Frame foot loading measurement system using fiber optic sensing technique
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A strain measuring device comprising:
- an optical signal path having a first end and a second end;
a strain module comprising;
a first fiber Bragg grating in the optical signal path between the first end and the second end; and
a second fiber Bragg grating in the optical signal path between the first fiber Bragg grating and the second end; and
a housing configured to substantially enclose the strain module;
wherein the housing has an outer surface configured to be mechanically attached to a surface of a support gusset of a generator.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fiber Bragg grating (FBG) based sensor is used as a strain sensing element to determine frame foot loading of a generator. Three FBGs may be used in tandem to form a basic Frame Foot Loading Module (FFL Module). Two modules are fixed on each vertical support gusset at the corner of the generator frame, with one module on the front of the gusset and a second module on the back of the gusset. Thus, each gusset may be instrumented with six FBG strain gauges or sensors. The gussets are chosen on each of the four corners of the generator. For two-pole generators the first three gussets at each corner may be used and, for four-pole generators the first four gussets may be used.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A strain measuring device comprising:
-
an optical signal path having a first end and a second end; a strain module comprising; a first fiber Bragg grating in the optical signal path between the first end and the second end; and a second fiber Bragg grating in the optical signal path between the first fiber Bragg grating and the second end; and a housing configured to substantially enclose the strain module;
wherein the housing has an outer surface configured to be mechanically attached to a surface of a support gusset of a generator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A strain measuring device comprising:
-
a plurality of modules, each module comprising; an optical signal path having a first end and a second end; at least one fiber Bragg grating in the optical signal path between the first end and the second end; and a housing configured to substantially enclose the at least one fiber Bragg grating;
wherein the housing has an outer surface configured to be mechanically attached to a surface of a support gusset of a generator;wherein the plurality of modules are arranged in a sequential chain of adjacent modules having a beginning module and an ending module to provide a single optical signal path; a light source coupled with the first end of the beginning module and configured to provide an incoming spectrum of light; a detector coupled with the first end of the beginning module and configured to receive a respective reflected signal from each of the plurality of modules corresponding the respective Bragg gratings; and a jumper fiber configured to optically couple the second end of each of the plurality of modules to the first end of its respective neighbor in the sequential chain, starting at the beginning module and stopping at the ending module. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A method of determining frame foot loading of a generator including a generator casing supported on a plurality of frame feet and including gussets extending between the generator casing and the frame feet, the method including:
-
attaching at least one frame foot loading module to each of a plurality of the gussets, the plurality of modules being arranged in a sequential chain of adjacent modules having a beginning module and an ending module to provide a single optical signal path;
each module comprising;an optical signal path having a first end and a second end; at least one fiber Bragg grating in the optical signal path between the first end and the second end; and a housing configured to substantially enclose the at least one fiber Bragg grating;
wherein the housing has an outer surface configured to be mechanically attached to a surface of a support gusset of a generator;coupling a light source with the first end of the beginning module, the light source configured to provide an incoming spectrum of light; coupling a detector with the first end of the beginning module, the detector configured to receive a respective reflected signal from each of the plurality of modules corresponding to the respective at least one fiber Bragg grating of each of the plurality of modules; and attaching a respective jumper fiber to optically couple the second end of each of the plurality of modules to the first end of its respective neighbor in the sequential chain, starting at the beginning module and stopping at the ending module. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification