blade or vane as claimed in claim 12, wherein the antenna and the turbine blade or vane are collectively modified to closely match the aerodynamic profile.

19. A method for real time monitoring of damage to a turbine component in an operating turbine generator, comprising:

transmitting a signal in the form of an electromagnetic wave from a first component;

receiving the signal transmitted from the first component by a second component;

reflecting the transmitted signal off the second component back to the transmission source;

processing the transmitted and reflected signals to determine if the turbine component is damaged.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the first component is a turbine blade.

21. The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the second component is a turbine vane.