Patent Description:
An enclosure may be used to house a variety of equipment, such as compressors, pumps, turbines, valves, furnaces, boilers, furnaces, gasifiers, gas treatment systems such as acid gas removal (AGR) systems and carbon capture systems, and a variety of other industrial equipment. This equipment and various fluid lines disposed in the enclosure can potentially leak inside the enclosure. As an example, gas turbines engines are used in a variety of applications, including power plants. A gas turbine engine may be coupled to a generator in a stationary or mobile power plant. The gas turbine engine receives fuel for combustion in one or more combustors. The fuel, which may include liquid or gas fuel, may potentially leak within a gas turbine enclosure housing the gas turbine engine. A monitoring system may be fluidly coupled to the gas turbine enclosure to sample the air (i.e., extract the air through one or more fluid lines) to detect the presence of hazardous fluids. Unfortunately, under certain conditions, these monitoring systems may trip the power generation units (e.g., due to moisture or ice in the fluid lines), resulting in unnecessary costly shutdowns. Due to this issue, certain operators may inactivate monitoring systems and forego monitoring for hazardous gas within the gas turbine enclosure. Similar leakage problems may exist with other types of equipment, such as the equipment listed above. As a result, a need exists for an improved monitoring system to detect leaks in the enclosure surrounding such equipment. <CIT> discloses an acoustic transceiver that is implemented for measuring acoustic properties of a gas in a turbine engine combustor. The transceiver housing defines a measurement chamber and has an opening adapted for attachment to a turbine engine combustor wall. The opening permits propagation of acoustic signals between the gas in the turbine engine combustor and gas in the measurement chamber. An acoustic sensor mounted to the housing receives acoustic signals propagating in the measurement chamber, and an acoustic transmitter mounted to the housing creates acoustic signals within the measurement chamber. An acoustic measurement system includes at least two such transceivers attached to a turbine engine combustor wall and connected to a controller. <CIT> discloses an apparatus for detecting leaks from a gas pipeline or storage system. The apparatus includes a light source configured to emit a beam with at least one spectral component capable of interacting with pipeline gas, a reflector configured to reflect a portion of the beam, an optical detector configured to detect the reflected beam, a signal processing module coupled to the output of the optical detector configured to analyze the detected beam and output a measured concentration value that characterizes the amount of target gas in the beam path, and a statistical processing module coupled to the signal processing module configured to store and analyze the measured concentration value. <CIT> discloses a leak detection system for a turbine compartment using an optical detection system operably connected to the turbine compartment.

The invention as herein claimed is defined by the system according to claim <NUM> and the method according to claim <NUM>.

Embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter, but rather these embodiments are intended only to provide a brief summary of possible forms of the subject matter disclosed in the application. Indeed, the disclosed subject matter may encompass a variety of forms that may be similar to or different from the embodiments set forth below.

Further, in connection with the subject matter set forth in claim <NUM>, the leak sensor may comprise a light sensor.

In connection with any above-disclosed embodiment, the leak sensor comprises an open path infrared (OPIR) sensor.

In connection with any above-disclosed embodiment, the leak sensor comprises a transmitter and a receiver.

In connection with any above-disclosed embodiment, the leak detection system includes a second window configured to mount at a second opening in a second wall portion in the gas turbine enclosure; the transmitter is disposed adjacent the first window; and the receiver is disposed adjacent the second window.

In connection with any above-disclosed embodiment, the leak sensor comprises a transceiver.

In connection with any above-disclosed embodiment, the leak detection system comprises a reflector configured to couple to the gas turbine enclosure opposite from the first window; the transceiver is disposed adjacent the first window; the transceiver is configured to transmit the beam through the first window toward the reflector; and the reflector is configured to reflect the beam back to the transceiver.

In connection with any above-disclosed embodiment, the leak detection system includes a second window configured to mount at a second opening in a second wall portion in the gas turbine enclosure, and the reflector is disposed adjacent the second window.

In connection with any above-disclosed embodiment, the leak sensor is configured to mount adjacent an air vent exhaust of the gas turbine enclosure.

In connection with any above-disclosed embodiment, the leak sensor is configured to mount in a removable roof panel of the gas turbine enclosure.

In connection with any above-disclosed embodiment, the gas turbine enclosure includes the leak detection system.

In connection with any above-disclosed embodiment, the system includes a gas turbine engine disposed in the gas turbine enclosure.

In connection with any above-disclosed embodiment, a plurality of the leak sensors are configured to couple to the gas turbine enclosure in a plurality of different locations; and the controller is configured to evaluate sensor feedback from the plurality of sensors to monitor for the leak of the hazardous fluid in the gas turbine enclosure.

In connection with any above-disclosed embodiment, the controller is configured to estimate a location of the leak based on the sensor feedback from the plurality of sensors.

In connection with any above-disclosed embodiment, each location of the plurality of different locations includes at least two leak sensors of the plurality of leak sensors.

In connection with any above-disclosed embodiment, a sensor mount is configured to mount the leak sensor to the gas turbine enclosure, wherein the sensor mount includes at least one of a protective housing, a thermal control system, or a vibration damper, and wherein the leak sensor is a self-contained sensor unit.

A gas turbine engine may be disposed in the gas turbine enclosure.

In another aspect, a method is provided as defined in claim <NUM>.

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the disclosed subject matter 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:.

One or more specific embodiments of the invention will be described below.

When introducing elements of various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, the articles "a," "an," "the," and "said" are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements.

<FIG> is a schematic of an embodiment of a gas turbine system <NUM> having a leak detection system <NUM> coupled to a gas turbine enclosure <NUM> housing a gas turbine engine <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, the leak detection system <NUM> includes a controller <NUM> communicatively coupled to a plurality of leak sensors <NUM> (e.g., open path infrared (OPIR) sensors or other types of light sensors) via one or more communicational lines <NUM>. The leak detection system <NUM> is configured to obtain sensor feedback from the leak sensors <NUM> to facilitate an identification of a fuel leak (or other hazardous fluid leak) within the gas turbine enclosure <NUM>, such as a leak of gas or liquid fuel. However, the leak detection system <NUM> also may be configured to detect other types of leaks of undesirable gases within the gas turbine enclosure <NUM>.

The leak sensors <NUM> do not require any sampling of air from within the gas turbine enclosure <NUM>, and the leak sensors do not require any contact with the air within the gas turbine enclosure <NUM>. As a result, the leak sensors <NUM> can be mounted completely outside of the gas turbine enclosure <NUM> without creating any potential leak paths for an air sampling conduit. Although the illustrated embodiment shows communicational lines <NUM> extending between the controller <NUM> and the various leak sensors <NUM>, certain embodiments of the leak detection system <NUM> may use wireless communications to obtain sensor data from the leak sensors <NUM>.

The illustrated controller <NUM> includes a processor <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, and instructions <NUM> stored on the memory and executable by the processor <NUM> to perform a leak detection analysis and control. The controller <NUM> also includes communications circuitry <NUM>, data processing circuitry <NUM>, and one or more control actions <NUM> in response to the detected leak or other conditions within the gas turbine enclosure <NUM>. The communications circuitry <NUM> may include wired and/or wireless communications circuitry to communicate with the leak sensors <NUM> and retrieve sensor data.

The data processing circuitry <NUM> is configured to process the sensor data from the leak sensors <NUM> and perform one or more analyses on the sensor data in order to determine if a leak has occurred or is occurring, if the leak is worsening over time, if the leak is in a particular location, if the leak is attributed to a particular type of fluid (e.g., gas fuel or liquid fuel), and/or if the leak is attributed to another event occurring in the gas turbine gas turbine system <NUM>. The control actions <NUM> may include triggering an alarm, modifying operational parameters of the gas turbine engine <NUM>, switching between different types of fuel such as liquid and gas fuel, or stopping operation of the gas turbine engine <NUM>. The particular control actions <NUM> initiated by the controller <NUM> may depend on the type of feedback retrieved from the leak sensors <NUM>. For example, if the leak sensors <NUM> indicate a leakage of liquid fuel, then the control action <NUM> may trigger a change from liquid fuel operation to gas fuel operation. If the sensor feedback indicates a gradually increasing amount of leakage within the gas turbine enclosure <NUM> and/or a leakage level above one or more thresholds, then the control actions <NUM> may trigger an alarm, a corrective action, and/or a shutdown of the gas turbine engine <NUM>.

As discussed in further detail below, the leak sensors <NUM> may include a variety of light or infra-red sensors (e.g., an open path infrared (OPIR) sensor). Each depicted sensor <NUM> may include one or more transceivers (e.g., OPIR transceivers) or one or more pairs of transmitters and receivers (e.g., OPIR transmitters and receivers). Details of the leak detection system <NUM> will be discussed in further detail below after providing context for the gas turbine system <NUM>.

The illustrated gas turbine engine <NUM> includes an air intake section <NUM>, a compressor section <NUM>, a combustor section <NUM>, a turbine section <NUM>, an exhaust section <NUM>, and one or more loads <NUM>. The air intake section <NUM> includes an air treatment system <NUM> disposed in an intake duct <NUM> extending from an exterior of the gas turbine enclosure <NUM> and into the gas turbine enclosure <NUM> to connect with the compressor section <NUM>. The air treatment system <NUM> includes one or more air filters <NUM>, one or more silencers <NUM>, and an anti-ice system <NUM>. The air intake section <NUM> routes an air flow <NUM> through the intake duct <NUM> to the compressor section <NUM>, while filtering the air flow <NUM> with the one or more air filters <NUM>, reducing noise in the air intake section <NUM> with the one or more silencers <NUM>, and inhibiting ice formation in the air flow <NUM> with the anti-ice system <NUM>. The air flow <NUM> then passes through the compressor section <NUM>, which includes a single stage or multi-stage compressor <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, the compressor <NUM> has a plurality of stages of compressor blades <NUM> coupled to a compressor shaft <NUM> within an outer compressor casing <NUM>. Although the illustrated embodiment shows four compressor stages, the compressor <NUM> may include between <NUM> and <NUM> or more compressor stages to compress the air flow <NUM> before entering the combustor section <NUM>.

The compressed air is then directed into a plurality of combustors <NUM> of the combustor section <NUM> as illustrated by arrows <NUM>. Each combustor <NUM> in the combustor section <NUM> may include one or more fuel nozzles <NUM>. The fuel nozzles <NUM> are configured to mix the compressed air <NUM> with one or more fuels, such as a liquid fuel delivered along a liquid fuel line <NUM> (or liquid fuel circuit or flow path) from a liquid fuel system <NUM> of a dual fuel system <NUM> and/or a gas fuel delivered along a gas fuel line <NUM> (or gas fuel circuit or flow path) from a gas fuel system <NUM> of the dual fuel system <NUM>. The fuel nozzles <NUM> may be configured to use only one of the liquid fuel or the gas fuel for a liquid fuel operation or a gas fuel operation, respectively. However, the fuel nozzles <NUM> also may be configured to simultaneously use both the liquid fuel and the gas fuel for combustion in the combustor <NUM>, for example, during a transition between liquid and gas fuel operation.

The liquid fuel and the gas fuel may be selected from a variety of fuel types and compositions. For example, the gas fuel may include natural gas, synthetic gas (or syngas), hydrogen, methane, or another suitable gas turbine fuel. Regardless of the specific type of fuel being used in the combustors <NUM>, the fuel nozzles <NUM> mix the fuel with the compressed air <NUM>, and the fuel-air mixture ignites in a combustion chamber <NUM> to generate hot combustion gases <NUM>, which are then directed into the gas turbine section <NUM>.

The gas turbine section <NUM> may include a single stage or multi-stage turbine <NUM>, which includes one or more stages of turbine blades <NUM> coupled to a turbine shaft <NUM> within a turbine casing <NUM>. For example, in certain embodiments, the turbine <NUM> may include between <NUM> and <NUM> turbine stages of turbine blades <NUM>. As the hot combustion gases <NUM> flow through the turbine section <NUM>, the gases <NUM> drive rotation of the turbine blades <NUM> and the turbine shaft <NUM>. In turn, rotation of the turbine shaft <NUM> drives rotation of the compressor <NUM> via an intermediate shaft <NUM> coupled to the compressor shaft <NUM>, and drives rotation of the load <NUM> via a shaft <NUM>. Although separate shafts <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be used with the gas turbine engine <NUM>, certain embodiments of the gas turbine engine <NUM> may include one or more common shafts between the compressor section <NUM>, the turbine section <NUM>, and the load <NUM>. The load <NUM> may include a generator, industrial machinery, a vehicle propulsion system, or any other suitable equipment.

The gas turbine enclosure <NUM> generally surrounds the gas turbine engine <NUM> and provides a protective barrier around the gas turbine engine <NUM>. For example, the gas turbine enclosure <NUM> may substantially contain the heat generated by combustion in the combustor section <NUM>, and the gas turbine enclosure <NUM> may provide a containment for safety reasons. The gas turbine system <NUM> also includes a ventilation system <NUM> coupled to the gas turbine enclosure <NUM>. As illustrated, the ventilation system <NUM> includes an air vent intake <NUM> and air vent exhaust <NUM> coupled to the gas turbine enclosure <NUM>. The air vent intake <NUM> includes one or more air filters <NUM> and one or more fans <NUM> disposed in an intake duct <NUM>, thereby directing and filtering an air flow into the gas turbine enclosure <NUM> as illustrated by arrow <NUM>. Similarly, the air vent exhaust <NUM> includes one or more fans <NUM> disposed in an exhaust duct <NUM> to route the ventilation flow out of the gas turbine enclosure <NUM> as illustrated by arrow <NUM>. Although the air vent intake <NUM> and the air vent exhaust <NUM> may each include fans <NUM> and <NUM>, in certain embodiments, the fans may be disposed in only one of the air vent intake <NUM> or the air vent exhaust <NUM>. In operation, the ventilation system <NUM> circulates the air flow through the gas turbine enclosure <NUM> as illustrated by arrows <NUM> and <NUM>, thereby withdrawing heat and/or any leaked fluids (e.g., leaked fuel) out of the gas turbine enclosure <NUM>. However, if any leakage occurs inside the gas turbine enclosure <NUM>, the leak detection system <NUM> is configured to identify the leaks and enable certain control actions <NUM>.

The leak detection system <NUM> is communicatively coupled to the plurality of leak sensors <NUM> that are coupled to the gas turbine enclosure <NUM> of the gas turbine system <NUM> and to one or more sensors <NUM> that are coupled to enclosures <NUM> housing turbomachines <NUM>. In certain embodiments, the turbomachines <NUM> may include additional gas turbine engines similar to the gas turbine engine <NUM> disposed inside the gas turbine enclosure <NUM>. However, the turbomachines <NUM> also may include other equipment, such as combustion systems, gas compressors, reciprocating piston-cylinder combustion engines, boilers, gas treatment systems (e.g., sulfur removal units) for treating a syngas generated by a gasifier (e.g., using coal or another fuel feedstock), or other equipment having a potential for leakage of fuels or hazardous gases.

The leak detection system <NUM> is configured to simultaneously monitor sensor feedback from the leak sensors <NUM> disposed in each of these systems and provide appropriate control actions <NUM>. If the gas turbine engine <NUM> and the turbomachines <NUM> are functionally related and/or dependent on one another as part of a larger system, such as a power plant, then the leak detection system <NUM> may coordinate the control actions <NUM> between the gas turbine engine <NUM> and the turbomachines <NUM>. However, in certain embodiments, the gas turbine engine <NUM> and the turbomachines <NUM> may be independent from one another, such that the leak detection system <NUM> can provide independent control actions <NUM> to the gas turbine engine <NUM> and the various turbomachines <NUM>.

In each of these systems, the leak sensors <NUM> may be distributed at different locations about the gas turbine enclosure <NUM>, which may provide redundancy in the sensor measurement and also provide additional information regarding the location of any potential leak occurring in the particular enclosure (e.g., <NUM> and <NUM>). For example, as illustrated with the gas turbine enclosure <NUM>, the leak sensors <NUM> are distributed at various locations along the gas fuel line <NUM> and the liquid fuel line <NUM>, the combustors <NUM>, and the air vent exhaust <NUM>. By further example, the leak sensors <NUM> may be coupled to a removable roof panel <NUM> (or other removable access panel) of the gas turbine enclosure <NUM>. Accordingly, the leak sensors <NUM> may obtain sensor feedback indicative of a greater or lesser presence of leakage in certain locations of the gas turbine enclosure <NUM>, such that the controller <NUM> can estimate a specific location of the leak, a potential component having a leak, a possible corrective measure, and a possible control actions <NUM> in the event that the leak cannot be corrected. As discussed in further detail below, the leak sensors <NUM> also may be configured to identify a specific type of fuel leak, such as a type of liquid fuel or gas fuel.

In certain embodiments, the leak sensors <NUM> are non-intrusive, non-contact sensors, such as optical sensors, disposed outside of the gas turbine enclosure <NUM>. For example, the leak sensors <NUM> may transmit and receive an optical beam (e.g., a beam of light or radiation) through an interior of the gas turbine enclosure <NUM>, such that changes in characteristics of the optical beam can be analyzed to determine whether or not a leak is occurring inside the gas turbine enclosure <NUM>. For example, the leak sensors <NUM> and/or the data processing circuitry <NUM> of the controller <NUM> may be configured to analyze changes in the optical beam passing through the gas turbine enclosure <NUM> to determine a composition of any fluid leakage inside the gas turbine enclosure <NUM>.

The sensors <NUM> may include infrared (IR) light sensors, laser sensors, electromagnetic radiation sensors, or any other suitable light-based sensor. In particular, the disclosed leak sensor <NUM> may include an open path infrared (OPIR) sensor. The OPIR sensors <NUM> may include a pair of a transmitter and a receiver or a pair of a transceiver and a reflector (e.g., a retroreflector). The reflector may include a reflective panel having a substrate layer and a reflective layer (e.g., a mirror layer). Details of the sensors <NUM> will be described in further detail below with reference to <FIG>.

The OPIR sensor <NUM> is configured to direct a beam of infrared light through the gas turbine enclosure <NUM>. The presence of a potential fuel leak in the gas turbine enclosure <NUM> can be detected due to an absorption of an infrared wavelength in the beam of infrared light. For example, a particular infrared wavelength may correspond to a particular fuel type, such as a particular liquid fuel, a particular gas fuel, or other hazardous fluid within the gas turbine enclosure <NUM>. Accordingly, the OPIR sensor <NUM> is configured to detect specific types of leakages within the gas turbine enclosure <NUM>, such that the controller <NUM> can identify possible corrective actions <NUM> for the gas turbine engine <NUM>.

<FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> are schematics of embodiments of the sensors <NUM> coupled to an exterior of the gas turbine enclosure <NUM> housing the gas turbine engine <NUM>. For example, the sensors <NUM> may be disposed on opposite sides of the gas turbine enclosure <NUM> in the vicinity of the air vent exhaust <NUM>. However, the sensors <NUM> may be disposed in other wall portions of the gas turbine enclosure <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the leak sensors <NUM> may include a transmitter <NUM> disposed adjacent a first window <NUM> in a first wall portion <NUM> of the gas turbine enclosure <NUM> and a receiver <NUM> disposed adjacent a second window <NUM> in a second wall portion <NUM> of the gas turbine enclosure <NUM>. For example, the transmitter <NUM> may include a light transmitter, such as an IR transmitter, a laser transmitter, or an OPIR transmitter. Similarly, the receiver <NUM> may include a light receiver, such as an IR receiver, a laser receiver, or an OPIR receiver, respectively.

The first window <NUM> is disposed in or at an opening or cut-out <NUM> in the first wall portion <NUM>, while the second window <NUM> is disposed in or at an opening or cut-out <NUM> in the second wall portion <NUM>. Each of the windows <NUM> and <NUM> may be a transparent sheet of material, such as a glass sheet or panel (e.g., sapphire window panel). The windows <NUM> and <NUM> may include a single layer or multiple layers of transparent material. The first and second windows <NUM> and <NUM> are configured to enable a beam <NUM> i.e. a light beam, infrared beam, or a laser beam, to pass from the transmitter <NUM>, through the first window <NUM> across an internal space <NUM> within the enclosure <NUM>, through the second window <NUM>, and into the receiver <NUM>. In this way, the transmitter <NUM> and the receiver <NUM> are completely external from the internal space <NUM> of the gas turbine enclosure <NUM>, such that the transmitter <NUM> and the receiver <NUM> are not exposed to the higher temperatures within the gas turbine enclosure <NUM>. Additionally, the external position of the transmitter <NUM> and the receiver <NUM> facilitates easier access for installation, inspection, and maintenance.

The first window <NUM> may be mounted to the first wall portion <NUM> via one or more mounts <NUM>, such as a rectangular or annular flange, which may be fastened to both the first wall portion <NUM> and the first window <NUM>. For example, the mount <NUM> may be fastened to the first wall portion <NUM> with a plurality of threaded fasteners <NUM> (e.g., bolts), and the mount <NUM> may be fastened to the first window <NUM> with a plurality of threaded fasteners <NUM> (e.g., bolts). Similarly, the second window <NUM> may be mounted to the second wall portion <NUM> via one or more mounts <NUM>, such as a rectangular or annular shaped flange. For example, the mount <NUM> may be fastened to the second wall portion <NUM> via a plurality of threaded fasteners <NUM> (e.g., bolts), and the mount <NUM> may be fastened to the second window <NUM> with a plurality of threaded fasteners <NUM> (e.g., bolts). Although the illustrated embodiment uses threaded fasteners <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> for the mounts <NUM> and <NUM>, certain embodiments may include other fasteners or joints, such as a welded joint, a hinged joint, a latch, a dovetail joint, an interference fit or shrink fit, an adhesive, and/or any suitable fixed or removable joint.

The transmitter <NUM> may be coupled to the first wall portion <NUM> with a mounting system <NUM>. The illustrated mounting system <NUM> may include at least one mount <NUM>, which may be fastened to the first wall portion <NUM> with a plurality of threaded fasteners <NUM> (e.g., bolts). The mount <NUM> also may be fastened to the transmitter <NUM> with a plurality of threaded fasteners <NUM> (e.g., bolts). In some embodiments, threaded fasteners <NUM> and <NUM> may be replaced or supplemented with other fasteners, such as a welded joint, a hinged joint, a latch, a dovetail joint, an interference fit or shrink fit, an adhesive, and/or any suitable fixed or removable joint. In the illustrated embodiment, the mount <NUM> has angled arms <NUM> extending outwardly from a central body <NUM>. The central body <NUM> is disposed about the transmitter <NUM>, and the central body <NUM> also may include a vibration damper or shock absorber <NUM>. For example, the vibration damper <NUM> may include one or more springs, shock absorbing material, a piston cylinder assembly, or a combination thereof. The vibration damper <NUM> may be configured to reduce vibration associated with operation of the gas turbine engine <NUM>. However, certain embodiments of the mount <NUM> may exclude the vibration damper <NUM>.

In certain embodiments, the mount <NUM> also may include a protective housing <NUM> disposed about the transmitter <NUM>. The protective housing <NUM> may be configured to protect the transmitter <NUM> from heat, electrical interference, or impact damage. For example, the protective housing <NUM> may include one or more layers of electrical insulation, thermal insulation, and structural protection. The transmitter <NUM> also may include a thermal control system <NUM> configured to provide ventilation and/or a thermal flow (e.g., a cooling flow and/or a heating flow) through the protective housing <NUM>. The thermal control system <NUM> may include one or more fans, a liquid thermal control system (e.g., liquid heating/cooling system) having one or more pumps and heat exchangers, an electric heater, or any combination thereof. The thermal control system <NUM> may be configured to maintain a temperature (e.g., by heating and/or cooling) within an interior of the protective housing <NUM>, and the transmitter <NUM>, within a desired temperature range (i.e., between upper and lower temperature thresholds). The thermal control system <NUM> may include one or more fluid injection ducts <NUM>, which are configured to direct a thermal flow (e.g., a cleaning fluid jet, a cooling flow and/or heating flow) against the window (e.g., first window <NUM>). For example, the thermal flow from the ducts <NUM> may be configured to clear the window of any debris, moisture, ice, or other contaminants. The thermal control system <NUM> is communicatively coupled to the leak detection system <NUM> via one or more control lines <NUM>. However, certain embodiments of the mount <NUM> may exclude the protective housing <NUM> and/or the thermal control system <NUM>. For example, in certain embodiments, the transmitter <NUM> may be at least partially or entirely exposed to the environment (i.e., without the protective housing <NUM> and the thermal control system <NUM>), such that the ambient temperature and weather (e.g., wind, rain, snow, and/or hail) helps to maintain a suitable temperature of the transmitter <NUM>. The transmitter <NUM> also may be spaced apart from the first window <NUM> by a distance <NUM> sufficient to reduce the transfer of heat and vibration from the gas turbine enclosure <NUM> to the transmitter <NUM>.

In the illustrated embodiment, the receiver <NUM> has substantially the same mounting system <NUM> as the transmitter <NUM>. In particular, the mount <NUM>, which may be coupled to the second wall portion <NUM> and the receiver <NUM> via respective fasteners <NUM> and <NUM>, includes the angled arms <NUM> and the central body <NUM> having the vibration damper <NUM>. Additionally, similarly to the transmitter <NUM>, the receiver <NUM> has the protective housing <NUM> with the thermal control system <NUM> communicatively coupled to the leak detection system <NUM> via the one or more control lines <NUM>. The thermal control system <NUM> may include one or more fluid injection ducts <NUM>, which are configured to direct a thermal flow (e.g., a cleaning fluid jet, a cooling flow and/or heating flow) against the window (e.g., second window <NUM>). Accordingly, the receiver <NUM> has substantially the same features as described above with reference to the mounting system <NUM> for the transmitter <NUM>.

Similar to the transmitter <NUM>, certain embodiments of the mount <NUM> may exclude the protective housing <NUM> and/or the thermal control system <NUM> for the receiver <NUM>. For example, in certain embodiments, the receiver <NUM> may be at least partially or entirely exposed to the environment (i.e., without the protective housing <NUM> and the thermal control system <NUM>), such that the ambient temperature and weather (e.g., wind, rain, snow, and/or hail) helps to maintain a suitable temperature of the receiver <NUM>. The receiver <NUM> also may be spaced apart from the second window <NUM> by a distance <NUM> sufficient to reduce the transfer of heat and vibration from the gas turbine enclosure <NUM> to the receiver <NUM>.

Each of the transmitter <NUM> and the receiver <NUM> is a self-contained unit (i.e., a prepackaged unit), in which all electronics, circuits, optical elements, lenses, memory, processors, etc. are contained in a dedicated sensor housing <NUM> of the respective transmitter <NUM> or receiver <NUM>. Accordingly, the protective housing <NUM>, the thermal control system <NUM>, and the vibration damper <NUM> are configured to adapt and enhance the transmitter <NUM> and the receiver <NUM> for use with the environment of the gas turbine system <NUM>. The sensor <NUM> configuration of <FIG> may be used at any one or more of the sensor locations illustrated in <FIG>.

<FIG> is a schematic of an embodiment of the leak detection system <NUM> having sensors <NUM> disposed on first and second wall portions <NUM> and <NUM> of the gas turbine enclosure <NUM>, in which each sensor <NUM> includes a plurality of transmitters <NUM> on the first wall portion <NUM> and a plurality of receivers <NUM> on the second wall portion <NUM>. Otherwise, the embodiment of <FIG> is substantially the same as the embodiment of <FIG>. Accordingly, like reference numbers are used in <FIG> and <FIG> to depict the same components described above with reference to <FIG>. The differences will be described in detail below.

At the first wall portion <NUM>, the mount <NUM> is substantially the same as depicted in <FIG>, except that the central body <NUM> of the mount has an intermediate support <NUM> extending between the angled arms <NUM>. The intermediate support <NUM> defines a plurality of recesses <NUM> configured to support ends of the plurality of transmitters <NUM>. Although only two transmitters <NUM> are depicted in <FIG>, the illustrated embodiment may include any number of transmitters <NUM> (e.g., <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM><NUM>, or more) disposed within the mount <NUM>. The mount <NUM> supporting the receivers <NUM> at the second wall portion <NUM> is substantially the same as the mount <NUM> supporting the transmitters <NUM> at the first wall portion <NUM>. As illustrated, the mount <NUM> supporting the receivers <NUM> has the intermediate support <NUM> extending between the angled arms <NUM>, and the intermediate support <NUM> includes the plurality of recesses <NUM> configured to support end portions of the plurality of receivers <NUM>.

In the illustrated embodiment, the mounts <NUM> for the transmitters <NUM> and the receivers <NUM> are substantially the same as one another. However, certain modifications may be made to accommodate different sizes or configurations of the transmitters <NUM> and the receivers <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, the transmitters <NUM> and the receivers <NUM> may be spaced at a uniform or non-uniform spacing relative to one another. The plurality of transmitters <NUM> and receivers <NUM> may be configured to obtain redundant measurements in a particular location of the gas turbine enclosure <NUM>, or the plurality of transmitters <NUM> and receivers <NUM> may be configured to provide additional spatial information relating to the sensor measurements in a particularly sensitive area of the gas turbine enclosure <NUM>. The sensor <NUM> configuration of <FIG> may be used at any one or more of the sensor locations illustrated in <FIG>.

<FIG> is a schematic of an embodiment of the leak detection system <NUM> having leak sensors <NUM> coupled to the gas turbine enclosure <NUM>. The embodiment of <FIG> is similar to the embodiment of <FIG> as described above, except that the transmitter <NUM> is replaced with a transceiver <NUM> at the first wall portion <NUM> and the receiver <NUM> is replaced with a reflector <NUM> at the second wall portion <NUM>. Accordingly, the mounting system <NUM> at the first wall portion <NUM> is substantially the same as described above with reference to <FIG>. The transceiver <NUM> is mounted to the first wall portion <NUM> with the mount <NUM> having the central body <NUM> with the angled arms <NUM>. The central body <NUM> also includes the vibration damper <NUM> as described above. The transceiver <NUM> is protected by the protective housing <NUM> and is provided with a thermal flow (e.g., a cooling flow and/or a heating flow) by the thermal control system <NUM>. The thermal control system <NUM> may include one or more fluid injection ducts <NUM>, which are configured to direct a thermal flow (e.g., a cleaning fluid jet, a cooling flow and/or heating flow) against the window (e.g., first window <NUM>). The first window <NUM> is mounted to the first wall portion <NUM> with the mount <NUM> and threaded fasteners <NUM> and <NUM>.

As discussed above, certain embodiments of the mount <NUM> may exclude the protective housing <NUM> and/or the thermal control system <NUM>. For example, in certain embodiments, the transceiver <NUM> may be at least partially or entirely exposed to the environment (i.e., without the protective housing <NUM> and the thermal control system <NUM>), such that the ambient temperature and weather (e.g., wind, rain, snow, and/or hail) helps to maintain a suitable temperature of the transceiver <NUM>. The transceiver <NUM> also may be spaced apart from the first window <NUM> by a distance <NUM> sufficient to reduce the transfer of heat and vibration from the gas turbine enclosure <NUM> to the transceiver <NUM>.

The second wall portion <NUM> may be configured with a reflector <NUM> (e.g., an externally mounted reflector in a first embodiment) or a reflector <NUM> (e.g., an internally mounted reflector in a second embodiment). In the first embodiment having the reflector <NUM> on the second wall portion <NUM>, the second window <NUM> and the reflector <NUM> may be mounted to the second wall portion <NUM> in a similar manner as described above with reference to <FIG>. In particular, the second window <NUM> is disposed at or in the opening or cut-out <NUM>, the reflector <NUM> is disposed against an exterior surface of the second window <NUM>, and a mount <NUM> (e.g., a rectangular or annular flange) secures both the second window <NUM> and the reflector <NUM> to the second wall portion <NUM>. As illustrated, the mount <NUM> is coupled to the second wall portion <NUM> with a plurality of threaded fasteners <NUM> (e.g., bolts), and the mount <NUM> is coupled to the second window <NUM> and the reflector <NUM> with a plurality of threaded fasteners <NUM> (e.g., bolts). Although the illustrated embodiment uses threaded fasteners <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> for the mounts <NUM> and <NUM>, certain embodiments may include other fasteners or joints, such as a welded joint, a hinged joint, a latch, a dovetail joint, an interference fit or shrink fit, an adhesive, and/or any suitable fixed or removable joint.

In operation of the first embodiment, the transceiver <NUM> is configured to transmit an optical beam <NUM> through the first window <NUM>, through the internal space <NUM>, through the second window <NUM> and against the reflector <NUM>, which in turn reflects a return optical beam <NUM> back to the transceiver <NUM>. The received beam <NUM> is then processed by the transceiver <NUM> and/or the controller <NUM> to evaluate whether or not a leak is occurring in the gas turbine enclosure <NUM>.

The transceiver <NUM> may include an optical or light transceiver, such as an IR transceiver, a laser transceiver, or an OPIR transceiver. The illustrated transceiver <NUM> is a self-contained transceiver unit (i.e., a prepackaged unit), in which all electronics, circuits, optical elements, lenses, memory, processors, etc. are contained in a dedicated sensor housing of the transceiver <NUM>. Accordingly, the protective housing <NUM>, the thermal control system <NUM>, and the vibration damper <NUM> are configured to adapt and enhance the illustrated transceiver <NUM> for use with the environment of the gas turbine system <NUM>. The sensor <NUM> configuration of <FIG> may be used at any one or more of the sensor locations illustrated in <FIG>.

In the second embodiment having the reflector <NUM> rather than the reflector <NUM>, the reflector <NUM> may be mounted to an interior surface of the second wall portion <NUM> via a mount <NUM> (e.g., a rectangular or annular flange) and a plurality of threaded fasteners <NUM> (e.g., bolts). Additionally, the opening or cut-out <NUM>, the second window <NUM>, the reflector <NUM>, the mount <NUM>, and the threaded fasteners <NUM> and <NUM> may be excluded when using the reflector <NUM>, thereby eliminating any potential leak paths in the second wall portion <NUM>. In operation of the second embodiment, the transceiver <NUM> is configured to transmit an optical beam <NUM> through the first window <NUM>, through the internal space <NUM>, and against the reflector <NUM>, which in turn reflects a return optical beam <NUM> back to the transceiver <NUM>. The received beam <NUM> is then processed by the transceiver <NUM> and/or the controller <NUM> to evaluate whether or not a leak is occurring in the gas turbine enclosure <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic of an embodiment of the leak detection system <NUM> having sensors <NUM> configured to detect fuel leaks inside the gas turbine enclosure <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, the mounting system <NUM> and sensor <NUM> configuration disposed on the first wall portion <NUM> are substantially the same as described above with reference to <FIG>, except that the transmitters <NUM> are replaced with transceivers <NUM> as described with reference to <FIG>. Accordingly, the transceivers <NUM> of <FIG> are disposed in substantially the same mount <NUM> of <FIG>. The mount <NUM> includes the angled arms <NUM> extending from the central body <NUM> having the vibration dampers <NUM>. The mount <NUM> also includes the intermediate support <NUM> having the plurality of recesses <NUM> configured to support the plurality of transceivers <NUM>. The transceivers <NUM> are also protected by the protective housing <NUM> having the thermal control system <NUM>. The thermal control system <NUM> may include one or more fluid injection ducts <NUM>, which are configured to direct a thermal flow (e.g., a cleaning fluid jet, a cooling flow and/or heating flow) against the window (e.g., first window <NUM>).

In certain embodiments, the mount <NUM> may exclude the protective housing <NUM> and/or the thermal control system <NUM>. The first wall portion <NUM> also has the first window <NUM> disposed at or in the opening or cut-out <NUM>, and the first window <NUM> is coupled to the first wall portion <NUM> with the mount <NUM> and threaded fasteners <NUM> and <NUM>. The transceivers <NUM> also may be spaced apart from the first window <NUM> by a distance <NUM> sufficient to reduce the transfer of heat and vibration from the gas turbine enclosure <NUM> to the transceivers <NUM>.

The second wall portion <NUM> has a similar configuration as discussed above with reference to <FIG>, which may include the reflector <NUM> (e.g., an externally mounted reflector in a first embodiment) or the reflector <NUM> (e.g., an internally mounted reflector in a second embodiment). In the first embodiment having the reflector <NUM>, the second window <NUM> is disposed at or in the opening or cut-out <NUM> in the second wall portion <NUM>, the reflector <NUM> is disposed against an outer surface of the second window <NUM>, and the mount <NUM> couples both the second window <NUM> and the reflector <NUM> to the second wall portion <NUM>. Similarly to <FIG>, the mount <NUM> is coupled to the second wall portion <NUM> with the plurality of threaded fasteners <NUM>, and the mount <NUM> is coupled to the second window <NUM> and the reflector <NUM> with the plurality of threaded fasteners <NUM>.

In the first embodiment, the transceivers <NUM> and the reflector <NUM> operate substantially the same as discussed above with reference to <FIG>. In particular, each transceiver <NUM> is configured to transmit a light or infra-red beam <NUM> through the first window <NUM>, through the internal space <NUM>, through the second window <NUM> and against the reflector <NUM>, which in turn reflects a return light or infra-red beam <NUM> back to the transceiver <NUM>. The transceivers <NUM> and/or the controller <NUM> then process the received light or infrared beams <NUM> to evaluate whether or not a fuel leak is occurring in the gas turbine enclosure <NUM>.

Similarly to <FIG>, the transceivers <NUM> are spaced uniformly or nonuniformly with respect to one another. The transceivers <NUM> may be configured to provide redundant measurements or measurements that provide spatial information about potential leaks within the gas turbine enclosure <NUM>. The sensor <NUM> configuration of <FIG> may be used at any one or more of the sensor locations illustrated in <FIG>.

In the second embodiment having the reflector <NUM> rather than the reflector <NUM>, the reflector <NUM> may be mounted to the interior surface of the second wall portion <NUM> via the mount <NUM> and the threaded fasteners <NUM> (e.g., bolts). Additionally, the opening or cut-out <NUM>, the second window <NUM>, the reflector <NUM>, the mount <NUM>, and the threaded fasteners <NUM> and <NUM> may be excluded when using the reflector <NUM>, thereby eliminating any potential leak paths in the second wall portion <NUM>. In operation of the second embodiment, the transceiver <NUM> is configured to transmit an optical beam <NUM> through the first window <NUM>, through the internal space <NUM>, and against the reflector <NUM>, which in turn reflects a return optical beam <NUM> back to the transceiver <NUM>. The received beam <NUM> is then processed by the transceiver <NUM> and/or the controller <NUM> to evaluate whether or not a leak is occurring in the gas turbine enclosure <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic of an embodiment of the leak detection system <NUM> having a plurality of different configurations of sensors <NUM> (e.g., transmitters <NUM>, receivers <NUM>, transceivers <NUM>, and reflectors <NUM>) coupled to the gas turbine enclosure. The transmitters <NUM>, receivers <NUM>, and transceivers <NUM> may have substantially the same features as discussed in detail above with reference to <FIG>, including the windows <NUM> and <NUM>, the mounting system <NUM>, the protective housing <NUM>, the vibration damper <NUM>, the protective housing <NUM>, and the thermal control system <NUM>. However, in certain embodiments, the transmitters <NUM>, receivers <NUM>, and transceivers <NUM> may exclude the protective housing <NUM> and/or the thermal control system <NUM>. The reflectors <NUM> may include the reflector <NUM> (e.g., an externally mounted reflector outside of a window in a first embodiment) or the reflector <NUM> (e.g., an internally mounted reflector in a second embodiment). In the illustrated embodiment, the leak detection system <NUM> includes a first sensor configuration <NUM>, a second sensor configuration <NUM>, a third sensor configuration <NUM>, a fourth sensor configuration <NUM>, and a fifth sensor configuration <NUM>. These sensor configurations <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be used independent from one another or in various combinations with one another.

The first sensor configuration <NUM> may be substantially the same as discussed above with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, including the transmitters <NUM> and the receivers <NUM> on opposite sides of the gas turbine enclosure <NUM>. The second sensor configuration <NUM> may be substantially the same as discussed above with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, including the transceivers <NUM> and reflectors <NUM> (e.g., reflectors <NUM> or <NUM>) on opposite sides of the gas turbine enclosure <NUM>. The third sensor configuration <NUM> includes a first sensor set <NUM> having the transmitter <NUM> and the receiver <NUM> on the first wall portion <NUM> and the reflector <NUM> on the second wall portion <NUM>, and a second sensor set <NUM> having the transmitter <NUM> and the receiver <NUM> on the second wall portion <NUM> and the reflector <NUM> on the first wall portion <NUM>. Each sensor set <NUM> and <NUM> reflects the optical beam <NUM> off of the reflector <NUM> at an angle <NUM>, such as between <NUM> and <NUM> degrees, <NUM> and <NUM> degrees, <NUM> and <NUM> degrees, <NUM> and <NUM> degrees, or <NUM> and <NUM> degrees.

The fourth sensor configuration <NUM> adds further enhancements to the third sensor configuration <NUM>. In the fourth sensor configuration <NUM>, the reflector <NUM> is disposed on a different wall portion <NUM> than the first wall portion <NUM> having the transmitters <NUM> and the second wall portion <NUM> having the receivers <NUM>. The optical beam <NUM> from each transmitter <NUM> is split into respective first and second optical beams <NUM> and <NUM> by a beam splitter <NUM>, such that the first optical beam <NUM> passes directly between the transmitter <NUM> and receiver <NUM> whereas the second optical beam <NUM> reflects off of the reflector <NUM> at an angle <NUM> between the transmitter <NUM> and the receiver <NUM>. The angle <NUM> may be the same or different for each set of the transmitters <NUM> and receivers <NUM>. The angle <NUM> may be between <NUM> and <NUM> degrees, <NUM> and <NUM> degrees, <NUM> and <NUM> degrees, <NUM> and <NUM> degrees, or <NUM> and <NUM> degrees. Each of the receivers <NUM> may independently receive the first and second optical beams <NUM> and <NUM> from the respective transmitters <NUM>, or a beam combiner <NUM> may combine the first and second optical beams <NUM> and <NUM> as a single optical beam into each of the receivers <NUM>. In certain embodiments, the beam splitters <NUM> may be integrated into the respective transmitters <NUM>, or the beam splitters <NUM> may be separate from the respective transmitters <NUM> (e.g., mounted on the windows <NUM>). Additionally, the beam combiners <NUM> may be integrated into the respective receivers <NUM>, or the beam combiners <NUM> may be separate from the respective receivers <NUM> (e.g., mounted on the windows <NUM>).

The fifth sensor configuration <NUM> may be substantially the same as discussed above with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, including the transceivers <NUM> and reflectors <NUM> (e.g., reflectors <NUM> or <NUM>) on opposite sides of the gas turbine enclosure <NUM>. However, in the illustrated embodiment, the transceivers <NUM> are disposed on a wall portion <NUM> opposite from the wall portion <NUM> having the reflector <NUM>, which is also different that the first and second wall portions <NUM> and <NUM> having the transmitters <NUM>, the receivers <NUM>, the transceivers <NUM>, and the reflectors <NUM> of the first, second, and third sensor configurations <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> and the transmitters <NUM> and the receivers <NUM> of the fourth sensor configuration <NUM>. As a result, the light or infra-red beams (e.g., <NUM>, <NUM>) associated with the fifth sensor configuration <NUM> pass through the gas turbine enclosure <NUM> crosswise relative to the light or infra-red beams (e.g., <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>) associated with the first, second, third, and fourth sensor configurations <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, thereby defining an optical measurement grid of optical beams <NUM> inside of the gas turbine enclosure <NUM>. The illustrated grid of light or infra-red beams <NUM> may improve the leak measurements in the gas turbine enclosure <NUM>.

The leak detection system <NUM> of <FIG> operates substantially the same as discussed in detail above with reference to <FIG>. Accordingly, the leak detection system <NUM> is configured to monitor for changes in the light or infra-red beams associated with leakage of fluids (e.g., gaseous fuels or liquid fuel vapor) inside of the gas turbine enclosure <NUM>. The various sensor configurations <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be used alone or in combination with one another to provide redundancy in the leak detection measurements, improved accuracy in the leak detection measurements, and/or location specific data associated with leakage in the gas turbine enclosure <NUM>.

Technical effects of the disclosed subject matter include non-intrusive, non-contact leak measurement techniques, which do not require any sampling of air from within a gas turbine enclosure <NUM>. In particular, rather than extracting an air sample from the gas turbine enclosure <NUM>, the disclosed measurement techniques use one or more leak sensors <NUM> disposed at windows (e.g., <NUM>, <NUM>) in the gas turbine enclosure <NUM>. Thus, the leak sensors <NUM> are completely outside of the gas turbine enclosure <NUM>, and the windows enable the leak sensors <NUM> to send and receive beams (e. g light beams, IR beams) through the internal space <NUM> of the gas turbine enclosure <NUM> to evaluate whether or not a leak is occurring in the gas turbine enclosure <NUM>. The leak sensors <NUM> also may include one or more features to adapt the sensors <NUM> for use with the gas turbine system <NUM>. For example, the leak sensors <NUM> may include the protective housing <NUM>, the thermal control system <NUM> with the fluid injection ducts <NUM>, and/or the vibration dampers <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A system (<NUM>), comprising:
a leak detection system (<NUM>), comprising
a first window (<NUM>) configured to mount at a first opening in a first wall portion (<NUM>) in a gas turbine enclosure (<NUM>);
a leak sensor (<NUM>) configured to transmit a light beam or an infra-red beam through the first window (<NUM>) and an interior of the gas turbine enclosure (<NUM>) to obtain sensor feedback; and
a (<NUM>) configured to evaluate the sensor feedback to monitor for a leak of a hazardous fluid in the gas turbine enclosure (<NUM>).