Multi-color pyrometry imaging for gas turbine temperature monitoring

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gas turbine engines face disruptions due to soot particles and temperature reflections causing erroneous temperature readings, leading to reduced power production and potential unplanned shutdowns, as current pyrometry systems struggle to accurately monitor high-temperature components in the hot gas path.

Innovation Solution

A multi-color pyrometry imaging system that generates images from photons in specific wavelength ranges, using a multi-filter color device with translation mechanisms and electro-optic systems to filter photons and adjust wavelength bands in real-time, providing accurate temperature measurements and images of hot gas path components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If optical pyrometers are used to monitor component temperatures in real-time, then temperature monitoring capability is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to soot particles and temperature reflections causing erroneous readings

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature monitoring capabilityVSAvoidtemperature reading accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the broad wavelength band into multiple narrow wavelength bands using band-pass filters. By dividing the spectral range and selecting specific wavelength bands that are less susceptible to soot interference and temperature reflection effects, the system achieves more accurate temperature measurements despite the presence of harmful factors in the hot gas path.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by selecting specific wavelength bands (e.g., 1.2-1.3 μm, 1.55-1.65 μm) that have different penetration characteristics and less sensitivity to soot particles and reflections. Different wavelength bands are chosen based on their local spectral properties to optimize temperature measurement accuracy in specific conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Device complexity

If single-color pyrometry is used for temperature measurement, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to inability to compensate for emissivity variations and reflections

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepyrometry system structureVSAvoidtemperature measurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses multiple detectors, each sensitive to a specific narrow wavelength band, to capture spectral information at different wavelengths. This segmentation of the measurement process across multiple wavelength channels enables the system to compensate for emissivity variations and reflection effects by analyzing the spectral distribution of thermal radiation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from single-color (one-dimensional) pyrometry to multi-color (multi-dimensional) pyrometry by measuring thermal radiation across multiple wavelength bands. This adds spectral dimension to the measurement, enabling more accurate temperature determination through spectral ratio analysis that eliminates the need for emissivity calibration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Use of energy by moving object

If broad wavelength band detection is used, then signal intensity is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to inclusion of wavelengths affected by soot particles and gas absorption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal intensityVSAvoidtemperature measurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the broad wavelength band into multiple narrow wavelength bands using band-pass filters with specific transmission characteristics. This segmentation allows the system to select wavelength regions that balance signal intensity with resistance to soot interference and gas absorption, achieving both adequate signal strength and measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the wavelength parameter by selecting specific narrow bands (e.g., 1.2-1.3 μm, 1.55-1.65 μm) that optimize the trade-off between signal intensity and resistance to interference. These wavelength parameters are chosen based on their penetration characteristics through hot gases and sensitivity to soot particles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

The system enhances the reliability of gas turbine engines by reducing firing rate oscillations and unnecessary shutdowns, enabling more accurate temperature monitoring and deferring maintenance outages through improved imaging and detection of component conditions.

Implementation Method 1

a multi-filter color device positioned between the camera aperture and the external environment is provided. The multi-filter color device is configured to filter photons to a first predetermined wavelength band within a range between approximately 1.20 micrometers (μm) and approximately 1.3 μm, and a second predetermined wavelength band within a range between approximately 1.55 μm and approximately 1.65 μm

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical filtering: Filter (optical)

Implementation Method 2

a translation mechanism is coupled to the multi-filter color device. The translation mechanism is configured to translate the multi-filter color device laterally between a first position and a second position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical translation:

Implementation Method 3

a camera device including a detector embedded therein and having a camera aperture... generates a first signal representative of a first image of a predetermined stage one turbine bucket... generates a second signal representative of a second image of the predetermined stage one turbine bucket

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal radiation detection: Thermal Radiation

Data Source

PatentEP2759819B1Multi-color pyrometry imaging system and method of operating the same
Publication Date: 2021.12.29 GENERAL ELECTRIC CO
  • EP2759819B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2759819B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2759819B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A multi-color pyrometry imaging system (164) for a high-temperature asset (100) includes at least one viewing port (166) in optical communication with at least one high-temperature component (167) of the high-temperature asset. The system also includes at least one camera device (168) in optical communication with the at least one viewing port. The at least one camera device includes a camera enclosure and at least one camera aperture (304) defined in the camera enclosure, The at least one camera aperture is in optical communication with the at least one viewing port. The at least one camera device also includes a multi-color filtering mechanism (310) coupled to the enclosure. The multi-color filtering mechanism is configured to sequentially transmit photons within a first predetermined wavelength band and transmit photons within a second predetermined wavelength band that is different than the first predetermined wavelength band.