Tilt Sensor Rotor Tracking for Turbomachinery Inspection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for tracking the angular orientation of turbine rotors during inspections in turbomachinery are prone to error, leading to increased time and costs due to manual counting inaccuracies, which can result in incorrect documentation of flaws or damage.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of at least one tilt sensor located on the turbomachine component to detect the angle of rotation, with data transmission to a device for conversion into a bucket indicia, reducing the need for manual counting and enhancing inspection accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual counting methods are used to track rotor orientation, then the inspection process is simple and low-cost, but the accuracy and reliability of bucket identification deteriorates due to human error
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical counting method with an electronic tilt sensor system that uses tilt sensors to detect rotor orientation and automatically identifies bucket positions, eliminating human counting errors while maintaining operational simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces tilt sensors as an intermediary device between the rotor and the inspection process, which automatically detect angular orientation and provide precise bucket identification without requiring direct human intervention in the counting process
2Reliability
If the rotor is rotated through multiple revolutions or in multiple directions during inspection, then more thorough examination is achieved, but the difficulty of tracking bucket orientation increases and error rate rises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback system where tilt sensors continuously monitor rotor orientation during rotation, providing real-time angular position data that allows the system to automatically track and identify buckets regardless of rotation direction or number of revolutions, ensuring inspection completeness without increasing tracking difficulty
3Productivity
If manual counting methods are used, then equipment cost is low, but inspection time increases due to potential errors and restarts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual counting with automated electronic tilt sensor-based orientation tracking, which eliminates time lost to counting errors and restarts, significantly improving inspection speed and productivity while reducing overall inspection time
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
This solution significantly reduces errors and inspection time by providing accurate tracking of rotor rotation and bucket location, allowing for more efficient and precise documentation of flaws or damage during turbomachinery inspections.
Implementation Method 1
detecting an angle of rotation of the turbomachine component via the at least one tilt sensor
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a method for tracking rotation of a turbomachine component including locating at least one tilt sensor at the turbomachine component and rotating the turbomachine component about a central axis to observe a portion of interest on the turbomachine component. The at least one tilt sensor detects an angle of rotation of the turbomachine component and transmits the angle of rotation from the at least one tilt sensor to a device which converts the angle of rotation to an indicia of the portion of interest. Further disclosed is a rotor including at least one tilt sensor and a system for tracking rotation of a turbomachine component including at least one tilt sensor and a device.