Systems and methods for managing turbine intake filters

• US 9,387,426 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2013
• Issued: 07/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Parker Intangibles LLC (Parker-Hannifin Corporation)
• Original Assignee: BHA Altair LLC (Parker-Hannifin Corporation)
• Inventors: Bryant, Paul Sherwood, Hiner, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): CLEMENTE, ROBERT ARTHUR
• Application Number:
  US14/082,995
• Publication Number:
  US 20150135948A1
• Time in Patent Office: 967 Days
• Field of Search: 964/17
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2279/60 for the intake of internal combustion engines or turbines intake systems for vehicles comprising filters F02M35/024
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0086 Filter condition indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/444 by flow measuring
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/71 with pressurised gas, e.g. pulsed air
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 21/10 responsive to unwanted deposits on blades, in working-fluid conduits or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 21/14 responsive to other specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/052 with dust-separation devices

Abstract

Certain embodiments herein relate to systems and methods for managing turbine intake filters. In one embodiment, a system can include at least one memory configured to store computer-executable instructions and at least one controller configured to access the at least one memory and execute the computer-executable instructions. The instructions may be configured to monitor an indication associated with air flow through at least one filter of a turbine intake system. The instructions may be further configured to facilitate in the execution of at least management task of the turbine intake system, based at least in part on the indication of air flow through the filter.

Claims

1. A system of managing turbine intake filters, the system comprising:

an intake arrangement including a plurality of filters. each one of the plurality of filters defining a clean fluid side, the clean fluid side of the plurality of filters in fluid communication with one another;

a plurality of devices, each device being associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of filters, the device being on the clean fluid side of the corresponding one of the plurality of filters, the device providing an indication based at least in part on a velocity of air flow through the corresponding one of the plurality of filters on the clean fluid side relating to a status of the corresponding one of the plurality of filters; and

at least one control device operable to detect or receive the indications from each the plurality of devices.

2. The system of claim 1, further including a plurality of pulse valves wherein at least one of the plurality of pulse valves may be manipulated based at least in part on detection or receipt of the indication of one of the devices.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the indication comprises at least one of (i) an acoustic signal or (ii) a vibrational signal.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one control device is further operable to detect or receive a plurality of indications from the devices.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one control device is further operable to determine a variance of the velocity of air flow based at least in part on the detected or received indication and a predefined threshold associated with each one of the plurality of filters.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the at least one control device is further operable to signal replacement of an individual one of the plurality of filters based at least in part upon the determined variance of the velocity of air flow through the individual one of the plurality of filters and the predefined threshold associated with the individual one of the plurality of filters.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one control device is further operable to manipulate at least one of the plurality of pulse valves.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one control device is operable to signal replacement of an individual one of the plurality of filters based on the indication from the device associated with the individual one of the plurality of filters.

9. A method of managing turbine intake filters, the method comprising:

filtering at least one turbine intake using a plurality of filters, each one of the plurality of filters defining a clean fluid side, the clean fluid side of the plurality of filters in fluid communication with one another, the plurality of filters having a plurality of devices associated therewith, each device being associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of filters;

generating, by each device, an indication based at least in part on a velocity of air flow through the corresponding one of the plurality of filters on the clean fluid side relating to a status of the corresponding one of the plurality of filters

monitoring, by at least one monitoring device associated with the plurality of filters, the indications of each one of the devices.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising pulsing at least one of the plurality of filters based at least in part on the indication of the device corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of filters.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein generating the indication further comprises at least one of generating (i) an acoustic signal or (ii) a vibrational signal.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one monitoring device is further operable to monitor indications from the devices.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising determining a variance of the velocity of the air flow based at least in part on the detected or received indication and a predefined threshold associated with each one of plurality of filters.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one monitoring device is further operable to direct the pulsing of at least one of the plurality of pulse valves.