SYSTEM AND METHOD OF ASSESSING THERMAL ENERGY LEVELS OF A GAS TURBINE ENGINE COMPONENT

• US 20100288034A1
• Filed: 05/18/2009
• Published: 11/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rtx Corporation
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: AGRAWAL, Rajendra K., WOOD, Coy Bruce, SCHNEIDER, William F., RAJAMANI, Ravi
• Granted Patent: US 8,074,498 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/112.01
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 21/003 Arrangements for testing or measuring for measuring vibrations G01H
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/052 with dust-separation devices

Abstract

An example method of assessing a component of a gas turbine engine includes monitoring debris in at least a portion of an engine and establishing an estimated thermal energy level for a component of the engine based on the monitoring. The method may use gas path parameters to establish the estimated thermal energy level. An example gas turbine engine component assessment system includes a debris monitoring system configured to monitor debris moving through a portion of an engine and a controller programmed to execute an engine deterioration model that assesses a thermal energy level of at least one component of the engine based on information from the debris monitoring system.

Claims

1. A method of assessing a component of a gas turbine engine comprising:

monitoring debris in at least a portion of an engine; and

establishing an estimated thermal energy level for a component of the engine based on the monitoring.

2. The method of claim 1 including monitoring at least one of a pressure, a temperature, or a speed of a gas moving through a gas path.

3. The method of claim 1 including initiating a notification based on the estimated thermal energy level.

4. The method of claim 1 including performing a maintenance action on the component when the estimated thermal energy level corresponds to a set value.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the maintenance action comprises removing the component from the engine.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the maintenance action comprises boroscoping the component.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the monitoring includes quantifying the debris.

8. The method of claim 1 including establishing the estimated thermal energy level using the engine deterioration model.

9. The method of claim 1 including adjusting the component or another component of the engine to lower the estimated thermal energy level.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the adjusting includes actuating a plurality of compressor variable vanes.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the adjusting comprises increasing turbine cooling flows through modulation of cooling flow supply system.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the estimated thermal energy level for the component comprises an estimated metal temperature of the component.

13. A method of assessing components of a gas turbine engine comprising:

monitoring airflow moving through a portion of an engine to detect a presence of debris carried by the airflow;

determining a characteristic of the debris; and

initiating a notification relating to an estimated temperature of a component of the engine based at least in part on the characteristic.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the characteristic comprises an amount of debris.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the characteristic comprises a type of debris.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the portion of the engine comprises an area extending forward an inlet section of the engine.

17. The method of claim 13 including adjusting the component or another component of the engine in response to the characteristic to change the estimated temperature.

18. A gas turbine engine component assessment system comprising:

a debris monitoring system configured to monitor debris moving through a portion of an engine; and

a controller programmed to execute an engine deterioration model that assesses a thermal energy level of at least one component of the engine based on information from the debris monitoring system.

19. The system of claim 18 including a notification device, the controller programmed to initiate a notification of the notification device if the thermal energy level corresponds to a set value.