Flash Thermography Borescope for Gas Turbine Inspection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for inspecting gas turbines are labor-intensive, time-consuming, and expensive, requiring shutdown and disassembly to assess internal components, limiting opportunities for nondestructive evaluation and extending downtime.
Innovation Solution
A flash thermography device with an infrared sensor and borescope that uses a flash source to generate light pulses, allowing for the capture of infrared images of turbine components without disassembly, enabling nondestructive evaluation of thermal barrier coatings and internal features while the turbine is still hot.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If current inspection methods are used (shutdown and disassembly), then internal components can be inspected, but inspection time and downtime are excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical disassembly operations with optical detection methods. An infrared camera captures thermal radiation from turbine components through the casing, substituting physical teardown with non-contact thermal imaging to achieve inspection without downtime
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces thermal radiation as an intermediary carrier of information. The infrared camera detects thermal radiation emitted by components, using this thermal signal as a mediator to obtain inspection data without direct physical access or disassembly
2Measurement precision
If turbine is shut down for inspection, then components can be evaluated, but operational efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous operation of the turbine while performing inspections. The infrared camera system allows evaluation of component conditions during normal operation, maintaining continuous useful action without interruption for shutdown inspections
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses thermal radiation as an intermediary to transfer inspection information without requiring system shutdown. The infrared detection system captures thermal signals transmitted through the operating turbine casing, enabling evaluation while maintaining productivity
3Measurement precision
If disassembly is performed for inspection, then internal features can be assessed, but labor costs and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical disassembly procedures with a simplified optical detection system. The infrared camera captures thermal radiation patterns that reveal internal feature conditions, substituting labor-intensive mechanical operations with automated thermal imaging
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces thermal radiation as an intermediary that carries information about internal features without requiring physical access. The infrared camera detects thermal signals that penetrate or emanate from internal components, simplifying the inspection procedure while maintaining detection capability
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
Enables rapid, nondestructive inspection of gas turbine components, reducing downtime and allowing for immediate assessment of thermal barrier coatings and internal conditions, thereby extending service intervals and improving operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a flash source that generates a plurality of light pulses corresponding to the number of components that rotate during a single rotation of the rotor to enable generation of an infrared image of each component. Each light pulse heats a corresponding component
Implementation Method 2
an infrared sensor for detecting thermal energy radiated by each component
Implementation Method 3
thermal energy radiated from each component is transmitted through the borescope to the infrared sensor to enable generation of an infrared image of each component
Data Source
AI summary
A flash thermography device for generating an infrared image of each of a plurality of rotating turbine components located inside a turbine. The device includes an infrared sensor for detecting thermal energy radiated by each component. The device also includes a borescope having a viewing end located on a longitudinal axis of the borescope. The borescope is positioned in an inspection port to locate the viewing end inside the turbine such that at least one component is within a field of view of the viewing end. In addition, the device includes a flash source that generates a plurality of light pulses corresponding to the number of components that rotate during a single rotation of the rotor, wherein the light pulses are oriented substantially transverse to the longitudinal. Thermal energy radiated from each component is transmitted through the borescope to the infrared sensor to enable generation infrared images.