Monitoring a dynamic parameter such as torque in a rotational system
A system is provided for a turbine engine. The system includes a rotor assembly and a monitoring system. The rotor assembly includes a plurality of rotor blades connected to a shaft. The monitoring system includes a processing system. This processing system is adapted to receive blade data indicative of a rotational position of at least a first of the rotor blades. The processing system is also adapted to process shaft data with the blade data to provide torque data indicative of a torque to which at least a portion of the rotor assembly is being subjected, where the shaft data is indicative of a rotational position of the shaft.
1. A system for a turbine engine, the system comprising:
a rotor assembly including a plurality of rotor blades connected to a shaft; and
a monitoring system including a processing system adapted to
receive blade data indicative of a rotational position of at least a first of the rotor blades; and
process shaft data with the blade data to provide torque data indicative of a torque to which at least a portion of the rotor assembly is being subjected, wherein the shaft data is indicative of a rotational position of the shaft.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein
the processing system is adapted to determine an estimated time of arrival for the first of the rotor blades from the shaft data; and
the processing system is adapted to dete imine an actual time of arrival for the first of the rotor blades from the blade data.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein
the processing system is adapted to compare the estimated time of arrival with the actual time of arrival to provide the torque data; and
the torque is directly proportional to a difference between the estimated time of arrival and the actual time of arrival.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processing system is adapted to process the torque data to determine efficiency and/or horsepower of the rotor assembly.
5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a gear train connected to the rotor assembly;
wherein the shaft transfers the torque from the gear train to the rotor blades.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein
the monitoring system includes a shaft sensor that provides the shaft data; and
the shaft sensor is located at an interface between the shaft and the gear train.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the monitoring system includes a non-contact sensor that provides the shaft data.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the monitoring system includes a once per revolution sensor that provides the shaft data.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the monitoring system includes a memory in which the shaft data is stored.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the monitoring system includes a blade sensor that provides the blade data.
11. The system of claim 10 , further comprising:
a case housing the rotor blades;
wherein the blade sensor is mounted with the case.
12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the blade sensor comprises a non-contact sensor.
13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the blade sensor comprises a blade tip time of arrival sensor.
14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the rotor blades comprise fan blades of the turbine engine.
15. A monitoring system for a rotor assembly including a plurality of rotor blades arranged around and connected to a shaft, the monitoring system comprising:
a blade sensor that provides blade data indicative of a rotational position of at least a first of the rotor blades; and
a processing system that processes shaft data with the blade data to provide torque data indicative of a torque to which at least a portion of the rotor assembly is being subjected;
wherein the shaft data is indicative of a rotational position of the shaft.
16. The monitoring system of claim 15 , wherein the processing system
processes the shaft data to determine an estimated time of arrival for the first of the rotor blades;
processes the blade data to determine an actual time of arrival for the first of the rotor blades; and
compares the estimated time of arrival with the actual time of arrival to determine the torque data.
17. The monitoring system of claim 15 , wherein the processing system processes the torque data to determine efficiency and/or horsepower of the rotor assembly.
18. The monitoring system of claim 15 , further comprising a shaft sensor that provides the shaft data.
19. A method involving a rotor assembly comprising a plurality of rotor blades connected to a shaft, the method comprising:
rotating the shaft and the rotor blades about a centerline of the shaft;
receiving blade data indicative of a rotational position of at least a first of the rotor blades; and
processing shaft data with the blade data to provide torque data indicative of a torque to which at least a portion of the rotor assembly is being subjected during operation, wherein the shaft data is indicative of a rotational position of the shaft.
20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising processing the torque data to determine efficiency of the rotor assembly, wherein the rotor blades comprise fan blades of a geared turbine engine in which the rotor assembly is included.