System and method for adjusting compressor inlet fluid temperature

1. A system comprising:

a radiation detector array directed toward a fluid flow into a compressor, wherein the radiation detector array is configured to output a signal indicative of a two-dimensional temperature profile of the fluid flow; and

a controller communicatively coupled to the radiation detector array, wherein the controller is configured to detect a temperature variation across the fluid flow based on the signal, and to adjust a parameter of a temperature control device to compensate for the detected temperature variation.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the radiation detector array comprises a plurality of thermopile elements.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the radiation detector array is configured to detect thermal radiation having a wavelength within an infrared spectrum.

4. The system of claim 1 , comprising an optical focusing device configured to focus thermal radiation from the fluid flow onto the radiation detector array.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to detect the temperature variation if a first temperature difference between a first region of the fluid flow and an average temperature of the fluid flow exceeds a first threshold value, if a second temperature difference between the first region of the fluid flow and a second region of the fluid flow exceeds a second threshold value, or a combination thereof.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the temperature control device is configured to vary a first temperature of the first region of the fluid flow, to vary a second temperature of the second region of the fluid flow, or a combination thereof, to decrease the first temperature difference below the first threshold value, to decrease the second temperature difference below the second threshold value, or a combination thereof.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the temperature control device comprises an inlet bleed heat system, a fogger system, a chiller system, an evaporative cooling system, or a combination thereof.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the temperature control device comprises a secondary fluid injection system configured to inject a heated or cooled secondary fluid into the fluid flow.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the parameter of the temperature control device comprises a temperature of the secondary fluid, a flow rate of the secondary fluid, or a combination thereof.

10. The system of claim 1 , comprising a gas turbine engine having the compressor.

11. A system comprising:

an inlet configured to provide an air flow to a compressor;

a temperature control device in fluid communication with the inlet, wherein the temperature control device is configured to vary a two-dimensional temperature profile of the air flow;

a radiation detector array directed toward a cross-section of the inlet downstream from the temperature control device and substantially perpendicular to a direction of the air flow, wherein the radiation detector array is configured to output a signal indicative of the two-dimensional temperature profile of the air flow; and

a controller communicatively coupled to the radiation detector array and the temperature control device, wherein the controller is configured to detect a temperature variation across the air flow based on the signal, and to adjust a parameter of the temperature control device to compensate for the detected temperature variation.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the radiation detector array comprises a plurality of thermopile elements.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to detect the temperature variation if a temperature difference between a region of the two-dimensional temperature profile and an average temperature of the two-dimensional temperature profile exceeds a threshold value.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the temperature control device is configured to vary a temperature of the region to decrease the temperature difference below the threshold value.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the temperature control device comprises an inlet bleed heat system, a fogger system, a chiller system, an evaporative cooling system, a secondary fluid injection system, or a combination thereof.

16. A method comprising:

measuring thermal radiation of an air flow into a compressor via a radiation detector array;

determining a two-dimensional temperature profile of the air flow based on the measurement;

detecting a temperature variation across the air flow based on the two-dimensional temperature profile; and

adjusting a parameter of a temperature control device to compensate for the detected temperature variation.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein detecting the temperature variation across the air flow comprises:

computing a first temperature difference between a first region of the air flow and an average temperature of the air flow, computing a second temperature difference between the first region of the air flow and a second region of the air flow, or a combination thereof; and

comparing the first temperature difference, the second temperature difference, or a combination thereof, to a threshold value indicative of the temperature variation.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein adjusting the parameter of the temperature control device comprises adjusting a fluid flow into an inlet bleed heat system, a fogger system, a chiller system, an evaporative cooling system, or a combination thereof.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein adjusting the parameter of the temperature control device comprises adjusting a flow rate of secondary fluid into the air flow, adjusting a temperature of the secondary fluid, or a combination thereof.

20. The method of claim 16 , comprising generating and displaying a graphical or numerical representation of the two-dimensional temperature profile of the air flow.