Method, system and controller for establishing a wheel space temperature alarm in a turbomachine

• US 8,221,057 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2008
• Issued: 07/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Fischetti, Thomas Joseph, Rosson, Randy Scott, Wilkes, Kevin Wood
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Jr., Jerome
• Assistant Examiner(s): SPALLA, DAVID C
• Application Number:
  US12/145,735
• Publication Number:
  US 20090324389A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,483 Days
• Field of Search: 415/17, 415/118
• US Class Current: 415/118
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 17/085 to temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 5/08 Heating, heat-insulating or cooling means specially adapted for radial flow machines or engines F01D5/04
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 9/00 Controlling gas-turbine plants; Controlling fuel supply in air- breathing jet-propulsion plants controlling air intakes F02C7/057; controlling turbines F01D; controlling compressors F04D27/00; controlling in general G05
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 27/001 Testing thereof; Determination or simulation of flow characteristics; Stall or surge detection, e.g. condition monitoring

Abstract

A method of establishing a wheel space temperature alarm in a turbomachine includes calculating an expected wheel space temperature based on operating conditions, measuring an actual wheel space temperature, and signaling an over temperature condition if the actual wheel space temperature exceeds the expected wheel space temperature.

Claims

1. A method of establishing a wheel space temperature alarm in a turbomachine, the method comprising:

calculating an expected wheel space temperature based on cycle conditions;

measuring an actual wheel space temperature;

determining a turbomachine run time at each of a plurality of wheel space temperatures;

establishing a run time limit for each of the plurality of wheel space temperatures; and

signaling the over temperature condition if the turbomachine exceeds the run time limit for one of the plurality of wheel space temperatures.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a predetermined material limit for the wheel space; and

signaling the over temperature condition if the actual temperature exceeds the predetermined material limit.

3. A system for establishing a wheel space temperature alarm in a turbomachine, the system comprising:

a controller interconnected functionally via a system bus to;

an input/output (I/O) adapter connecting to at least one of a removable data storage device, a program storage device, and a mass data storage device;

a user interface adapter connecting to a keyboard and a mouse;

a display adapter connecting to a display device; and

at least one memory device thereupon stored a set of instructions which, when executed by the controller, causes the system to;

calculate an expected wheel space temperature based on operating conditions;

measure an actual wheel space temperature;

determine a turbomachine run time at each of a plurality of wheel space temperatures;

establish a run time limit for each of the plurality of wheel space temperatures; and

signal the over temperature condition if the turbomachine exceeds the run time limit for one of the plurality of wheel space temperatures.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the set of instructions which, when executed by the controller, causes the system to:

establish a predetermined material limit for the wheel space; and

signal the over temperature condition if the actual temperature exceeds the predetermined material limit.

5. A controller comprising:

a computer useable medium including a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed;

calculates an expected wheel space temperature based on operating conditions;

measures an actual wheel space temperature;

determines a turbomachine run time at each of a plurality of wheel space temperatures;

establishes a run time limit for each of the plurality of wheel space temperatures; and

signals the over temperature condition if the turbomachine exceeds the run time limit for one of the plurality of wheel space temperatures.

6. The controller according to claim 5, wherein the computer readable program when executed:

establishes a predetermined material limit for the wheel space; and

signals the over temperature condition if the actual temperature exceeds the predetermined material limit.