Apparatus and method for determining gas turbine engine life

• US 5,447,059 A
• Filed: 12/27/1993
• Issued: 09/05/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Inventors: Miller, Floyd D., Padgett, George L.
• Primary Examiner(s): RAEVIS, ROBERT R
• Application Number:
  US08/172,993
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 73/116, 364/431.02, 374/142, 374/144
• US Class Current: 73/112.03
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2270/109 to prolong engine life
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 3/00 Registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus, other than vehicles

Abstract

An apparatus and method is provided for determining and recording the life and run values of a gas turbine engine. A starter drop out sensor and a turbine inlet temperature sensor delivers a respective drop out and turbine temperature signal. A receiving device receives the signals and advances the life recorder a predetermined amount based on a linear failure prediction curve for each completed turbine engine start in response to the turbine inlet temperature being greater than a set point value and the starter drop out signal being received. The receiving means also delivers a signal to enable advancement of the run recorder in response to the sensed turbine inlet temperature exceeding the set point value. A generating device delivers a signal to advance the life recorder an amount for the sensed turbine temperature based on a turbine life curve having turbine temperature to voltage coordinates.

Claims

1. An apparatus for determining the equivalent life of a gas turbine engine having a source of electrical energy, and a starting motor;

comprising;

means for sensing a temperature of said gas turbine engine and responsively delivering a first signal;

means for sensing starting motor drop out and delivering a responsive second signal;

means for recording a value related to the equivalent life of the gas turbine engine, and

means for receiving said first and second signals and changing the recorded equivalent life value a predetermined amount in response to receiving said second signal and in response to the sensed temperature being greater than a predetermined value, said receiving means being connected to said life recording, temperature sensing, and starting motor drop out sensing means.

2. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said life recording means includes means for displaying a numerical value related to the recorded equivalent life value.

3. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said predetermined amount of change in the recorded equivalent life value of the gas turbine engine for a completed engine start being a function of a linear prediction constant based on the following equation:

##EQU9## t_i =time of exposure at the i_tn combination of stress and temperature, L_i =time required to rupture if the entire exposure were held constant at the i_tn combination of stress level and temperature, C_J =number of cycles at stress level J, N_J =number of cycles to fail at stress level J.

4. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said turbine engine having a turbine inlet, said sensed temperature being the temperature at the turbine inlet, and including generating means for receiving said first signal and changing said recorded equivalent life value an amount based on a predetermined turbine equivalent life curve having an equivalent life value being a function of turbine inlet temperature.

5. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 4, wherein said generating means including:

a curve generator connected to the temperature sensing means and being adapted receive said first signal, said curve generator delivering a signal at a voltage related to the turbine inlet temperature as established by the equivalent life curve;

means for converting the voltage to a frequency and delivering a pulse in response to the frequency count totaling a predetermined number;

said life recording means receiving said pulse and advancing said equivalent life value a predetermined amount for each pulse received.

6. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 4, including, run recording means for recording a run value related to the number of run hours of the gas turbine engine, said run recording means advancing the recorded run value a value related to one hour for each hour the sensed temperature is greater than a predetermined set temperature.

7. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 6, wherein said run recording means including, means for displaying a numerical value related to a number of run hours of the gas turbine engine.

8. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, including means for displaying a value related to the number of run hours of the gas turbine engine, said signal receiving means including:

a processing means having a memory and being connected to said temperature sensing means, starter drop out sensing means, run recording means, and equivalent life recording means, said processing means receiving said first signal and delivering a run signal in response to said turbine temperature being greater in magnitude than a predetermined value, said run displaying means advancing one hour for each hour the turbine temperature is greater than said predetermined temperature; and

said processing means determining for the sensed temperature a corresponding equivalent life value related to the operating life of the gas turbine engine based on an equivalent life curve having voltage to temperature coordinates and advancing the life recording means said corresponding equivalent life value.

9. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 8, wherein said processor converting said voltage to frequency and said frequency to said equivalent life value, said equivalent life value representing equivalent life hours of the gas turbine engine.

10. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said receiving means including:

clock means for delivering an oscillating signal at a predetermined frequency;

counting means for receiving said oscillating signal and responsively delivering a count signal;

switching means connected to and between said clock and counting means, said switching means being actuatable between an open condition at which said oscillating signal is blocked and a closed condition at which said oscillating signal is deliverable to said counting means; and

comparing means for comparing the first signal to a predetermined set point value and delivering a control signal to said switching means in response to said first signal being greater than said predetermined set point value, said switching means being actuated to the closed condition in response to receiving said control signal, said stitching means passing said oscillating signal to said counting means at the closed condition, said counting means passing said count signal in response to receiving said oscillating signal, said comparing means being connected to and between said temperature sensing means and said switching means.

11. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 10, wherein said starter drop out sensing means including a relay having first and second positions and being movable between said first and second positions, said relay being at said first position in response to said starter being enabled and at the second position in response to said starter dropping out, said relay delivering said second signal at said second position.

12. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 11,

a curve generator connected to the temperature sensing means and being adapted receive said first signal, said curve generator delivering a signal at a voltage related to the turbine temperature as established by the equivalent life curve;

and

means for converting the voltage to a frequency and delivering a pulse in response to the frequency count totaling a predetermined number, said life recording means receiving said pulse and changing said equivalent life value a predetermined amount in response to receiving said pulse.

13. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 12, including;

means for receiving said count signal and delivering a pulse in response to the count signal being equivalent to an hour of run time; and

means for displaying a numerical value related to the number of run hours of the gas turbine engine, said run recording means receiving said pulse and responsively advancing said displaying means a value equal to one run hour.

14. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 11, wherein said receiving means including logic means for receiving said count and second signals and delivering a pulse in response to receiving said count and second signals, said life recording means increasing the equivalent life value a predetermined amount in response to the delivery of said pulse.

15. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 14, wherein said logic means includes means for modulating the width of the logic means delivered pulse and changing the equivalent life value for a completed turbine engine start.

16. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said starter drop out sensing means including a relay having first and second positions and being movable between said first and second positions, said relay being at said first position in response to said starter being enabled and at the second position in response to said starter dropping out, said relay delivering said second signal at said second position.

17. A method for determining the equivalent life of a gas turbine engine having a turbine inlet, comprising the steps of:

sensing the inlet temperature of the turbine;

calculating an equivalent life curve as a function of turbine inlet temperature; and

advancing a life recorder a predetermined amount based on said equivalent life curve and the sensed turbine inlet temperature;

comparing the sensed turbine inlet temperature with a predetermined temperature;

sensing a dropping out of a turbine engine starting motor; and

advancing the life recorder a predetermined amount in response to said starter dropping out and said sensed turbine inlet temperature being greater than said predetermined temperature.

18. A method, as set forth in claim 17 including the steps of:

comparing the sensed turbine inlet temperature with a predetermined temperature; and

passing a run signal in response to the sensed temperature turbine inlet being greater than the predetermined temperature.

19. A method, as set forth in claim 17 including the steps of:

comparing the sensed turbine inlet temperature with a predetermined temperature; and

passing a run recorder signal in response to said sensed turbine inlet temperature being greater than said predetermined temperature.

20. A method, as set forth in claim 17, including the steps of:

delivering a voltage as a function of the sensed turbine inlet temperature and the equivalent life curve;

converting the voltage to frequency;

calculating the equivalent life value based on frequency; and

advancing the life recorder the calculated equivalent life value.