HOT GAS PATH MEASUREMENT

• US 20130042668A1
• Filed: 08/16/2011
• Published: 02/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Johns, David Richard, Phillips, James Stewart, Lomas, Ariel Harter
• Granted Patent: US 8,678,644 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/25.05
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/14 Supports; Fastening devices; Arrangements for mounting thermometers in particular locations
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/02 for measuring temperature of moving fluids or granular materials capable of flow
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/024 of moving gases

Abstract

A hot gas path measurement apparatus is provided and includes a substrate having a coating applied on a surface thereof such that the coating is interposed between the substrate and a hot gas path; and a measurement device fixed in a recess formed in the substrate, the measurement device including a sensor, and a holder configured to position the sensor in an alignment condition with a plane of a surface of the coating or at least partially within a span of the hot gas path.

Claims

1. A hot gas path measurement apparatus, comprising:

a substrate having a coating applied on a surface thereof such that the coating is interposed between the substrate and a hot gas path; and

a measurement device fixed in a recess formed in the substrate, the measurement device including;

a sensor, and

a holder configured to position the sensor in an alignment condition with a plane of a surface of the coating or at least partially within a span of the hot gas path.

2. The hot gas path measurement apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a surface of the holder has a raised profile relative to the plane of the surface of the coating.

3. The hot gas path measurement apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a surface of the holder is substantially flush with the plane of the surface of the coating.

4. The hot gas path measurement apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the holder comprises:

an insulator having a recess formed therein;

a holding agent disposed within the recess to secure the sensor therein; and

a coating patch surrounding the insulator.

5. The hot gas path measurement apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a bonding agent to bond the holder to the substrate and/or the coating.

6. The hot gas path measurement apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the holder has a rough exterior surface.

7. The hot gas path measurement apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a thermocouple.

8. A hot gas path temperature measurement apparatus, comprising:

a base metal having a thermal barrier coating (TBC) applied on a surface thereof such that the TBC is interposed between the base metal and a hot gas path; and

a temperature measurement device fixed in a recess formed in the base metal, the temperature measurement device including;

one or more of a thermocouple and a thermal crystal, and

a holder configured to position the one or more of the thermocouple and the thermal crystal in an alignment condition with a plane of a surface of the TBC or at least partially within a span of the hot gas path.

9. The hot gas path temperature measurement apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the holder has a raised profile relative to the plane of the surface of the TBC.

10. The hot gas path measurement apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the holder is substantially flush with the plane of the surface of the TBC.

11. The hot gas path temperature measurement apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the holder comprises:

an insulator having a recess formed therein;

a holding agent disposed within the recess to secure the one or more of the thermocouple and the thermal crystal therein; and

a TBC patch surrounding the insulator.

12. The hot gas path temperature measurement apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the insulator comprises quartz.

13. The hot gas path temperature measurement apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the holding agent comprises cement.

14. The hot gas path temperature measurement apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a bonding agent to bond the holder to the base metal and/or the TBC.

15. The hot gas path temperature measurement apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the holder has a rough exterior surface.

16. A method for use in a measurement of a hot gas path, the method comprising:

applying a coating to a surface of a substrate such that the coating is interposed between the substrate and a hot gas path;

forming a recess in the coating and the substrate; and

fixing a measurement device in the recess such that a sensor thereof is in an alignment condition with a plane of a surface of the coating or at least partially within a span of the hot gas path.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the sensor comprises one or more of a thermocouple and a thermal crystal, the method further comprising:

locating the one or more of the thermocouple and the thermal crystal following exposure to the hot gas path; and

inspecting the one or more of the thermocouple and the thermal crystal to measure a temperature of the hot gas path.