SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STABILIZING A SENSOR

• US 20110174053A1
• Filed: 01/20/2010
• Published: 07/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Babcock & Wilcox Company (Babcock International Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Holt, Mark Wayne
• Granted Patent: US 8,528,429 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/23.31
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 21/003 Arrangements for testing or measuring for measuring vibrations G01H
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2270/08 to produce clean exhaust gases
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/1257 Damping

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for stabilizing an emissions instrument. The emissions instrument includes an emissions sensor. The emissions sensor may be coupled to a gyro stabilizer. The gyro stabilizer may stabilize the emissions sensor, thus resulting in a more accurate and reliable emissions instrument.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a first emissions instrument, comprising;

a first emissions sensor; and

a first gyro stabilizer coupled to at least a portion of the first emissions sensor.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first emissions sensor comprises a laser.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first emissions sensor comprises a first optical element coupled to the first gyro stabilizer.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the first emissions instrument comprises a second emissions sensor coupled to the first gyro stabilizer, wherein the second emissions sensor comprises a second optical element offset from the first optical element about a sensing region.

5. The system of claim 3, comprising a second emissions instrument separate from the first emissions instrument, wherein the second emissions instrument comprises a second emissions sensor coupled to a second gyro stabilizer, and the second emissions sensor comprises a second optical element offset from the first optical element about a sensing region.

6. The system of claim 1, comprising a power plant component, an exhaust duct, a boiler, an engine, a turbine, a combustor, a vent, or any combination thereof, having the first emissions instrument.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first emissions instrument comprises a global positioning system (GPS) unit.

8. The system of claim 7, comprising a position controller coupled to the GPS unit and a positioner.

9. The system of claim 1, comprising a controller coupled to the first emissions instrument and an emissions generating apparatus.

10. A system, comprising:

a first fluid measuring instrument, comprising;

a first mount configured to mount to a first wall;

a first probe extending from the first mount, wherein the first probe is configured to pass through the first wall into a fluid region;

a first sensor coupled to the first probe; and

a first gyro stabilizer coupled to the first probe.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the first probe comprises a first bore surrounding the first sensor and the first gyro stabilizer.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the first bore has a first open end, and the first sensor comprises a first light source, a first optical element, or a combination thereof, configured to transmit or receive light through the first open end.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the first instrument comprises a second sensor coupled to the first probe, and the first bore surrounds the second sensor.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first and second sensors are offset from one another about a fluid sensing region, and the first bore comprises at least one opening about the fluid sensing region.

15. The system of claim 10, comprising a second fluid measuring instrument separate from the first fluid measuring instrument, wherein the second fluid measuring instrument comprises a second mount configured to mount to a second wall, a second probe extending from the second mount, a second sensor coupled to the second probe, and a second gyro stabilizer coupled to the second probe, wherein the second probe is configured to pass through the second wall into the fluid region, wherein the first and second sensors are offset from one another about a fluid sensing region.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first wall and the second wall surround a portion of a duct or a vent and the first fluid measuring instrument is configured to measure impurities or pollutants in the fluid region inside the duct or vent.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the first fluid measuring instrument comprises a global positioning system (GPS) unit.

18. A method, comprising:

obtaining a measurement of a fluid characteristic with a fluid measuring instrument in a fluid region; and

stabilizing the fluid measuring instrument with a gyro stabilizer.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein obtaining the measurement of the fluid characteristic comprises obtaining data indicative of pollutants or impurities in the fluid region.

20. The method of claim 18, comprising correlating a position of the fluid measuring instrument with acquired data via a global positioning system (GPS).