FLAME DETECTOR LENS MAINTENANCE SYSTEM

A maintenance system for a flame detector in an enclosure for an industrial machine, such as turbomachine, is disclosed. The maintenance system may include a conduit having an inlet at an exterior of the enclosure and an outlet at an interior of the enclosure. The outlet is adjacent the flame detector. The maintenance system also includes a source of air and a valve fluidly coupling the inlet of the conduit and the source of air. The valve is configured to deliver a compressed air from the source of air through the outlet of the conduit onto a surface of the flame detector, thereby removing contaminants from the surface and/or cooling the surface. A controller can be provided to automatically operate the cleaning and cooling system when a fault signal is observed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 119(a) to Indian Application No. 202111045717, filed Oct. 7, 2021, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates generally to flame detectors and, more particularly, to a maintenance system for cleaning and/or cooling a lens of a flame detector for a turbomachinery application.

BACKGROUND

In certain industrial machines, infrared or ultraviolet flame detectors or sensors are typically used for the early detection of fire within an enclosure of the machine. For example, turbomachines such as gas turbine systems use flame detectors for the early detection of fire within an enclosure of the gas turbine system. The environment within the enclosures of these industrial machines can be hot, harsh, and dirty. Despite this environment, the lenses of these sensors must be kept clean and within an allowed temperature limit for accurate operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

All aspects, examples and features mentioned below can be combined in any technically possible way.

An aspect of the disclosure provides a maintenance system for a flame detector located on an enclosure of a turbomachine area, the maintenance system comprising: a first conduit having an inlet at an exterior of the enclosure and an outlet at an interior of the enclosure, the outlet adjacent the flame detector; a source of air; and a valve fluidly coupling the inlet of the first conduit and the source of air, wherein the valve is configured to deliver a compressed air from the source of air through the outlet of the first conduit onto a surface of the flame detector, thereby removing contaminants from the surface and/or cooling the surface.

Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and the valve includes a solenoid valve, and further comprising a controller operatively coupled to the flame detector and the solenoid valve, wherein the controller operates the solenoid valve to deliver the compressed air from the outlet of the first conduit onto the surface of the flame detector in response to a fault signal.

Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and the source of air includes air from a compressor, and the valve is fluidly coupled to a second conduit delivering instrument air from the interior of the enclosure.

Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and the source of air includes ambient surroundings of the enclosure, and wherein the enclosure has a negative pressure therein to create the compressed air from ambient air drawn into the first conduit through the valve.

Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and the valve is a manually operable valve.

Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, wherein the valve is a manually operable valve, the source of air includes air from a compressor, and the valve is fluidly coupled to a second conduit delivering the instrument air from the interior of the enclosure.

Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, wherein the valve is a manually operable valve, and the source of air includes ambient surroundings of the enclosure; and wherein the enclosure has a negative pressure therein to create the compressed air from ambient air drawn into the first conduit through the valve.

Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and the outlet of the first conduit includes at least one nozzle thereon.

Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and the valve is positioned at the exterior of the enclosure.

Another aspect of the disclosure relates to a maintenance system for a flame detector on an enclosure of a turbomachine area, the maintenance system comprising: a conduit having an inlet at an exterior the enclosure and an outlet at an interior of the enclosure, the outlet adjacent the flame detector; and a metering orifice on the inlet of the conduit, wherein the enclosure has a negative pressure therein to create a compressed air from ambient air drawn into the metering orifice, and wherein the compressed air exits through the outlet of the conduit onto a surface of the flame detector, thereby removing contaminants from the surface and/or cooling the surface.

Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and the outlet of the conduit includes at least one nozzle thereon.

Another aspect includes a system, comprising: a gas turbine (GT) system including: a compressor, a combustor assembly, and a gas turbine operatively coupled to the compressor and the combustor assembly; an enclosure for the GT system; a flame detector operatively coupled to the enclosure; and a maintenance system for the flame detector, the maintenance system including: a first conduit having an inlet at an exterior of the enclosure and an outlet at an interior of the enclosure, the outlet adjacent the flame detector; a source of air; and a valve fluidly coupling the inlet of the first conduit and the source of air, wherein the valve is configured to deliver a compressed air from the source of air through the outlet of the first conduit onto a surface of the flame detector, thereby removing contaminants from the surface and/or cooling the surface.

Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and the valve includes a solenoid valve, and further comprising a controller operatively coupled to the flame detector and the solenoid valve, wherein the controller operates the solenoid valve to deliver the compressed air from the outlet of the first conduit onto the surface of the flame detector in response to a fault signal.

Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and the source of air includes air from the compressor, and the valve is fluidly coupled to a second conduit delivering instrument air from the interior of the enclosure.

Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and the source of air includes ambient surroundings of the enclosure, and wherein the enclosure has a negative pressure therein to create the compressed air from ambient air drawn into the first conduit through the valve.

Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and the valve is a manually operable valve.

Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and the source of air includes the compressor, and the valve is fluidly coupled to a second conduit delivering instrument air from the interior of the enclosure.

Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, wherein the valve is a manually operable valve, and the source of air includes ambient surroundings of the enclosure; and wherein the enclosure has a negative pressure therein to create the compressed air from ambient air drawn into the first conduit through the valve.

Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and the outlet of the first conduit includes at least one nozzle thereon.

Another aspect of the disclosure includes any of the preceding aspects, and the valve is positioned at the exterior of the enclosure.

Two or more aspects described in this disclosure, including those described in this summary section, may be combined to form implementations not specifically described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. “Optional” or “optionally” means that the subsequently described event or circumstance may or may not occur or that the subsequently described component or element may or may not be present, and that the description includes instances where the event occurs or the component is present and instances where it does not or is not present.

As indicated above, the disclosure provides a maintenance system for a flame detector on an enclosure of, for example, a turbomachine. In certain embodiments, the maintenance system may include a conduit having an inlet at an exterior of the enclosure and an outlet at an interior of the enclosure. The outlet is adjacent the flame detector. The maintenance system also includes a source of air, and a valve fluidly coupling the inlet of the conduit and the source of air. The valve is configured to deliver a compressed air from the source of air through the outlet of the conduit onto a surface of the flame detector, thereby removing contaminants from the surface. A controller can be provided to automatically operate the maintenance system when a fault signal is observed. The maintenance system can be used to clean and/or to cool the lens of the flame detector; hence, while referred to as a ‘cleaning system’ herein for brevity, it may also be referenced herein as a ‘cleaning and cooling system’. The maintenance system is easy to install on any system, and the valve of the maintenance system is readily accessible from outside the system.

FIG.1shows a schematic view of an illustrative system90including a turbomachine in the form of a gas turbine (GT) system100within an enclosure132according to embodiments of the disclosure. Enclosure132can include any form of barrier for sealing off an area. Ventilation fan(s)133can pull air from enclosure132. While a GT system100will be described as an illustrative setting, it is emphasized that the teachings of the disclosure are applicable to a wide variety of industrial machines including other turbine systems and a wide variety of other devices such as pump skids, combustion engines, and other devices in which flame detection is desired.

FIG.1shows GT system100including a compressor102operatively coupled to a turbine104through a shared compressor/turbine shaft106. Compressor102is also fluidly connected to turbine104through a combustor assembly108. Hence, turbine104is operatively coupled to compressor102and combustor assembly108. Combustor assembly108may include any now known or later developed combustor(s)110such as, but not limited to, a can annular combustor system including several can combustors in an annular array about the shaft106or an annular combustor system. Hence, combustor assembly108may be mounted to GT system100in a wide range of configurations including, but not limited to, being arranged in a can-annular array. Compressor102includes a plurality of compressor rotor wheels112. Rotor wheels112include a first stage compressor rotor wheel114having a plurality of first stage compressor rotor blades116each having an associated airfoil portion118. Stationary blades (not shown) within compressor102can direct air through compressor102against compressor rotor blades116of compressor102. Similarly, turbine104includes a plurality of turbine rotor wheels120including a first stage turbine wheel122having a plurality of turbine blades124, e.g., provided as first stage turbine rotor blades. Stationary blades (not shown) within turbine104can direct gases through turbine104against turbine blades124of turbine104.

A flame detector130identifies the presence of a flame. As shown inFIG.1, flame detector130may be employed in one or more locations looking into an interior146of enclosure132(two shown, one in dashed lines, but could be one or more than two). For example, flame detector130may be operatively coupled on enclosure132from outside or inside to determine the presence of a flame due to various reasons such as, but not limited to, leakage of a gas turbine fuel system. Flame detector130may include any now known or later developed infrared or ultraviolet flame light detectors.

FIG.2shows a schematic view of a maintenance system134for cleaning and/or cooling flame detector130for GT system100(FIG.1) according to embodiments of the disclosure. InFIG.2, flame detector130is illustrated on an outside of enclosure132and looking into interior146through an opening138. Hence, in certain embodiments, flame detector130is positioned on enclosure132from outside, i.e., it extends outwardly from the outside of enclosure132. As will be described herein, flame detector130may alternatively be mounted inside enclosure132, see e.g.,FIG.8. Flame detector130may be mounted using any now known or later developed mounting system136such as, but not limited to, a mounting flange.

During operation, contaminants142may accumulate on a surface143of a lens(es)144of flame detector130that is directed into interior146of enclosure132in which a flame is anticipated. In most drawings, lens144is shown as a singular element, but it may include several lenses144(see e.g.,FIG.7), all of which may be cleaned using maintenance system134described herein. Contaminants142may include dirt, soot, or any other material that may cause a fault of flame detector130, such as inoperability (e.g., loss of field of view) or other non-optimal operation thereof (e.g., lack of clear view). Where contaminants142create a fault of flame detector130, flame detector130may create a fault signal148indicative of the fault's presence. Alternatively, or in addition to the above-described scenario, flame detector130may also create fault signal148where it is overheating and requires cooling (using maintenance system134). Flame detector130may generate fault signal148indicative of overheating or may send a temperature signal149that is used by a controller182to determine whether a fault is observed and to deliver compressed air170to cool lens(es)144, e.g., by determining whether the temperature is above a desired temperature. In this latter case, controller182generates the fault signal.

Maintenance system134may include a conduit150(first conduit) having an inlet152, as shown in this example, at an exterior154of enclosure132, and an outlet156at interior146of enclosure132. Conduit150may pass through enclosure132in a sealed manner via any now known or later developed fashion.

Maintenance system134also includes a source of air160. Source of air160is a continuous source of air, indicating the air flow is not intermittent as would be the case where structures other than a valve162, described herein, may be present. In certain embodiments, source of air160can be some form of a compressor102,168. For example, as shown inFIG.1, source of air160can include an instrument air164from, for example, compressor102of GT system100. Instrument air164may be obtained from any location within GT system100, e.g., a plenum of combustor(s)110(not shown). In other embodiments, an independent compressor168(shown in dashed lines) may be source of air160. Independent compressor168may be inside or outside of enclosure132. In yet other embodiments, as will be described, source of air160may be ambient surroundings of enclosure132, i.e., exterior154of enclosure132.

Continuing withFIG.2, maintenance system134may also include valve162fluidly coupling inlet152of conduit150and source of air160. Valve162, regardless of form, is positioned at exterior154of enclosure132, making it readily accessible from outside of GT system100in this example application. InFIG.2, source of air160includes a conduit166(second conduit) extending from interior146of enclosure132to valve162in a sealed manner. Valve162is fluidly coupled to conduit166for delivering instrument air164to interior146of enclosure132. Valve162is configured to deliver a compressed air170from source of air160through outlet156of conduit150onto surface(s)143of flame detector130, e.g., of lens(es)144, to clean and/or cool surface(s)143. Compressed air170has sufficient force to remove enough contaminants142from surface(s)143and/or to cool lens(es)144to, e.g., alleviate issues that may be causing fault signal148or other issues. Compressed air170also has temperature and flow rate to cool surface(s)143of lens(es)144or other parts of flame detector130. As will described relative toFIG.7, outlet156may be branched into any number of openings to clean any number of surfaces143and/or lenses144used.

InFIG.2, valve162includes a solenoid valve180. Solenoid valve180may include any now known or later developed electrically operable valve. Maintenance system134may also include a controller182operatively coupled to flame detector130and solenoid valve180. Controller182operates solenoid valve180to deliver compressed air170from outlet156of conduit150onto surface143of flame detector130in response to fault signal148. That is, compressed air170is delivered to clean and/or cool surface143when flame detector130has a fault. Controller182sends an operation signal184to open or close solenoid valve180as appropriate. Otherwise, compressed air170is not delivered to surface143.

Controller182can take a variety of forms. For example, inFIG.2, controller182may include part(s) of a fire alarm control panel (FACP)186and a turbine control panel (TCP)188. In alternative embodiments, controller182may be a free-standing controller. In any event, controller182includes any electronic control device(s) and/or logic capable of operating solenoid valve180, as described herein. Fault signal148and operation signal184may be communicated in any fashion, e.g., through wires or wirelessly. The duration that compressed air170is directed toward or onto or across surface143can be user defined, e.g., a set time interval, until fault signal148is alleviated, etc.

In another embodiment, rather than providing compressed air170in response to a fault signal148, controller182may proactively provide compressed air170to surface143of the lens144at a prescribed time interval (e.g., every “x” hours) or at an interval based on operating time of the gas turbine100. Controller182may take into account the type of fuel being combusted by the combustors110in determining or adjusting the maintenance interval.

Referring toFIG.3, a schematic view of another embodiment of maintenance system134is illustrated. Here, source of air160includes ambient surroundings of enclosure132, i.e., exterior154of enclosure132. Enclosure132is ventilated by way of ventilation fan(s)133(FIG.1) that pull air from enclosure132thereby creating a negative pressure190therein. Negative pressure190can create compressed air170from ambient air drawn into conduit150through solenoid valve180. Controller182operates as described relative toFIG.2.

FIGS.4and5show schematic views of other embodiments of maintenance system134. InFIGS.4and5, solenoid valve180(FIGS.2-3) has been replaced by a manually operable valve192. Controller182is also removed. Manually operable valve192is accessible from exterior154of enclosure132. InFIG.4, source of air160includes air164from a compressor. In one example, the compressor may include compressor102(FIG.1) of GT system100(FIG.1). In another example, source of air160may include air164from an independent compressor168(shown in dashed lines). Independent compressor168may be inside or outside of enclosure132. In any event, valve192is fluidly coupled to conduit166delivering air164from interior146(or exterior154) of enclosure132. Manually operable valve192is normally closed, preventing compressed air170from being directed onto surface143. When a user determines cleaning or cooling is required, manually operable valve192may be opened for a period of time to clean or cool, e.g., surface(s)143. InFIG.5, source of air160includes ambient surroundings of enclosure132, i.e., exterior154. Here, enclosure132has negative pressure190therein to create compressed air170from ambient air drawn into conduit150through valve192.

Referring toFIG.6, in another embodiment, valve162can be replaced with a metering orifice200on inlet152of conduit150. As noted, enclosure132has negative pressure190therein. Metering orifice200may be any now known or later developed device for allowing a controlled flow of air into inlet152of conduit150under the influence of negative pressure190in enclosure132. Negative pressure190creates compressed air170from ambient air drawn into (and through) metering orifice200. Compressed air170exits through outlet156of conduit150onto surface(s)143of flame detector130, thereby removing contaminants142from surface(s)143, and/or cooling surface(s)143, other parts of flame detector130, or both. TheFIG.6embodiment works continuously.

It will be noted that compressed air170can be directed onto, toward, or across surface(s)143or other parts of flame detector130to remove contaminants142and/or cool flame detector130. In one embodiment, as shown inFIG.7, outlet156of conduit150may include any number of branches208to direct compressed air170at any number of locations.FIG.7also shows that outlet156and/or branches208thereof may optionally include at least one nozzle210thereon. Nozzle(s)210can include any now known or later developed air nozzles to direct compressed air170or further compress the air. Any number of nozzle(s)210can be used.

In the previous embodiments, flame detector130was illustrated as outside enclosure132and looking through opening138(FIGS.2-6) in enclosure132. As noted, and as shown inFIG.8, flame detector130may be mounted inside enclosure132, for example, by a mounting system136. TheFIG.8embodiment may employ any of the previously described arrangements of maintenance system134, which are collectively shown schematically by dashed box218.

Conduits150,166described herein can be any now known or later developed tubing, piping, ducts, etc., capable of delivering air and withstanding the environment in which employed. As an option, any conduit150,166may include a filter220therein to filter air passing therethrough.

Embodiments of the disclosure provide a maintenance system for a flame detector that is easy to add to any GT system and easy to access from outside of the enclosure. The maintenance system can clean and/or cool parts of the flame detector.