Turbine Blade Deformation Measurement Using Tracking Points
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Solution Overview
Problem
Turbine blades undergo significant deformation due to operational stresses, leading to potential failure through crack growth and disengagement of vibration dampening features, necessitating a method to quantify and monitor deformation over time.
Innovation Solution
A system and method involving identifying measuring points on the turbine blade, tracking their initial positions, and measuring the spatial distance traveled over time to determine deformation, using a computing resource and measurement device to calculate deformation in radial, axial, and tangential directions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If turbine blades operate for extended periods under high stress, then power generation continues, but deformation accumulates leading to blade failure
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary measurement of blade geometry and establishes reference positions before operation begins. This allows deformation to be detected and quantified before critical failure occurs, enabling preventive maintenance while the blade is still operational and productive.
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement system provides continuous feedback on blade deformation by comparing current positions of measuring points against reference positions. This feedback loop enables monitoring of deformation accumulation over time, allowing operators to adjust maintenance schedules based on actual blade condition rather than fixed time intervals.
2Reliability
If deformation measurement systems are implemented, then blade reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blade is divided into multiple measuring points distributed across critical regions. Each measuring point independently tracks deformation, allowing the complex measurement task to be broken into simple, repeatable measurements at discrete locations. This segmentation makes the overall system manageable and scalable.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a digital copy or model of the blade's initial geometry and compares it against actual measurements over time. This virtual reference model allows deformation to be quantified without requiring physical reference artifacts, simplifying the measurement apparatus while maintaining measurement accuracy.
3Measurement precision
If multiple measuring points are used to accurately capture deformation, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement device is designed with universal functionality to handle multiple measuring points using the same measurement principle and apparatus. A single multi-functional device can measure all measuring points on the blade, eliminating the need for specialized equipment at each location and reducing overall system complexity despite the increased number of measurement locations.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a method for measuring deformation of a turbine blade, the method including identifying at least one measuring point disposed on the turbine blade, retaining information pertaining to a first position of the at least one measuring point, operating the turbine blade over a period of time, measuring a spatial distance traveled by the at least one measuring point after the operating of the turbine blade over the period of time, the spatial distance being measured relative to the first position of the at least one measuring point; and determining an amount of deformation in the blade based on the measuring of the spatial distance.