Granted Patent B2

US 9,071,888 · App. 13/015,782 · Granted Jun 30, 2015

Abstract

Claims (48)

1. A wireless telemetry system for monitoring operating conditions of a component of a combustion turbine engine having a compressor and a power turbine, the wireless telemetry system comprising:

a sensor in connection with the component;

a telemetry transmitter circuit affixed to the component;

an electrical connecting material on the component for routing electronic data signals from the sensor to the telemetry transmitter circuit, the electronic data signals indicative of a condition of the component;

a resonant energy transfer system for powering the telemetry transmitter circuit including a primary coil that transmits an oscillating current signal and is affixed to an area of the combustion turbine engine in spaced relation to a secondary coil comprising an electrically conductive material on the component in electrical communication with the telemetry transmitter circuit, wherein the secondary coil is in resonance at a same frequency as a transmitting frequency of the oscillating current signal;

a first data antenna affixed to the component and in electrical communication with the telemetry transmitter circuit routing the electronic data signals indicative of the condition of the component from the telemetry transmitter circuit to the first data antenna;

a second data antenna affixed to the area of the combustion turbine engine proximate and in spaced relation to the first data antenna that receives the electronic data signals, indicative of the condition of the component and transmitted from the first data antenna; and

wherein the telemetry transmitting circuit, the first data antenna and the secondary coil are on a same substrate affixed to the component, wherein the telemetry transmitting circuit, the first data antenna and the secondary coil on the same substrate and are housed in an RF transparent cover.

2. The wireless telemetry system of claim 1 , wherein the component is at least one rotating blade of a plurality of blades on a rotor disc in the power turbine and the at least one rotating blade having an airfoil portion across which expanding hot gas flows.

3. The wireless telemetry system of claim 2 , wherein the RF transparent cover, with the telemetry transmitter circuit, the secondary coil and the first data antenna, are mounted to an end face of the at least one rotating blade facing a stationary component on which the second data antenna is mounted.

4. The wireless telemetry system of claim 2 , wherein the telemetry transmitter circuit contained within an electronics package, and wherein a cover plate that is affixed to a mounting bracket are contained within a telemetry transmitter assembly, and wherein the cover plate has a flange oriented perpendicular to a direction of G-forces exerted on the telemetry transmitter assembly when the combustion turbine engine is in operation.

5. The wireless telemetry system of claim 4 , wherein the telemetry transmitter assembly comprising:

the mounting bracket having a first thermal expansion coefficient that is substantially a same as a thermal expansion coefficient of the at least one rotating blade; and,

the electronics package having a second thermal expansion coefficient different from the first thermal expansion coefficient, wherein the telemetry transmitter circuit is contained within the electronics package.

6. The wireless telemetry system of claim 5 , further comprising a layer of ceramic fiber woven fabric between the electronics package and an inside surface of the mounting bracket.

7. The wireless telemetry system of claim 2 , wherein the second data antenna is housed in the RF transparent cover affixed to a stationary component of the combustion turbine engine proximate the first data antenna.

8. The wireless telemetry system of claim 2 , wherein the first data antenna or the telemetry transmitter circuit are fixed to a location on the at least one rotating blade having an operation temperature of up to or about 500° C.

9. The wireless telemetry system of claim 1 , the secondary coil operates at a frequency of between approximately 150 kHz to 15 MHz.

10. The wireless telemetry system of claim 1 , wherein the second data antenna is supported in a holder composed of a non-conducting material mounted to a stationary component.

11. The wireless telemetry system of claim 1 , wherein the combustion turbine engine is a modular system including the compressor and the power turbine that are separable from one another.

12. A wireless telemetry system for monitoring operating conditions of a component of a combustion turbine engine having a compressor and a power turbine, the wireless telemetry system comprising:

a sensor in connection with a turbine blade attached to a rotor disc;

a telemetry transmitter circuit affixed to the turbine blade;

a first electrical connecting material deposited on the turbine blade for routing first electronic data signals from the sensor to the telemetry transmitter circuit, the first electronic data signals indicative of a condition of the turbine blade;

a resonant energy transfer system for powering the telemetry transmitter circuit;

a first data antenna affixed to the turbine blade or the rotor disc and in electrical communication with the telemetry transmitter circuit for routing the first electronic data signals from the telemetry transmitter circuit to the first data antenna; and

a second data antenna positioned on a stationary surface of the compressor or the power turbine proximate to and in spaced relation to the first data antenna for receiving the first electronic data signals from the first data antenna,

wherein the resonant energy transfer system includes a primary coil that transmits an oscillating current signal and is affixed to a stationary location of the power turbine or the compressor proximate to and in spaced relation to a secondary coil comprising an electrically conductive material affixed to the rotor disc wherein the secondary coil is in resonance at a same transmitting frequency as the oscillating current signal; and

wherein the telemetry transmitter circuit is formed on a substrate affixed to the rotor disc, the first data antenna and the secondary coil are disposed on the same substrate as that of the telemetry transmitter circuit, and wherein the telemetry transmitter circuit, the secondary coil and the first data antenna are housed in an RF transparent cover affixed to the turbine blade or the rotor disc.

13. The wireless telemetry system of claim 12 , wherein the turbine blade one of a plurality of blades is integrally formed with the rotor disc forming a blisk in a modular turbine machine wherein the compressor and the power turbine are separable from one another.

14. The wireless telemetry system of claim 12 , wherein the telemetry transmitter circuit is a first telemetry transmitter circuit and the wireless telemetry system further comprises:

a second telemetry transmitter circuit affixed to the stationary location of the compressor or the power turbine proximate and in electrical communication with the second data antenna;

a power source in electrical communication with the second telemetry transmitter circuit;

one or more sensors positioned on stationary components of the compressor or the power turbine that transmit second electronic data signals indicative of a condition of the stationary components to the second telemetry transmitter circuit;

wherein the second telemetry transmitter circuit routes the second electronic data signals indicative of the condition of the stationary components to the second data antenna; and,

the second data antenna transmits the second electronic data signals indicative of the condition of the stationary components to a receiver mounted in a casing of the compressor or the power turbine.

15. The wireless telemetry system of claim 14 , wherein the second data antenna is disposed on a same substrate supporting the second telemetry transmitter circuit.

16. The wireless telemetry system of claim 14 , wherein rotating components and the stationary components of the compressor or the power turbine are disposed within the casing and the system comprises the receiver mounted within the casing and the second data antenna is a transceiver and transmits the first electronic data signals indicative of the condition of the turbine blade and the second electronic data signals indicative of the condition of the stationary components to the receiver.

17. A wireless telemetry system for monitoring operating conditions of a component of a combustion turbine engine having a compressor and a power turbine including stationary and rotating components housed within one or more casings, the wireless telemetry system comprising:

a sensor in connection with a turbine blade wherein the turbine blade includes an airfoil portion operatively connected to a rotor disc;

a telemetry transmitter circuit affixed to the turbine blade;

an electrical connecting material on the turbine blade for routing electronic data signals from the sensor to the telemetry transmitter circuit, the electronic data signals indicative of a condition of the turbine blade;

a resonant energy transfer system for powering the telemetry transmitter circuit, the resonant energy transfer system comprising a power receiving device and a power transmitting device, wherein the power transmitting device is affixed to a stationary location in the power turbine or the compressor that transmits an oscillating current signal and is affixed to the one or more casings of the power turbine or the compressor in spaced relation to the power receiving device,

wherein the power receiving device is in resonance at a same frequency as a transmitting frequency of the oscillating current signal, and wherein the telemetry transmitter circuit is fabricated on a substrate and the power receiving device is on the same substrate;

a first data antenna fabricated on the same substrate as the telemetry transmitter circuit and the power receiving device, and the first data antenna is in electrical communication with the telemetry transmitter circuit for routing the electronic data signals from the telemetry transmitter circuit to the first data antenna;

a second data antenna positioned on a stationary surface of the compressor or the power turbine proximate to and in spaced relation to the first data antenna for receiving the electronic data signals from the first data antenna; and

wherein the telemetry transmitter circuit, the first data antenna and the power receiving device are on the same substrate and are housed in an RF transparent cover that is affixed to the rotor disc.

18. The wireless telemetry system of claim 17 , wherein the resonant energy transfer system operates within the power turbine or the compressor at a location having an operating temperature of up to about 500° C. and the power receiving device operates at a resonant frequency of between 250 kHz to 15 MHz.

Assignments (11)