Gas Turbine Combustor Cooling Hole Inspection

The patent replaces traditional mechanical dimensional inspection methods with a functional inspection method that measures flow rate and cooling effectiveness. Instead of using mechanical measurement tools to assess hole dimensions, the system uses fluid flow measurements and thermal imaging to evaluate whether the cooling holes perform their intended function, thereby eliminating time-consuming geometric measurements while ensuring operational adequacy.

The patent changes the inspection parameters from geometric dimensions (diameter, length, shape) to functional parameters (flow rate, temperature distribution, cooling effectiveness). By measuring the actual performance of the cooling holes rather than their physical dimensions, the inspection process becomes faster while still providing assurance of manufacturing quality through functional performance validation.

The patent replaces complex mechanical measurement systems with a simpler functional testing system. Instead of requiring sophisticated coordinate measuring machines or optical scanners to map hole geometries, the invention uses relatively simple flow rate measurement devices and thermal imaging cameras to assess cooling performance, thereby reducing inspection system complexity while maintaining verification of manufacturing quality.

The patent creates a functional copy of the cooling hole's intended performance rather than physically measuring the holes themselves. By measuring the flow rate and temperature distribution that the cooling holes produce, the system evaluates manufacturing precision through the holes' functional output rather than their physical dimensions, simplifying the inspection apparatus required.

The patent merges the inspection of flow rate and cooling effectiveness into a single integrated test procedure. Rather than conducting separate experiments to measure each parameter, the system simultaneously measures both the flow rate of coolant through the holes and the resulting temperature distribution on the surface, using thermal imaging to capture both pieces of information during the same operational test, thereby maintaining measurement precision while halving the inspection time.

The patent ensures continuous measurement of both flow rate and cooling effectiveness during a single uninterrupted test sequence. The thermal imaging system continuously monitors temperature distribution while the flow rate is measured, allowing both parameters to be captured in real-time during the same operational period, eliminating the need to stop and reset between separate measurements.