Abstract:
A multi-channel pressure measuring device includes a plurality of sample conduits and a plurality of sample inlets. Each sample inlet is configured to receive a respective sample conduit. The sample conduit is configured to channel a sample fluid and an incidental fluid through a respective sample inlet. The multi-channel pressure measuring device also includes a sample block including a plurality of collection wells coupled to the sample inlets. Each collection well includes a diameter larger than a diameter of a respective sample inlet. The sample block is fabricated from at least one of a transparent material and a translucent material. The multi-channel pressure measuring device further includes a plurality of filter indicator elements. Each filter indicator element is positioned within a respective collection well. Each filter indicator element is configured to retain the incidental fluid therewithin and to indicate a presence of the retained incidental fluid.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The field of the disclosure relates generally to testing of gas turbine engines and, more particularly, to a method and system for inline filtration of pressure lines connected to pressure scanners. 
         [0002]    During test flights of experimental gas turbine engines various process parameters are measured using a multi-channel scanner. The measured data is then stored in the multi-channel scanner. The scanner is configured to simultaneously measure hundreds or thousands of locations within the experimental gas turbine engine during a test flight. However, known process scanners require a clean, dry sample from each location being measured to properly measure the sample data. Entrained oil in a sample line between the measured location and the scanner can contaminate the sample scanner, which can negatively affect the test results including losing all sample data collected during the test. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
       [0003]    In one aspect, a multi-channel pressure measuring device includes a plurality of sample conduits and a plurality of sample inlets. Each sample inlet of the plurality of sample inlets is configured to each receive a respective sample conduit from the plurality of sample conduits. The sample conduit is configured to channel at least one of a sample fluid and an incidental fluid through a respective sample inlet. The multi-channel pressure measuring device also includes a sample block including a plurality of collection wells coupled to the plurality of sample inlets. Each collection well of the plurality of collection wells includes a diameter larger than a diameter of a respective sample inlet. The sample block fabricated from at least one of a transparent material and a translucent material. The multi-channel pressure measuring device further includes a plurality of filter indicator elements. Each filter indicator element of the plurality of filter indicator elements positioned within a respective collection well. Each filter indicator element configured to retain the incidental fluid therewithin and to indicate a presence of the retained incidental fluid. 
         [0004]    In another aspect, a method of measuring pressure includes receiving a plurality of sample conduits from a plurality of measured locations to a plurality of sample inlets. Each sample conduit of the plurality of sample conduits contains a sample fluid and an incidental fluid. Each respective sample conduit of the plurality of sample conduits channels the sample fluid and the incidental fluid from an associated measured location of the plurality of measured locations to an associated sample inlet of the plurality of sample inlets. The method also includes channeling the sample fluid and the incidental fluid from the plurality of sample inlets to a plurality of collection wells. Each respective sample inlet of the plurality of sample inlets channels the sample fluid and the incidental fluid to an associated collection well of the plurality of collection wells. The method further includes detecting a presence of the incidental fluid in at least one of the collection wells of the plurality of collection wells. The method also includes visually indicating the presence of the incidental fluid. 
         [0005]    In yet another aspect, a system for indicating a presence of oil includes a test device including a plurality of measured locations. The system also includes a pressure measuring device including a plurality of sample conduits. Each measured location of the plurality of measured locations configured to each receive a respective sample conduit from the plurality of sample conduits. The sample conduit configured to channel at least one of a sample fluid and an incidental fluid from a respective measured location. The pressure measuring device also includes a plurality of sample inlets. Each sample inlet of the plurality of sample inlets is configured to each receive a respective sample conduit from the plurality of sample conduits. The sample conduit is configured to channel at least one of a sample fluid and an incidental fluid through a respective sample inlet. The measuring device also includes a sample block including a plurality of collection wells coupled to the plurality of sample inlets. Each collection well of the plurality of collection wells includes a diameter larger than a diameter of a respective sample inlet. The sample block fabricated from at least one of a transparent material and a translucent material. The measuring device further includes a plurality of filter indicator elements. Each filter indicator element of the plurality of filter indicator elements positioned within a respective collection well. Each filter indicator element configured to retain the incidental fluid therewithin and to indicate a presence of the retained incidental fluid. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein: 
           [0007]      FIGS. 1-4  show example embodiments of the method and apparatus described herein. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary pressure scanner assembly. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an exemplary connector manifold. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view of an exemplary connector manifold. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a cut away schematic view of an exemplary connector manifold. 
       
    
    
       [0012]    Although specific features of various embodiments may be shown in some drawings and not in others, this is for convenience only. Any feature of any drawing may be referenced and/or claimed in combination with any feature of any other drawing. 
         [0013]    Unless otherwise indicated, the drawings provided herein are meant to illustrate features of embodiments of the disclosure. These features are believed to be applicable in a wide variety of systems comprising one or more embodiments of the disclosure. As such, the drawings are not meant to include all conventional features known by those of ordinary skill in the art to be required for the practice of the embodiments disclosed herein. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    In the following specification and the claims, reference will be made to a number of terms, which shall be defined to have the following meanings. 
         [0015]    The singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
         [0016]    “Optional” or “optionally” means that the subsequently described event or circumstance may or may not occur, and that the description includes instances where the event occurs and instances where it does not. 
         [0017]    Approximating language, as used herein throughout the specification and claims, may be applied to modify any quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related. Accordingly, a value modified by a term or terms, such as “about”, “approximately”, and “substantially”, are not to be limited to the precise value specified. In at least some instances, the approximating language may correspond to the precision of an instrument for measuring the value. Here and throughout the specification and claims, range limitations may be combined and/or interchanged, such ranges are identified and include all the sub-ranges contained therein unless context or language indicates otherwise. 
         [0018]    The following detailed description illustrates embodiments of the disclosure by way of example and not by way of limitation. It is contemplated that the disclosure has general application to a method and system for inline filtration of pressure lines connected to pressure scanners. 
         [0019]    Embodiments of an inline oil filter assembly are described herein. The inline oil filters are configured to collect entrained oil in a sample line of the pressure scanner and to indicate its presence during testing of a gas turbine engine. The inline oil filter assembly includes a filter block, a plurality of oil collection wells, and a plurality of oil filter indicator elements. The inline oil filter indicator elements are configured to remove oil from the sample tubing connected to the gas turbine engine. At least some of the sample locations can contain entrained oil, which can be carried to the inlet of the pressure scanner. The entrained oil enters a collection well within the inline oil filter assembly. The diameter of the well is significantly larger than the diameter of the tubing connected to the gas turbine engine. The larger diameter of the well reduces the velocity of the sample and allows gravity to de-entrain oil from the gas. The de-entrained oil is trapped in the filter indicator element in the well and the oil-free gas enters the pressure scanner. The filter indicator element within the well changes color when de-entrained oil contacts the element and provides an indication that oil is present in the tubing. The inline oil filter assembly is formed of a translucent or transparent material, allowing operators to visually check the indicator elements for oil in the tubing without disassembly of the inline oil filter assembly of pressure scanner. 
         [0020]    The inline oil filter assembly described herein offers advantages over known methods of channeling sample gas to a pressure scanner. More specifically, the inline oil filter assembly described herein effectively removes oil from the sample gas stream to allow accurate measurement of the pressure. Removing oil from the sample gas without using a mechanical filter, which tends to plug the sample line, maintains the accuracy of the pressure measurement. Furthermore, filtering oil from the gas stream preserves the pressure scanner. 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary pressure scanner assembly  100 . Pressure scanner assembly  100  includes a pressure scanner housing  102  with a pressure scanner  104  disposed within. Pressure scanner  104  is an instrumentation device that measures a pressure parameter at a plurality of measured locations within a component, such as, but not limited to, a gas turbine engine (not shown in  FIG. 1 ). Pressure scanner assembly  100  also includes a plurality of connector manifolds  106  fixedly coupled to an outer surface  108  of pressure scanner housing  102 . 
         [0022]    Pressure scanner  104  includes a plurality of sample inlets (not shown in  FIG. 1 ). Sample inlets (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) are coupled in flow communication with a plurality of pressure scanner assembly pressure tubes (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) which are coupled in flow communication within connector manifolds  106 . Pressure scanner  104  includes a plurality of sensors (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) that measure and record pressure. Connector manifolds  106  are coupled in flow communication with a plurality of engine assembly pressure tubes  114  which are coupled in flow communication with a gas turbine engine (not shown in  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0023]    During operation, engine assembly pressure tubes  114  are connected to various measured locations within a gas turbine engine (not shown in  FIG. 1 ). Engine assembly pressure tubes  114  are configured to deliver pressurized gas to connector manifolds  106 . Connector manifolds  106  are configured to deliver pressurized gas to pressure scanner assembly pressure tubes (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) which are configured to deliver pressurized gas to sample inlets (not shown in  FIG. 1 ). Sample inlets (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) are configured to deliver pressurized gas to sensors (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) that measure and record pressure within pressure scanner  104 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an exemplary connector manifold  200 . Connector manifold  200  includes a connector manifold base  202  fixedly coupled to outer surface  108  of pressure scanner housing  102  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) by a plurality of fasteners  204 . Connector manifold base  202  is fixedly coupled to a sample block  206  which is fixedly coupled to a connector manifold cover  208 . Connector manifold cover  208  is fixedly coupled to a plurality of connectors  210  which are coupled in flow communication with a plurality of engine assembly pressure tubes  212 . Engine assembly pressure tubes  212  are coupled in flow communication with a gas turbine engine (not shown in  FIG. 2 ). Connector manifold base  202  is coupled in flow communication with a plurality of pressure scanner assembly pressure tubes  214  which are coupled in flow communication with sample inlets (not shown in  FIG. 2 ). 
         [0025]    During operation, engine assembly pressure tubes  212  are connected to various measured locations within a gas turbine engine (not shown in  FIG. 1 ). Engine assembly pressure tubes  212  are configured to deliver pressurized gas to connectors  210  which are configured to deliver pressurized gas to connector manifolds  200 . Connector manifolds  200  are configured to deliver pressurized gas to pressure scanner assembly pressure tubes  214  which are configured to deliver pressurized gas to sample inlets (not shown in  FIG. 2 ). Sample inlets (not shown in  FIG. 2 ) are configured to deliver pressurized gas to sensors (not shown in  FIG. 2 ) that measure and record pressure within pressure scanner  104  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0026]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view of an exemplary connector manifold  300 . Connector manifold  300  includes a sample block  302  fixedly coupled to a connector manifold cover  304  by a plurality of fasteners  306 . Sample block  302  is fixedly coupled to outer surface  108  of pressure scanner housing  102  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) by a plurality of fasteners  204  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) through a plurality of fastener apertures  308 . Sample block  302  and connector manifold cover  304  include a plurality of collection wells  310 . A plurality of filter indicator elements  312  are disposed within collection wells  310 . 
         [0027]    The diameter of collection wells  310  is larger than the diameter of engine assembly pressure tubes  212  (shown in  FIG. 2 ), pressure scanner assembly pressure tubes  214  (shown in  FIG. 2 ), and sample inlets (not shown in  FIG. 3 ). Sample block  302  is formed of a transparent or translucent material. Filter indicator elements  312  are formed of an oleophilic material which provides a visual indication when oil is present in collection wells  310 . 
         [0028]    During operation, engine assembly pressure tubes  212  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) are configured to deliver pressurized gas to collection wells  310  which are configured to deliver pressurized gas to pressure scanner assembly pressure tubes  214  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) and sample inlets (not shown in  FIG. 3 ). The larger diameter of collection wells  310  reduces the velocity of the sample and allows gravity to de-entrain oil from the pressurized gas. The de-entrained oil is trapped in filter indicator elements  312  in collection wells  310  and the oil-free pressurized gas enters pressure scanner  104  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). Filter indicator elements  312  within collection wells  310  changes color when de-entrained oil contacts filter indicator elements  312  and provides visual indication that oil is present in pressure scanner assembly pressure tubes  214  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) and sample inlets (not shown in  FIG. 3 ). Sample block  302  is formed of a translucent or transparent material, allowing operators to visually check filter indicator elements  312  for oil in pressure scanner assembly pressure tubes  214  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) and sample inlets (not shown in  FIG. 3 ) without disassembly of pressure scanner assembly  100  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0029]      FIG. 4  is a cut away schematic view of an exemplary connector manifold  400 . Connector manifold  400  includes a sample block  402  fixedly coupled to a connector manifold cover  404  and a connector manifold base  406  by a plurality of fasteners  408 . Sample block  402  is fixedly coupled to outer surface  108  of pressure scanner housing  102  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) by a plurality of fasteners  204  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) extending at least partially through each of a plurality of fastener apertures  410 . Sample block  402 , connector manifold cover  404 , and connector manifold base  406  includes a plurality of collection wells  412 . A plurality of filter indicator elements  414  is disposed within collection wells  412 . A portion  416  of sample block  402  is disposed between collection wells  412 . A width of portion  416  of sample block  402  is determined by calculating the amount of sample block  402  material necessary to ensure the structural integrity of sample block  402  during operation. 
         [0030]    The above-described inline oil filters provide an efficient method for collecting entrained oil in sample lines and indicating its presence. Specifically, the above-described inline oil filters allows operators to detect entrained oil in sample lines without disassembly of the multi-channel pressure scanner. Additionally, the inline oil filter removes entrained oil from sample lines without reducing the pressure in the sample lines, allowing for accurate pressure measurements. 
         [0031]    Exemplary embodiments of inline oil filters are described above in detail. The inline oil filters, and methods of operating such filters and devices are not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, but rather, components of inline oil filters and/or steps of the methods may be utilized independently and separately from other components and/or steps described herein. For example, the methods may also be used in combination with other systems requiring oil filtration, and are not limited to practice with only the systems and methods as described herein. Rather, the exemplary embodiment can be implemented and utilized in connection with many other machinery applications that are currently configured to receive and accept pressurized gas. 
         [0032]    Example methods and apparatus for filtering oil to a multi-channel pressure scanner are described above in detail. The apparatus illustrated is not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, but rather, components of each may be utilized independently and separately from other components described herein. Each system component can also be used in combination with other system components. 
         [0033]    This written description uses examples to describe the disclosure, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the disclosure is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.