IP Library Granted Patent US 10,288,003
Granted Patent B1
US 10,288,003 · App. 15/796,124 · Granted May 14, 2019

System and method of valve wear detection

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,288,003
App. No.
15/796,124
Granted
May 14, 2019
Kind
B1
Abstract

A system includes a reciprocating engine having a piston disposed in a cylinder, an intake valve, an exhaust valve, and an exhaust flow path downstream of the exhaust valve. The system also includes a first sensor configured to obtain a first feedback indicative of an exhaust gas parameter in the exhaust flow path. The system also includes a controller configured to identify a valve wear condition of at least one of the intake valve or the exhaust valve at least partially based on the first feedback from the first sensor.

Claims (30)

1. A system, comprising:

a reciprocating engine having a piston disposed in a cylinder, an intake valve, an exhaust valve, and an exhaust flow path downstream of the exhaust valve;

a first sensor configured to obtain a first feedback indicative of an exhaust gas parameter in the exhaust flow path; and

a controller configured to identify a valve wear condition of at least one of the intake valve or the exhaust valve at least partially based on the first feedback from the first sensor, wherein the controller is configured to correlate the valve wear condition specifically to one valve of the intake valve or the exhaust valve.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the exhaust gas parameter comprises an exhaust gas composition.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the first sensor comprises an oxygen sensor, a fuel sensor, or a combination thereof.

4. The system of claim 2 , comprising a second sensor configured to obtain a second feedback indicative of an exhaust temperature in the exhaust flow path, wherein the controller is configured to identify the valve wear condition of at least one of the intake valve or the exhaust valve at least partially based on the first feedback from the first sensor and the second feedback from the second sensor.

5. The system of claim 4 , comprising a third sensor configured to obtain a third feedback indicative of an exhaust pressure in the exhaust flow path, wherein the controller is configured to identify the valve wear condition of at least one of the intake valve or the exhaust valve at least partially based on the first feedback from the first sensor, the second feedback from the second sensor, and the third feedback from the third sensor.

6. The system of claim 1 , comprising one or more additional sensors configured to obtain additional feedback indicative of an exhaust temperature, an exhaust pressure, a crank angle, a valve movement of the intake valve or the exhaust valve, or any combination thereof, wherein the controller is configured to identify the valve wear condition of at least one of the intake valve or the exhaust valve at least partially based on the first feedback from the first sensor and the additional feedback from the one or more additional sensors.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to compare the first feedback against one or more threshold values to help identify the valve wear condition of at least one of the intake valve or the exhaust valve.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to identify a specific piston-cylinder assembly among a plurality of piston-cylinder assemblies having the valve wear condition of at least one of the intake valve or the exhaust valve.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to generate an alert, an alarm, a control signal to the reciprocating engine, a maintenance request or schedule, or any combination thereof, in response to identification of the valve wear condition.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first sensor is coupled to an exhaust manifold having the exhaust flow path.

11. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising executable instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to:

obtain, from a first sensor, a first feedback indicative of an exhaust gas parameter in an exhaust flow path downstream from an exhaust valve of a reciprocating engine, wherein the reciprocating engine has a piston disposed in a cylinder, an intake valve, and the exhaust valve;

identify a valve wear condition of at least one of the intake valve or the exhaust valve at least partially based on the first feedback from the first sensor, wherein the exhaust gas parameter comprises an exhaust gas composition, wherein the exhaust gas composition comprises an oxygen content, a fuel content, or a combination thereof;

obtain, from a second sensor, a second feedback indicative of an exhaust temperature in the exhaust flow path;

identify the valve wear condition of at least one of the intake valve or the exhaust valve at least partially based on the first feedback from the first sensor and the second feedback from the second sensor;

obtain, from a third sensor, a third feedback indicative of an exhaust pressure in the exhaust flow path; and

identify the valve wear condition of at least one of the intake valve or the exhaust valve at least partially based on the first feedback from the first sensor, the second feedback from the second sensor, and the third feedback from the third sensor.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the executable instructions, when executed, cause the processor to:

obtain, from one or more additional sensors, an additional feedback indicative of an exhaust temperature, an exhaust pressure, a crank angle, a valve movement of the intake valve or the exhaust valve, or any combination thereof; and

identify the valve wear condition of at least one of the intake valve or the exhaust valve at least partially based on the first feedback from the first sensor and the additional feedback from the one or more additional sensors.

13. A method, comprising:

obtaining, from a first sensor, a first feedback indicative of an exhaust gas parameter in an exhaust flow path downstream from an exhaust valve of a reciprocating engine, wherein the reciprocating engine has a piston disposed in a cylinder, an intake valve, and the exhaust valve;

identifying a valve wear condition of at least one of the intake valve or the exhaust valve at least partially based on the first feedback from the first sensor, wherein the exhaust gas parameter comprises an exhaust gas composition, wherein the exhaust gas composition comprises an oxygen content, a fuel content, or a combination thereof;

obtaining, from a second sensor, a second feedback indicative of an exhaust temperature in the exhaust flow path;

identifying the valve wear condition of at least one of the intake valve or the exhaust valve at least partially based on the first feedback from the first sensor and the second feedback from the second sensor;

obtaining, from a third sensor, a third feedback indicative of an exhaust pressure in the exhaust flow path; and

identifying the valve wear condition of at least one of the intake valve or the exhaust valve at least partially based on the first feedback from the first sensor, the second feedback from the second sensor, and the third feedback from the third sensor.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE RECEIVING PARTY ENTITY PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 48489 FRAME: 001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Apr 11, 2019
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
To: AI ALPINE US BIDCO INC
Reel/Frame 049858/0407 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 3, 2019
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
To: AI ALPINE US BIDCO LLC
Reel/Frame 048489/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 30, 2017
From: SHRIVASTAVA, AMIT; KUMAR, CHANDAN; NANDIGAMA, PAVAN CHAKRAVARTHY
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Reel/Frame 043980/0071 →