Inspection Scope Vibration Sensing for Installed Powerplant Components
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inspection methods for internal defects in powerplant components are inefficient and often require disassembly or significant downtime, limiting their effectiveness and applicability.
Innovation Solution
A non-destructive inspection method using an actuator and sensor inserted into the powerplant to induce and measure vibratory responses at multiple locations, allowing for defect detection while the component remains installed, utilizing an expandable mount to maintain contact and facilitate rotational movement for comprehensive analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional inspection methods are used for internal defects in powerplant components, then inspection can be performed, but disassembly or significant downtime is required
Solution Approach 1:
The inspection scope head is inserted into the interior of the powerplant component through existing access ports and internal passages, nesting the inspection system within the component's existing structure. This allows the actuator and sensor to reach internal surfaces without disassembly, resolving the contradiction between inspection effectiveness and downtime by accessing previously unreachable areas through the component's own architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The inspection scope head acts as an intermediary device that bridges the gap between external inspection equipment and internal component surfaces. By inserting the scope head through access ports and using it to position actuators and sensors against internal surfaces, the system enables non-destructive inspection without requiring component disassembly or extended downtime
2Measurement precision
If multiple inspection locations are examined comprehensively, then defect detection accuracy improves, but inspection complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inspection system employs dynamic positioning where the scope head can be moved to different locations within the powerplant interior, and the actuator can be repositioned against different internal surfaces. This dynamic adaptability allows comprehensive multi-location inspection without requiring a complex fixed multi-sensor array, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The same actuator and sensor mounted on the movable scope head are used to inspect multiple different locations and surfaces within the powerplant. This multi-functional approach allows a single inspection system to comprehensively examine various internal areas, reducing device complexity while maintaining high defect detection accuracy through multiple inspection points
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 efficient, in-situ inspection with minimal downtime, detecting internal defects such as cracks and corrosion with high precision, even in small dimensions, by analyzing vibratory responses for accurate component characterization.
Implementation Method 1
First vibrations are induced in the component at a first inspection location using the actuator. A first vibratory response in the component excited by the first vibrations is measured using the sensor
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
An inspection method is provided during which an actuator (40) and a sensor (42) are inserted into an interior (26) of a powerplant. The powerplant (24) includes a component (22) within the interior (26) of the powerplant (24). The actuator (40) and the sensor (42) are arranged with the component (22) within the interior (26) of the powerplant (24). First vibrations are induced in the component (22) at a first inspection location using the actuator (40). A first vibratory response in the component (22) excited by the first vibrations is measured using the sensor (42) to provide first sensor data. The component (22) is rotated a first number of degrees about a rotational axis of the component (22). Second vibrations are induced in the component (22) at a second inspection location using the actuator (40). A second vibratory response in the component (22) excited by the second vibrations is measured using the sensor (42) to provide second sensor data.