Removable Turbine Gaspath Sensor Sleeve Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Turbine gaspath sensors in gas turbine engines face reduced service life due to high temperatures and combustion gases, leading to seized threaded connections that complicate removal and replacement, increasing labor and downtime.
Innovation Solution
A mounting arrangement using a sleeve with a releasable cap system that secures the sensor to the turbine case, allowing easy access and cooling air circulation, reducing thermal stress and facilitating inspection and replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sensor is mounted in a threaded bore within the turbine case, then the sensor is securely held in position, but the threaded connection seizes, corrodes, or accumulates contaminants making removal difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is divided into separate components: an outer case with outer ports, an inner case with inner ports, and removable sleeves that connect them. This segmentation allows the sensor to be accessed and removed through the outer ports without disturbing the inner case threading, eliminating the seizure problem while maintaining secure mounting.
Solution Approach 2:
The sleeve acts as an intermediary component between the inner case and outer case. It provides a removable connection path that bypasses the problematic threaded bore, allowing sensor removal without disassembling the main turbine case structure.
2Device complexity
If the sensor is mounted directly in the turbine case, then the mounting structure is simple, but labor and downtime for sensor replacement increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the mounting structure into outer case, inner case, and removable sleeves, the system enables quick sensor replacement through the outer ports without complex disassembly, reducing downtime despite the added structural components.
Solution Approach 2:
The sleeves are pre-positioned and secured to the inner case before sensor installation. This preliminary action allows the sensor to be quickly accessed and replaced through the outer ports without requiring assembly/disassembly of the main case structure during maintenance.
3Measurement precision
If the sensor probe extends into the gaspath, then the sensor can measure combustion parameters, but high temperatures and combustion gases reduce service life
Solution Approach 1:
The removable sleeve acts as a protective intermediary between the sensor and the harsh combustion environment. It can be removed and replaced without removing the sensor from the protected inner case position, extending sensor service life while maintaining measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting system transitions from a fixed threaded connection to a dynamic, removable sleeve-based connection. This allows the sensor to be quickly replaced when degraded by thermal exposure, restoring measurement precision without prolonged exposure to high temperatures.
Data Source
AI summary
A gas turbine engine comprises a turbine within a turbine case defining a hot combustion gas path. The turbine case has an inner port. An outer case is disposed radially outward from the turbine case. The outer case has an outer port. A sleeve releasably engages the outer port and the inner port. A sensor is mounted to a distal end of the sleeve. The sensor has a probe extending through the inner port into the hot combustion gas path.