Method and system for thermal expansion compensation in heated flow characterization

Abstract

Techniques for a chamber, such as gas turbine engine (100), surrounding a heated fluid include a sensor (150) mounted in a first wall (228b, 229b) of the chamber to detect phenomenon inside the chamber and a processor (702). The processor is in electrical communication with the sensor and is configured to receive first data, determine a first temperature of the first wall, determine a current path length, determine properties of the fluid flow, and operate a device based on the properties. First data indicates a value of the phenomenon along a path between the first wall and a different wall of the chamber. The current path length (268b) is based on a nominal path length (268a) and thermal expansion of the first wall due to the first temperature. The property of fluid flow in the chamber is based on the first data and the current path length.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The various embodiments relate to determining the distribution of fluid properties in a chamber of heated fluid, such as gas flow properties in a gas turbine engine.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]A gas turbine engine is a flow machine in which a pressurized gas expands. The gas turbine includes a turbine or expander, a compressor connected upstream of the turbine, and a combustion chamber between the compressor and turbine. Expanding gas produced in the combustion chamber drives blades of the turbine which provides power for the compressor and other engine output. The compression of air by way of the blading of one or more compressor stages, subsequently mixes the compressed air in the combustion chamber with a gaseous or liquid fuel, where the mixture is ignited by an igniter to initiate combustion. The combustion results in a hot gas (mixture composed of combustion gas products and residual components of air) which expands in the following turbine sec...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent text describes a system and method for accurately monitoring the distribution of fluid properties in a gas turbine engine. The system uses acoustic waves to determine the temperature and velocity of the fluid flow in real-time, but there is some uncertainty introduced due to the thermal expansion of the walls holding the acoustic transducers. The patent describes a method for compensating for this uncertainty by measuring the time of flight of the acoustic waves accurately across the fluid flow space. This technology can provide precise information about the fluid flow properties, but there is some uncertainty during transitions from one fluid temperature to another.

Problems solved by technology

Determining such distributions is challenging, at least in part, because the pressures and temperature can become very great.

Optical instruments have been used, but the characteristics of the optical devices can degrade at the extreme temperatures in at least portions of the turbine engine.

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