Patent ID: 6494046
Filing Date: 2002-12-17
Classification: F01D,F05D

Abstract:
Method associated with the detection of a shaft failure in a turbomachine, in which a torque-exerting turbine rotor and a torque-recipient unit are connected via a shaft to be monitored for failure, wherein the shaft is supported essentially at the ends in at least two roller bearings, the method comprising:determining rotational frequencies of the two shaft ends in the roller bearings by sensing and analyzing a vibration spectrum of each roller bearing, and comparing the rotational frequencies continually and essentially in real time; and inferring a failure of the shaft if the rotational frequency of the shaft end in the roller bearing on a side of a turbine rotor exceeds the rotational frequency of the shaft end in the roller bearing on the side of the torque-recipient unit by a predetermined amount.