Doppler radar sensing system for monitoring turbine generator components

1. An apparatus for the non-destructive monitoring of a coated metallic turbine component, comprising:

an electromagnetic wave generator that generates an electromagnetic wave;

a transmitter arranged on a surface of a first turbine component and sized and configured to closely match an existing aerodynamic surface contour of the first turbine component and that transmits the generated electromagnetic wave from the first turbine component;

a second turbine component that receives the transmitted electromagnetic wave and reflects the electromagnetic wave;

a receiver that receives the reflected electromagnetic wave; and

a processor that interprets the received electromagnetic wave.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic wave generator is a Doppler radar and the electromagnetic wave generated is a microwave.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the transmitter and receiver is an antenna and is a horn antenna.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 , wherein a plurality of antennae are located on the surface of the turbine component and each antenna is adapted to send and receive the electromagnetic wave and transmit a signal to a processor.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the metallic turbine component is coated with a ceramic thermal barrier coating.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the metallic turbine component is a super-alloy blade or vane.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the transmitter and receiver are embodied as the same component.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the frequency of the generated electromagnetic wave is between of 1 giga hertz and 100 giga hertz.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the frequency of the generated electromagnetic wave is between 20 giga hertz and 50 giga hertz.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the radar generates and emits the electromagnetic wave continually, randomly, intermittently, or graduated.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a wave-guide comprises a plurality of sections having differing cross sectional geometries interconnected to form a continuous wave-guide.

12. A method for real time monitoring of damage to a turbine component in an operating turbine generator, comprising:

transmitting a signal in the form of an electromagnetic wave from a transmitter arranged on a surface of a first turbine component and sized and configured to closely match an existing aerodynamic surface contour of the a first component;

receiving the signal transmitted from the first component by a second component;

reflecting the transmitted signal off the second component back to the transmission source;

processing the transmitted and reflected signals to determine if the turbine component is damaged.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the first component is a turbine blade.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the second component is a turbine vane.