Gas Turbine Diffuser Cover Temperature Sensor Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas turbines face challenges in precisely determining the thermodynamic mean temperature of expanded air due to significant temperature gradients across the flow channel, requiring numerous error-prone temperature sensors.
Innovation Solution
Arranging temperature sensors in the diffuser cover area at the outlet end of the diffuser, where the flow is separated, allows for precise determination of the thermodynamic mean temperature with fewer sensors, positioned either directly on the diffuser cover or up to 30 cm away, and preferably within a defined radial area for enhanced accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If temperature sensors are arranged in the flow channel to measure temperature, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to the large number of sensors required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the temperature measurement function from the main flow channel and relocates it to a separate diffuser cover structure. This allows the sensors to measure the thermodynamic mean temperature in a controlled environment without requiring multiple sensors in the complex flow channel, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The diffuser cover acts as an intermediary structure that separates the measurement function from the main flow channel. It provides a controlled environment for temperature sensing, allowing accurate measurement of the thermodynamic mean temperature without the complexity of direct flow channel measurements.
2Measurement precision
If temperature sensors are arranged in the flow channel, then measurement precision is improved, but reliability decreases due to sensor exposure to harsh conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the temperature sensors from the harsh flow channel environment and relocates them to the diffuser cover, which provides a protected environment. This maintains measurement precision while significantly improving sensor reliability by reducing exposure to damaging conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The diffuser cover structure provides beforehand protection for the temperature sensors, cushioning them from the harsh thermal and mechanical conditions in the flow channel. This prior protection ensures sensor reliability while maintaining measurement accuracy.
3Measurement precision
If numerous temperature sensors are used to account for temperature gradients, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to complex sensor arrangement and data processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the temperature measurement function from the complex flow channel environment and relocates it to the diffuser cover, where a single or few sensors can accurately measure the thermodynamic mean temperature. This eliminates the need for complex sensor arrays and simplifies data processing while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement location from the flow channel with significant temperature gradients to the diffuser cover where the thermodynamic mean temperature is more uniformly distributed. This parameter change allows accurate measurement with fewer sensors, greatly simplifying operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enables precise and efficient measurement of the thermodynamic mean temperature with reduced sensor effort, protecting the sensors from damage and improving operational reliability.
Implementation Method 1
The arrangement of the temperature sensors in the area of the diffuser cover, which closes a cavity at the outlet end of the diffuser radially inward from the flow channel of the diffuser, makes use of a separation of the flow downstream of the diffuser
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
A gas turbine (10) with a compressor (11) in which air can be compressed; with a burner (13) having at least one combustion chamber (21) to which the air compressed in the compressor (11) can be supplied and in which a fuel can be combusted in the presence of the compressed air by heating the air; with a turbine (12) in which the heated air can be expanded; a diffuser (25) arranged downstream of the turbine (12) in the direction of flow of the expanded air; with several temperature sensors, depending on the measured values of which a thermodynamic mean temperature or mixed turbine outlet temperature of the expanded air can be determined; wherein the temperature sensors are arranged in the region of a diffuser cover (27) which closes a cavity (28) of the diffuser (25) positioned radially inside a flow channel (26) of the diffuser (25) at an outlet end (30).