Spark Plug Test Tool

Abstract

A spark plug test tool for a spark plug assembly of a gas turbine engine combustor is provided. [Solution] The spark plug test tool may include a dielectric tube attached to the spark plug assembly and a first support bracket that supports the spark plug assembly and dielectric tube therein such that the spark plug assembly remains electrically connected to the gas turbine engine combustor during testing.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE This application and the resultant patent relate generally to gas turbine engines, and more particularly to an improved spark plug testing tool for testing spark plug assemblies in a fast, safe and efficient manner while the spark plug assemblies remain installed in the gas turbine engine. [Background technology]

[0002] The spark plug assembly may include a spark plug, a spark plug flange, and an ignition transformer. During testing, the spark plug assembly is removed from the combustor but remains attached to the electrical cable. Because the length of the cable is relatively short, the spark plug assembly is typically placed on the combustor for testing. However, this location may provide direct access to electrical high voltage arcs or other types of discharges. Such access may pose a potential hazard to nearby personnel. As a result, other types of work activities in the turbine compartment or elsewhere may need to be suspended and other personnel evacuated during the testing period. Thus, overall productivity may be reduced while waiting for the completion of the spark plug testing procedure. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0328335 Summary of the Invention

[0004] To this end, the present application and resultant patent provide a spark plug test tool for a spark plug assembly of a gas turbine engine combustor. The spark plug test tool may include a dielectric tube attached to the spark plug assembly and a first support bracket that supports the spark plug assembly and the dielectric tube therein such that the spark plug assembly remains electrically connected to the gas turbine engine combustor during testing.

[0005] The present application and resultant patent further provides a method for safely testing a spark plug assembly of a gas turbine engine combustor, the spark plug assembly including a spark plug and a spark plug flange, the method including removing the spark plug assembly from the gas turbine engine combustor while leaving the spark plug assembly electrically connected to the gas turbine engine combustor, positioning a spark plug of the spark plug assembly within a dielectric tube of a spark plug test tool, positioning a spark plug flange of the spark plug assembly within a support bracket of the spark plug test tool, and testing the spark plug assembly.

[0006] The present application and resultant patent further provide a spark plug test tool for an ignition plug assembly of a gas turbine engine combustor, the spark plug test tool including a dielectric tube attached to the spark plug assembly, a support bracket supporting the spark plug assembly and the dielectric tube therein, and a combustor bracket attached to the gas turbine engine combustor and the support bracket such that the spark plug assembly remains electrically connected to the gas turbine engine combustor during testing.

[0007] These and other features and improvements of the present application and the resulting patent will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the several drawing figures and the appended claims. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary gas turbine engine showing a compressor, combustor, turbine, and load. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary combustor that may be used with the gas turbine engine of FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a spark plug test tool as described herein. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a further perspective view of the spark plug test tool of FIG. 3 with a mounting bracket. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a top view of the spark plug test tool of FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 5 is a side plan view of the spark plug test tool of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Referring now to the drawings, where like numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views, FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a gas turbine engine 10 that may be used herein. The gas turbine engine 10 may include a compressor 15. The compressor 15 compresses an incoming airflow 20. The compressor 15 delivers the compressed airflow 20 to a number of combustor cans 25. The combustor cans 25 mix the compressed airflow 20 with a pressurized fuel flow 30 and ignite the mixture to generate a hot combustion gas flow 35. Although only a single combustor can 25 is shown, the gas turbine engine 10 may include any number of combustor cans 25 arranged, such as in a circumferential array. The hot combustion gas flow 35 is in turn delivered to a turbine 40. The hot combustion gas flow 35 drives the turbine 40 to generate mechanical work. The mechanical work generated by the turbine 40 drives the compressor 15 via a shaft 45 and an external load 50, such as an electrical generator.

[0010] Gas turbine engine 10 may use natural gas, various types of synthetic gas, liquid fuels, and / or other types of fuels and mixtures thereof. Gas turbine engine 10 may be any of a number of different gas turbine engines offered by General Electric Company of Schenectady, New York, including, but not limited to, a 7 Series or 9 Series heavy duty gas turbine engine. Gas turbine engine 10 may have different configurations and may use other types of components. Other types of gas turbine engines may also be used herein. Multiple gas turbine engines, other types of turbines, and other types of power generation devices may also be used.

[0011] 2 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a combustor can 25 as may be used with the gas turbine engine 10 described above. The combustor can 25 may extend from an end cap 55 at the head end to a transition piece 60 at the aft end of the turbine 40. A number of fuel nozzles 65 may be disposed about the end cap 55. A liner 70 may extend from the fuel nozzles 65 toward the transition piece 60 and define a combustion chamber 75 therein. The liner 70 is surrounded by a flow sleeve 80. The liner 70 and the flow sleeve 80 may define a flow path therebetween for the flow of compressed air 20, such as from the compressor 15, to the combustion chamber 75.

[0012] The combustor cans 25 may also include a spark plug assembly 85. The spark plug assembly 85 may be configured to initiate combustion within the combustor cans 25. Specifically, combustion may be initiated from two spark plug assemblies 85 attached to the combustor cans 25 of adjacent combustion chambers 60. As described in more detail below, each spark plug assembly 85 may include a spark plug 90 and an ignition transformer 95. A spark plug flange 98 may extend radially between the spark plugs 90 and the ignition transformer 95. A spark from one or both of the spark plugs 90 ignites the fuel-air mixture within the combustion chamber 75, and the remaining chambers may be ignited via crossfire tubes. The combustor cans 25 described herein are for illustrative purposes only. Combustor cans 25 having other components and configurations may be used herein.

[0013] 3-6 show one example of a spark plug test tool 100 as may be described herein. The spark plug test tool 100 tests the operability of the entire spark plug assembly 85. The spark plug test tool 100 may be made largely of dielectric materials to insulate the high voltage arc therein. Acrylic, nylon, fiberglass, and rubber materials are described below, although ceramics, composites, and the like may also be used herein.

[0014] The spark plug test tool 100 includes a dielectric tube 110. The dielectric tube 110 may be made from a transparent acrylic material or the like. The dielectric tube 110 may be sized to accommodate the spark plug 90 therein. The dielectric tube 110 may be enclosed at a far end via a cap 120. The cap 120 may also be made from a dielectric material such as acrylic. The cap 120 may be secured to the dielectric tube 110 with a number of cap fasteners 130 having a rubber gasket 140 disposed therebetween. The cap fasteners 130 may be nylon screws or the like.

[0015] At the near end, the dielectric tube 110 may be attached to the spark plug flange 98 of the spark plug assembly 85 via a tube flange 150 and a further rubber gasket 160. The tube flange 150 may be made of a dielectric material such as nylon. The spark plug flange 98 may be secured to the tube flange 150 using a number of flange fasteners 170. The flange fasteners 170 may be fiberglass hex screws or the like. The dielectric tube 110 and the spark plug flange 98 may be supported by a support bracket 175 (first support bracket 175). The support bracket 175 may be made of a dielectric material such as nylon. A back or second support bracket 180 may also be spaced apart from the front support bracket 175 as shown in FIG. 3. The back support bracket 180 may also be made of a dielectric material such as nylon. Other components and configurations may be used herein.

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 4-6, the spark plug test tool 100 may be attached to the combustor can 25 or the like via a combustor bracket 190. The combustor bracket 190 may be attached to the combustor can 25 via a number of bracket fasteners 200. The combustor bracket 190 may be made of steel or any type of suitably rigid material. The bracket fasteners 200 may be conventional hex screws or the like. The combustor bracket 190 may receive and support the front support bracket 175 and the spark plug assembly 85 therein. Additionally, the combustor bracket 190 may be sized to receive one or two spark plug test tools 100 and spark plug assemblies 85 therein. Other types of support structures may be used herein. Other components and other configurations may also be used herein.

[0017] In use, the spark plug test tool 100 may be mounted to the combustor can 25 or elsewhere via the combustor bracket 190. The spark plug assembly 85 may be removed from the combustor can 25 and inserted into the spark plug test tool 100 while the individual spark plugs 90 remain electrically connected to the ignition transformer 95 (or gas turbine engine or combustor). Specifically, the spark plugs 90 may be placed within the dielectric tube 110, and the dielectric tube 110, tube flange 150, and rubber gasket 160 may be attached to the spark plug flange 98 via flange fasteners 170. The spark plug test tool 100 and spark plug assembly 85 may be placed within and supported by the front support bracket 175. A rear support bracket 180 may also be used. The spark plug assembly 90 may be safely tested without creating a hazard to nearby personnel. Specifically, during testing, the spark plug 90 may be fired one or more times using the same electrical connection cable that is used during normal operation of the gas turbine engine 10. Depending on the materials used herein, the dielectric tube 110 of the spark plug testing tool 100 may withstand approximately 190,600 volts or more to form a high voltage withstand barrier during testing.

[0018] Thus, the use of spark plug test tool 100 increases safety relative to the turbine compartment, avoiding the need to evacuate other nearby personnel during testing. Thus, spark plug test tool 100 can increase overall productivity during a spark plug testing procedure. Additionally, overall spark plug test time can be reduced.

[0019] It should be apparent that the foregoing relates only to specific embodiments of this application and the resulting patent. Numerous changes and modifications may be made herein by those skilled in the art without departing from the general spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0020] 10: gas turbine engine 15: compressor 20: air flow 25: combustor can 30: fuel flow 35: combustion gas flow 40: turbine 45: shaft 50: external load 55: end cap 60: transition piece 65: fuel nozzle 70: liner 75: combustion chamber 80: flow sleeve 85: spark plug assembly 90: spark plug 95: ignition transformer 98: spark plug flange 100: spark plug test tool 110: dielectric tube 120: cap 130: cap fastener 140: rubber gasket 150: tube flange 160: further rubber gasket 170: flange fastener 175, 180: support bracket 190: combustor bracket 200: bracket fastener

Claims

1. 1. A spark plug test tool for a spark plug assembly of a gas turbine engine combustor, comprising: a dielectric tube attached to the spark plug assembly; a first support bracket for supporting the spark plug assembly and the dielectric tube; A spark plug test tool, wherein the spark plug assembly remains electrically connected to the gas turbine engine combustor during testing.

2. The spark plug test tool of claim 1 , wherein the dielectric tube comprises an acrylic material.

3. The spark plug test tool of claim 1 , wherein the dielectric tube comprises a transparent material.

4. 10. The spark plug test tool of claim 1, wherein the dielectric tube is surrounded by a dielectric cap.

5. 10. The spark plug test tool of claim 1, wherein the spark plug assembly includes a spark plug flange, the dielectric tube includes a tube flange, and the tube flange is attached to the spark plug flange.

6. 6. The spark plug test tool of claim 5, further comprising a first support bracket, the first support bracket supporting the spark plug flange therein.

7. 6. The spark plug test tool of claim 5, wherein the tube flange comprises a nylon material.

8. 6. The spark plug test tool of claim 5, wherein the first support bracket comprises a nylon material.

9. 6. The spark plug test tool of claim 5, further comprising a second support bracket spaced apart from the first support bracket.

10. 10. The spark plug test tool of claim 9, wherein the second support bracket comprises a nylon material.

11. The spark plug test tool of claim 1 , further comprising a combustor bracket attached to a gas turbine engine combustor.

12. The spark plug test tool of claim 11 , wherein the first support bracket is attached to a combustor bracket.

13. 10. The spark plug test tool of claim 1, wherein the spark plug assembly includes an igniter plug, and the dielectric tube is sized to receive the spark plug.

14. 10. The spark plug test tool of claim 1, wherein the spark plug assembly includes an ignition transformer, and the first support bracket is sized to accommodate the ignition transformer.

15. 1. A method for safely testing an ignition plug assembly for a gas turbine engine combustor, the spark plug assembly including a spark plug and a spark plug flange, the method comprising: removing the spark plug assembly from the gas turbine engine combustor while keeping the spark plug assembly electrically connected to the gas turbine engine combustor; placing a spark plug of the spark plug assembly within a dielectric tube of the spark plug test tool; positioning a spark plug flange of a spark plug assembly within a support bracket of a spark plug test tool; testing the spark plug assembly; A method comprising:

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