Clustering system and method for blade erosion detection
First Claim
1. An erosion detection system for detecting erosion in blades in a turbine engine, the erosion detection system comprising:
- a sensor data processor, the sensor data processor adapted to receive engine sensor data from the turbine engine and generate sensor data residuals and sensor data residual slopes from the sensor data; and
a cluster analysis mechanism, the cluster analysis mechanism adapted to perform a cluster analysis on the sensor data residuals and sensor data residual slopes using a first Gaussian density function representing a good turbine blade cluster and a second Gaussian density function representing an eroded turbine blade cluster to determine a likelihood that erosion has occurred in the blades.
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Abstract
A system and method for detecting erosion in turbine engine blades is provided. The blade erosion detection system includes a sensor data processor and a cluster analysis mechanism. The sensor data processor receives engine sensor data, including exhaust gas temperature (EGT) data, and augments the sensor data to determine sensor data residual values and the rate of change of the sensor data residual values. The augmented sensor data is passed to the cluster analysis mechanism. The cluster analysis mechanism analyzes the augmented sensor data to determine the likelihood that compressor blade erosion has occurred. Specifically, the cluster analysis mechanism performs a 2-tuple cluster feature analysis using Gaussian density functions that provide approximations of normal and eroded blades in a turbine engine. The 2-tuple cluster feature analysis thus provides the probability that the sensor data indicates erosion has occurred in the turbine engine.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. An erosion detection system for detecting erosion in blades in a turbine engine, the erosion detection system comprising:
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a sensor data processor, the sensor data processor adapted to receive engine sensor data from the turbine engine and generate sensor data residuals and sensor data residual slopes from the sensor data; and a cluster analysis mechanism, the cluster analysis mechanism adapted to perform a cluster analysis on the sensor data residuals and sensor data residual slopes using a first Gaussian density function representing a good turbine blade cluster and a second Gaussian density function representing an eroded turbine blade cluster to determine a likelihood that erosion has occurred in the blades. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of detecting erosion in blades in a turbine engine, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) receiving sensor data from the turbine engine; b) generating sensor data residuals and sensor data residual slopes from the received sensor data; and c) determining a likelihood of erosion in the blades through a cluster analysis on the sensor data residuals and sensor data residual slopes by performing a cluster analysis on the sensor data residuals and sensor data residual slopes using a first Gaussian density function representing a good turbine blade cluster and a second Gaussian density function representing an eroded turbine blade cluster. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A program product comprising:
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a) an erosion detection program for detecting erosion in blades in a turbine engine, the erosion detection program including; a sensor data processor, the sensor data processor adapted to receive engine sensor data from the turbine engine and generate sensor data residuals and sensor data residual slopes from the sensor data; and a cluster analysis mechanism, the cluster analysis mechanism adapted to perform a cluster analysis on the sensor data residuals and sensor data residual slopes using a first Gaussian density function representing a good turbine blade cluster and a second Gaussian density function representing an eroded turbine blade cluster to determine a likelihood that erosion has occurred in the blades; and b) computer-readable signal bearing media bearing said erosion detection program. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification