Electrical assembly for monitoring conditions in a combustion turbine operating environment
First Claim
1. An electrical assembly for use during operation of a combustion turbine, the electrical assembly comprising:
- at least one energy-harvesting device disposed in a component within a casing of the combustion turbine, the at least one energy-harvesting device configured to harvest a form of energy contained within the casing of the turbine to generate sufficient electrical power for wholly powering one or more electrical devices therein; and
at least one sensor coupled to receive electrical power generated by the at least one energy-harvesting device, said sensor configured to sense a condition of the component within the casing during operation of the combustion turbine, the at least one sensor constituting one of the electrical devices therein.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical assembly for use in various operating environments such as a casing of a combustion turbine 10 is provided. The assembly may include an electrical energy-harvesting device 51 disposed in a component within the casing of the turbine to convert a form of energy present within the casing to electrical energy. The harvesting device is configured to generate sufficient electrical power for powering one or more electrical devices therein without assistance from an external power source. One example of electrical devices wholly powered by the energy harvesting device may be a sensor 50 connected for sensing a condition of the component within the casing during operation of the combustion turbine. Another example of electrical devices wholly powered by the energy harvesting device may be a transmitter in communication with the sensor for wirelessly transmitting the data signal outside the casing.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An electrical assembly for use during operation of a combustion turbine, the electrical assembly comprising:
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at least one energy-harvesting device disposed in a component within a casing of the combustion turbine, the at least one energy-harvesting device configured to harvest a form of energy contained within the casing of the turbine to generate sufficient electrical power for wholly powering one or more electrical devices therein; and at least one sensor coupled to receive electrical power generated by the at least one energy-harvesting device, said sensor configured to sense a condition of the component within the casing during operation of the combustion turbine, the at least one sensor constituting one of the electrical devices therein. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for monitoring conditions during operation of a combustion turbine, the method comprising:
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harvesting a form of energy contained within a casing of the turbine to generate sufficient electrical power for powering one or more electrical devices therein without assistance from an external power source; coupling at least one sensor to receive harvested electrical power, the at least one sensor constituting one of the electrical devices therein; sensing with the at least one sensor a condition of a component within the casing during operation of the combustion turbine; coupling a transmitter to receive harvested electrical power, the transmitter constituting another of the electrical devices therein; and coupling the transmitter to receive a data signal supplied by the sensor and wirelessly transmitting the data signal outside the casing. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A combustion turbine comprising:
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a casing; at least one electrical energy-harvesting device disposed in a component within the casing of the turbine to convert a form of energy present within the casing to electrical energy, wherein the form of energy comprises at least one of the following forms of energy;
thermal energy, mechanical energy, and a combination of the foregoing, the at least one electrical energy-harvesting device configured to generate sufficient electrical power for powering one or more electrical devices therein without assistance from an external power source;at least one sensor coupled to sense a condition of the component within the casing during operation of the combustion turbine disposed, the at least one sensor constituting one of the electrical devices therein; and a transmitter coupled to the sensor for receiving and wirelessly transmitting a data signal supplied by the sensor, the transmitter constituting another of the electrical devices therein. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification