Method and system for rotation tracking of a turbomachine component

Disclosed is a method for tracking rotation of a turbomachine component including locating at least one tilt sensor at the turbomachine component and rotating the turbomachine component about a central axis to observe a portion of interest on the turbomachine component. The at least one tilt sensor detects an angle of rotation of the turbomachine component and transmits the angle of rotation from the at least one tilt sensor to a device which converts the angle of rotation to an indicia of the portion of interest. Further disclosed is a rotor including at least one tilt sensor and a system for tracking rotation of a turbomachine component including at least one tilt sensor and a device.

BACKGROUND

The subject invention relates generally to turbomachinery. More particularly, the subject invention relates to tracking of rotating components in turbomachinery.

Turbomachines undergo periodic inspections during which, among other things, turbine rotors are inspected for flaws or damage to their airfoils, or buckets. During a typical inspection, a technician will utilize a borescope or other means inserted into the turbomachine through a portal to visually inspect the buckets. While peering through the borescope, the rotor is rotated and the technician must keep track the rotor angular orientation to correctly document which buckets may have flaws or damage. This is typically done by counting the number of buckets which pass during rotation from a predetermined zero point.

This method of tracking the rotor's orientation, however, is prone to error. The inspection often involves rotating the rotor through several full revolutions and/or rotating the rotor in a first direction then in a second direction, making it difficult for the technician to keep correct count of which bucket number is being observed in the borescope. If the technician loses count, the inspection may have to be restarted costing additional time and money. Error in bucket counts may result in, for example, documenting flaws on an incorrect bucket number which may lead in turn to confusion over repairs and may also lead to reinspections further costing additional time and money. The art would well-receive an apparatus for tracking rotor rotation and bucket location that would reduce error and inspection time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention, a method for tracking rotation of a turbomachine component includes locating at least one tilt sensor at the turbomachine component and rotating the turbomachine component about a central axis to observe a portion of interest on the turbomachine component. The method includes detecting an angle of rotation of the turbomachine component via the at least one tilt sensor.

According to another aspect of the invention, a system for tracking rotation of a turbomachine component includes at least one tilt sensor locatable at the turbomachine component, the at least one tilt sensor detecting an angle of rotation of the turbomachine component. A device is in operable communication with the at least one tilt sensor and is to convert the angle of rotation of the turbomachine component into an indicia of a portion of interest.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, a rotor includes a rotor central axis and a plurality of buckets arranged about the rotor central axis. At least one tilt sensor is located at least one bucket of the plurality of buckets, the at least one tilt sensor detecting an angle of rotation of the rotor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Shown inFIG. 1is an embodiment of a turbomachine rotor10. The rotor10includes a plurality of buckets12and is rotatable about a rotor axis14. The rotor10is located in a casing16and is accessible for visual inspection via at least one portal, for example, at least one borescope port18. At least one tilt sensor20is disposed at the rotor10. For example, the at least one tilt sensor20is disposed at a rear face22of the rotor10. It is to be appreciated, however, that the at least one tilt sensor20may be disposed at other locations on the rotor10, for example, at a forward face (not shown). Further the at least one tilt sensor20may be disposed at other rotating locations within the turbomachine, for example, a compressor, a turbine, or a generator. Referring now toFIG. 2, the at least one tilt sensor20comprises a micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS) accelerometer26, and may be powered by, for example, a 4V-40 mA battery pack28. While a MEMS accelerometer26is shown in the embodiment ofFIG. 2, in other embodiments, the tilt sensor20may include, for example, an electronic or mechanical gyroscope.

The at least one tilt sensor20may be secured to the rotor10by, for example, a magnetic grip30, or by other means such as an adhesive or by welding or brazing. The at least one tilt sensor20is configured to detect an angle of rotation32of the rotor about the rotor axis14from a predetermined zero point34. As the rotor10is rotated about the rotor axis14during, for example, inspection of the rotor10by a technician, the tilt sensor20transmits the angle of rotation32and/or angular position to a device, for example, a computer36. It will be appreciated that even though a computer36is shown inFIG. 2, it is merely exemplary. Devices including, but not limited to, handheld data collector, a personal data assistant, a borescope device, or the like may be utilized to receive the angle of rotation32from the tilt sensor20.

In the embodiment of theFIG. 2, transmission of the angle of rotation32to the computer36is accomplished via a wireless transmitter38which transmits the angle of rotation32to a wireless receiver40operably connected to the computer36. It is to be appreciated, however, that the at least one tilt sensor20may be connected to the computer36via a wired connection in some embodiments. When the angle of rotation32is transmitted to the computer36, the computer36converts the angle of rotation22to a bucket indicia42by utilizing, for example, a lookup table44. The bucket indicia42output by the computer36correlates to the bucket indicia42observed by the technician via, for example, a borescope or a camera (not shown), disposed at the borescope port18, and in some embodiments is a bucket number. The lookup table44typically needs to be configured only once, upon initial installation of the at least one tilt sensor20at the rotor10.

In one embodiment, the at least one tilt sensor20is installed at the rotor10not only for inspection purposes, but for monitoring rotation of the rotor10during operation of the rotor10. In this embodiment, the at least one tilt sensor20is disposed at a low temperature face (not shown) of the rotor10. With the permanent installation of the at least one tilt sensor20, the rotation of the rotor10can be monitored at any time during the operation of the rotor10, provided that the computer36having the lookup table44is operably connected either via the wireless or wired connection.

Referring toFIG. 3, a method for tracking rotation of the turbomachine rotor10is illustrated in flowchart form. In block100, the at least one tilt sensor20is secured to the rotor10. The rotor10is rotated about the rotor axis14in block102. In block104, the technician, via the boroscope or camera disposed at the boroscope port18observes a rotatable portion of interest of the rotor10, for example, one of the buckets12of the rotor10. Referring to block106, via rotation of the at least one tilt sensor20with the rotor10, the at least one tilt sensor20detects an angle of rotation32of the rotor10about the rotor axis14from the predetermined zero point34. This angle of rotation34is used to determine the bucket indicia42of the bucket12observed by the technician. Use of the at least one tilt sensor20to track rotation of the rotor10enhances the accuracy of inspection by removing issues related to the technician manually counting buckets12to determine which bucket12is the subject of his inspection.