Gas Turbine Sensor Positioning via Fuel Nozzle Geometry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining sensor locations in gas turbine engines are either costly and time-consuming or fail to accurately compensate for faulty sensors, leading to reduced measurement accuracy and increased complexity.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for determining sensor locations in a gas turbine engine that positions sensors relative to fuel nozzles using a calculated positioning angle, allowing for optimal sampling of the gas flow temperature distribution and enabling compensation for faulty sensors through geometric relationships and mathematical modeling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If burner rig tests are used to determine sensor locations, then measurement accuracy is improved, but time consumption and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical burner rig testing with a computational model that uses mathematical equations to predict optimal sensor locations. The model substitutes empirical data collection with theoretical calculations based on gas flow patterns and temperature distribution, eliminating the need for time-consuming physical tests while maintaining measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary computational analysis to determine optimal sensor locations before actual engine operation. By pre-calculating the ideal sensor positions using mathematical models of temperature distribution, the system avoids the need for iterative physical testing and data analysis, saving significant time while ensuring accurate measurements from the start.
2Reliability
If supplemental sensors are added to compensate for sensor failure, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the sensor system through mathematical modeling. Instead of adding physical supplemental sensors, the system uses computational models to estimate what the missing sensor readings would be, based on the spatial and temporal relationships between the remaining functional sensors. This virtual replication maintains measurement reliability without increasing physical system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical approach of adding more physical sensors with a computational approach. The system uses mathematical algorithms to substitute for the function of missing sensors, calculating estimated readings based on the behavior and spatial relationships of the remaining sensors. This substitution maintains reliability while avoiding the complexity and cost of additional hardware.
3Ease of manufacture
If sensors are randomly distributed, then ease of installation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by positioning sensors at specific locations where they will capture the most informative temperature data. Rather than uniform random distribution, the model identifies specific circumferential positions where sensors will best represent the local temperature characteristics and contribute most effectively to calculating the accurate average temperature of the gas flow.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for determining sensor locations in a gas turbine engine is provided. The said method includes providing a turbine rear frame including a radially inner surface, a radially outer surface and a plurality of circumferentially-spaced struts extending between the inner and outer surfaces, wherein a strut sector is defined between each pair of circumferentially-adjacent struts, providing a plurality of fuel nozzles that are each aligned with a strut sector, selecting one of the plurality of fuel nozzles as a primary index nozzle and positioning each of a plurality of sensors relative to one of the plurality of nozzles using a corresponding positioning angle such that each of the plurality of sensors coincides with a gas flow temperature distribution profile between each pair of circumferentially-spaced nozzles.