Sensor Assembly for Turbine Position Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sensing equipment in turbine engine sections faces challenges due to extreme hot and pressurized environments, where distinct thermal growth rates of multiple structures and tolerance stacking affect signal accuracy and reliability when trying to detect target positions.
Innovation Solution
A sensor assembly with a sensor body extending through multiple structures, featuring a sealing assembly to accommodate relative movement and a position sensor to detect targets within harsh environments, ensuring constant contact via a biasing member, allowing for accurate positional sensing across varying temperatures and pressures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sensing equipment is placed in the hot gas path environment to directly detect target position, then measurement precision is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to extreme temperature and pressure conditions
Solution Approach 1:
A target indicator member is introduced as an intermediary between the harsh hot gas path environment and the sensor. The indicator member is exposed to the extreme conditions while the sensor operates in a protected, cooler environment. The indicator member transfers positional information from the target to the sensor through magnetic coupling, allowing accurate detection without direct sensor exposure to harmful thermal and pressure conditions.
2Reliability
If multiple structures are used to separate distinct operating environments, then reliability is improved by protecting sensitive components, but measurement precision deteriorates due to thermal growth rates and tolerance stacking
Solution Approach 1:
Traditional mechanical coupling methods between structures are replaced with magnetic coupling through the target indicator member. The magnetic field can penetrate multiple structural barriers without being affected by thermal growth or tolerance stacking. This substitution eliminates mechanical contact issues while maintaining signal transmission accuracy across multiple separated environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes from mechanical parameter transmission (physical contact, direct mechanical linkage) to magnetic field parameter transmission. The magnetic coupling allows the indicator member to transmit positional information through multiple structures without being constrained by thermal expansion differences or mechanical tolerance accumulation, maintaining precision while protecting the sensor.
3Manufacturing precision
If rigid structural connections are used to maintain sensor position, then manufacturing precision is improved, but adaptability deteriorates due to thermal growth and structural movement
Solution Approach 1:
The target indicator member is designed with dynamic characteristics, allowing it to move and flex in response to thermal growth and structural movements. Rather than using rigid fixed connections, the indicator member can dynamically adjust its position while maintaining magnetic coupling with the sensor, accommodating thermal expansion and contraction without losing alignment or measurement accuracy.
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 reliable and accurate detection of target positions within turbine engines by maintaining constant contact and accommodating thermal growth, improving signal integrity and reducing errors from structural movement.
Implementation Method 1
at least one biasing member in contact with the target to bias the target into constant operative contact with the sensor body
Implementation Method 2
a first sealing assembly configured to operatively couple the sensor body to the second structure and to accommodate movement of the sensor body due to relative movement between the first structure and the second structure
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor assembly includes a first structure and a second structure disposed radially outwardly of the first structure. Also included is a sensor body extending through the first and second structures, the sensor body having first and second ends, the first end disposed proximate a first environment defined by the first structure and the second end located radially outwardly of the second structure. Further included is a first sealing assembly configured to operatively couple the sensor body to the second structure and to accommodate movement of the sensor body. Yet further included is a position sensor operatively coupled to the sensor body, the position sensor configured to determine a position of a target located within the first interior volume. Also included is at least one biasing member in contact with the target to bias the target into constant operative contact with the sensor body.