Non-Optical Flame Detector for Gas Turbine Combustors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flame detection methods in gas turbines, particularly optical detectors, face challenges in withstanding extreme operating conditions without cooling and are prone to damage from cooling fluid leaks, making them risky and expensive.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that determine the flame state of a combustor in a gas turbine engine by analyzing the first and second derivatives of compressor discharge pressure, gas turbine exhaust gas temperature, and shaft/rotor speed, eliminating the need for cooling and reducing the risk of damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If optical detectors are used to monitor flame state in the combustor, then flame detection capability is improved, but the detectors cannot withstand extreme operating conditions without cooling and are prone to damage from cooling fluid leaks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces optical detectors with a non-optical detection system that uses pressure sensors and temperature sensors to monitor flame state. The system calculates derivatives of pressure and temperature parameters to determine flame conditions, eliminating the need for optical components that require cooling and are vulnerable to cooling fluid leaks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediate parameters (pressure and temperature) as mediators to indirectly detect flame state. Instead of directly monitoring the flame with optical sensors, the system uses pressure sensors and temperature sensors to measure physical conditions that change with flame state, then processes these measurements to determine combustion conditions.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If optical detectors are cooled to withstand extreme operating conditions, then detector durability is improved, but cooling fluid leaks can still cause damage to surrounding components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the cooling system entirely by replacing optical detectors with non-optical sensing elements (pressure and temperature sensors) that can operate without cooling. This substitution removes the source of cooling fluid leaks while maintaining the ability to monitor flame state through indirect measurement of combustion parameters.
3Device complexity
If optical detectors are used without cooling, then device complexity is reduced, but the detectors cannot withstand extreme operating conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex cooled optical detection systems with simpler non-optical sensing systems. The pressure and temperature sensors used in the invention do not require cooling mechanisms, eliminating the complexity of cooling systems while maintaining reliability in extreme operating conditions through indirect measurement of combustion parameters.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of detecting flame state of a combustor of a turbine engine includes determining at least one of a first derivative and a second derivative of a compressor discharge pressure (40) of a compressor of the turbine engine; determining at least one of a first derivative and a second derivative of a gas turbine exhaust gas temperature (30) of the exhaust gases (70) output by the turbine engine; determining at least one of a first derivative and a second derivative of a gas turbine shaft/rotor speed of the turbine engine; determining at least one of a first derivative and a second derivative of combustor dynamic pressure monitoring; and determining a flame state of a combustor of the turbine engine based on the combustor dynamic pressure monitoring, the determined derivatives of the combustion dynamics, compressor discharge pressure (40), gas turbine shaft/rotor speed, and gas turbine exhaust gas temperature (30) of the exhaust gases (70).