Method and systems for detection of compressor surge

• US 9,528,913 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2014
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology, LLC (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Heda, Sanjeev Shyam, Backman, Steven William, Mckeever, Matthew John, Wood, Scott Alan, Yon, Carlo Angelo, Iasillo, Robert Joseph, Childs, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): MCCALL, ERIC SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US14/340,289
• Publication Number:
  US 20160025596A1
• Time in Patent Office: 887 Days
• Field of Search: 731/120.1, 731/120.3, 731/120.5, 731/120.6
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 21/003 Arrangements for testing or measuring for measuring vibrations G01H
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 15/14 Testing gas-turbine engines or jet-propulsion engines
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0232 based on qualitative trend analysis, e.g. system evolution
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0235 based on a comparison with predetermined threshold or range, e.g. "classical methods", carried out during normal operation; threshold adaptation or choice; when or how to compare with the threshold

Abstract

A system for remote detection of surge in a fleet of turbine engines includes an on-site monitoring device coupled to each turbine engine of the fleet of turbine engines. The on-site monitoring device is configured to continuously receive operating parameter measurements indicative of operational and thermodynamic conditions of the turbine engine. The operational condition includes a compressor exit condition of the turbine engine compressor. The on-site monitoring device is configured to compile and transmit a snapshot of the operating parameter measurements to a remote monitoring unit. The remote monitoring unit is positioned remote from each turbine engine of the fleet of turbine engines. The remote monitoring unit is configured to receive the snapshot of operating parameter measurements from the on-site monitoring device. The remote monitoring unit is further configured to detect surge in the turbine engine based on analysis of the snapshot of operating parameter measurements.

Claims

1. A system for remote detection of surge in a fleet of turbine engines, said system comprising:

an on-site monitoring device coupled to each turbine engine of the fleet of turbine engines, said on-site monitoring device configured to continuously receive operating parameter measurements indicative of operational and thermodynamic conditions of the turbine engine, wherein said operational condition comprises a compressor exit condition of the turbine engine compressor, said on-site monitoring device further configured to compile and transmit a snapshot of said operating parameter measurements to a remote monitoring unit;

a remote monitoring unit remote from each turbine engine of the fleet of turbine engines, said remote monitoring unit configured to receive said snapshot of said operating parameter measurements from said on-site monitoring device, said remote monitoring unit further configured to detect surge in the turbine engine based on said snapshot of said operating parameter measurements; and

a plurality of sensors configured to transmit the operating parameter measurements to said on-site monitoring device,

wherein said remote monitoring unit performs data quality and out-of-range sensor checks on said snapshot of the operating parameter measurements to determine if said plurality of sensors are operating properly.

2. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said remote monitoring unit performs an operating mode check to determine if the turbine engine is in a correct operating mode for determining compressor surge.

3. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said on-site monitoring device analyzes said snapshot of said operating parameter measurements to determine if said operating parameter measurements are indicative of turbine engine surge.

4. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said plurality of sensors comprises one or more of the following:

pressure sensors, temperature sensors, and flame detector sensors.

5. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said remote monitoring unit analyzes said snapshot of said operating parameter measurements to determine if said operating parameter measurements are indicative of turbine engine surge.

6. The system in accordance with claim 5, wherein said remote monitoring unit analyzes said snapshot of said operating parameter measurements to determine if said compressor exit condition has exceeded a predetermined threshold over a predetermined period, said remote monitoring unit generating an escalation alarm indicating the presence of turbine engine surge in response to determining that said compressor exit condition has exceeded the predetermined threshold over the predetermined period.

7. The system in accordance with claim 5, wherein said operational condition further comprises a compressor inlet condition of the turbine engine compressor and said thermodynamic condition comprises an exhaust condition of the turbine engine.

8. The system in accordance with claim 7, wherein said remote monitoring unit analyzes said snapshot of said operating parameter measurements to determine if said compressor exit condition has exceeded a predetermined threshold over a predetermined period and said exhaust condition has exceeded a predetermined threshold over the predetermined period.

9. The system in accordance with claim 8, wherein said remote monitoring unit further analyzes said snapshot of said operating parameter measurements to determine if said compressor inlet condition has exceeded a predetermined threshold over the predetermined period, said remote monitoring unit generating an escalation alarm indicating the presence of turbine engine surge in response to determining that said compressor exit condition, said exhaust condition, and said compressor inlet condition has exceeded the predetermined thresholds over the predetermined period.

10. A method for remote detection of surge in a fleet of turbine engines, said method comprising:

monitoring operating parameters with a plurality of sensors coupled to each turbine engine of the fleet of turbine engines, the operating parameters indicative of an operational condition and a thermodynamic condition of each turbine engine of the fleet of turbine engines, the operational condition including a compressor exit condition;

continuously transmitting, to an on-site monitoring device, operating parameter measurements representative of the operational condition;

compiling the operating parameter measurements into a periodic snapshot of the operating parameter measurements;

transmitting, to a remote monitoring unit, the snapshot of operating parameter measurements;

performing a data quality and out-of-range sensor check on the snapshot of operating parameter measurements to determine if the plurality of sensors are operating properly; and

detecting surge in each turbine engine of the fleet of turbine engines based on the snapshot of operating parameter measurements.

11. The method in accordance with claim 10 further comprising storing the snapshot of operating parameter measurements in a database containing historical snapshots of operating parameter measurements obtained from each turbine engine.

12. The method in accordance with claim 10 further comprising determining if each turbine engine of the fleet of turbine engines is in a correct operating mode for determining compressor surge.

13. The method in accordance with claim 12, wherein determining if each turbine engine of the fleet of turbine engines is in a correct operating mode comprises comparing the snapshot of operating parameter measurements to one or more threshold levels in a table of threshold levels.

14. The method in accordance with claim 10, wherein detecting surge in each turbine engine comprises analyzing the snapshot of operating parameter measurements to determine if the operating parameter measurements are indicative of turbine engine surge.

15. The method in accordance with claim 14, wherein analyzing the snapshot of operating parameter measurements comprises analyzing the snapshot of operating parameter measurements using the on-site monitoring device to determine if the operating parameter measurements are indicative of turbine engine surge.

16. The method in accordance with claim 14, wherein analyzing the snapshot of operating parameter measurements comprises determining if the compressor exit condition has exceeded a predetermined threshold over a predetermined period.

17. The method in accordance with claim 16 further comprising generating an escalation alarm indicating the presence of turbine engine surge in response to determining that said compressor exit condition has exceeded the predetermined threshold over the predetermined period.

18. The method in accordance with claim 14, wherein analyzing the snapshot of operating parameter measurements further comprises determining if the compressor exit condition has exceeded a predetermined threshold over a predetermined period and the exhaust condition has exceeded a predetermined threshold over the predetermined period, wherein the operational condition further includes a compressor inlet condition of the turbine engine compressor and the thermodynamic condition includes an exhaust condition of the turbine engine.

19. The method in accordance with claim 18, further comprising determining if the compressor inlet condition has exceeded a predetermined threshold over the predetermined period.

20. The method in accordance with claim 19 further comprising generating an escalation alarm indicating the presence of turbine engine surge in response to determining that the compressor exit condition, the exhaust condition, and the compressor inlet condition has exceeded the predetermined thresholds over the predetermined period.