SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING IMPACT MACHINERY

• US 20080000355A1
• Filed: 06/28/2006
• Published: 01/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: HERSHEY, JOHN ERIK, TOMLINSON, HAROLD WOODRUFF, DELGADO, ELADIO CLEMENTE, SEELEY, CHARLES ERKLIN
• Granted Patent: US 7,837,749 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 96/32
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 3/763 Electricity supply or control systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 3/765 with electromagnetic rappers

Abstract

A system (10) for monitoring an operating condition of an electrostatic precipitator rapper system (12) includes a rapper (24) configured to mechanically actuate to disengage pollutants from a plate of the electrostatic precipitator (12). The system also includes a sensor (38, 40) configured to obtain and transmit signals representative of vibration, motion, or current behavior of the rapper; and a processor (52) configured to receive the signals from the sensor and to detect whether the rapper is mechanically actuated.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring an operating condition of an electrostatic precipitator comprising a rapper configured to mechanically actuate to disengage pollutants from a plate of the electrostatic precipitator, the system comprising:

a sensor configured to obtain and transmit signals representative of vibration, motion or current behavior of the rapper; and

a processor configured to receive the signals from the sensor and to detect whether the rapper is mechanically actuated.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises a piezoelectric sensor.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the piezoelectric sensor is disposed on a slug disposed within the rapper.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the piezoelectric sensor creates an electric charge in response to mechanical stimuli applied on the rapper, and wherein the electric charge is used to power the piezoelectric sensor.

5. The system of claim 2 further comprising an intermediate device coupled to the piezoelectric sensor, wherein the intermediate device relays the signals received from the piezoelectric sensor to a base station.

6. The system of claim 2 wherein the intermediate device is disposed on an outer surface of the rapper.

7. The system of claim 2 wherein the sensor comprises a plurality of sensors including the piezoelectric sensor, and wherein the plurality of sensors further comprises a current-detecting sensor configured to detect a current in an electro-magnetic coil disposed within the rapper.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor is configured to detect a voltage in an electromagnetic coil disposed within the rapper.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor is configured to detect the vibration, motion of a slug disposed within the rapper.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising a solenoid coil configured to raise a slug within the rapper, wherein the sensor comprises a measuring device for measuring a time varying inductance value of the solenoid coil based on a movement of the slug in the coil, wherein the processor is configured for using the time varying inductance value to determine a position and velocity of the slug.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises an ultrasound sensor for transmitting and receiving an acoustic waveform to and from a slug within the rapper, and wherein the processor is configured for using the time between transmission and reflection of the acoustic waveform to determine the position or velocity of the slug.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises a capacitive sensor for measuring capacitance values with respect to multiple positions of a slug within the rapper, and wherein the processor is configured for using the capacitance values to determine a position of the slug within the rapper.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is configured to determine an operating parameter of the rapper based on the signals received from the sensor.

14. The system of claim 1 further comprising;

a magnet attached to a slug by a spring; and

a coil disposed around the magnet and configured to be energized for energy harvesting,

wherein a motion of the magnet from applied vibration generated by the slug creates a current in the coil, the current being used for energy harvesting.

15. A rapper monitoring system coupled to an electrostatic precipitator, the rapper monitoring system comprising:

a sensor coupled to a rapper and configured to obtain and transmit signals representative of vibration, motion or current behavior of the rapper; and

an intermediate device coupled to the rapper, wherein the intermediate device relays the signals received from the sensor to a base station.

16. The system of claim 15 further comprising a processor configured to receive the signals from the sensor and to detect whether the rapper is mechanically actuated.

17. A method of retrofitting a rapper in an electrostatic precipitator, the method comprising:

mounting a sensor on top of a slug in the rapper;

providing a hole on top of the rapper;

providing an intermediate device on top of a rapper surface;

placing the slug in a rapper mount;

placing a coil over the slug in the rapper mount;

placing a case over the slug and the coil;

tightening the case; and

coupling the intermediate device to a rapper power cable.

18. A system for monitoring an operating condition of an apparatus impacted by heavy vibrations, the system comprising:

a sensor configured to obtain and transmit signals representative of vibration, motion or current behavior of the apparatus; and

a processor configured to receive the signals from the sensor and to detect mechanical vibrations experienced by the apparatus.

19. The system of claim 18 further comprising a monitoring device coupled to the processor and configured for determining an operating parameter of the apparatus and for sending an alert signal when the operating parameter falls above or below a threshold value.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein the apparatus is at least one of a jack hammer, a forging machine, a riveting machine, a stamping machine, and a cargo container.

21. The system of claim 18 wherein the sensor comprises a piezoelectric sensor.