Overpressure Valve State Monitoring from Pressure-Temperature Signals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for monitoring the operating state of turbomachine pressure relief valves are cumbersome, requiring additional sensors and electrical connections, leading to an unfavorable mass/cost/installation balance and prone to false detections.
Innovation Solution
A method that uses existing fluid pressure and temperature sensors to determine the operating state of the pressure relief valve by analyzing the temporal evolution of fluid pressure, including derivatives, to indicate opening or closing, without the need for additional sensors, thereby minimizing connectors and weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If acoustic monitoring strategy with additional temperature and ultrasonic sensors is implemented, then leak detection capability is improved, but device complexity and installation constraints increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by using existing fluid temperature sensors and pressure sensors for multiple purposes: their primary function (temperature/pressure measurement) plus an additional function (valve leak detection). The controller analyzes data from these multi-functional sensors to detect valve failures without requiring dedicated monitoring sensors, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The existing sensor network serves itself by performing both its original measurement function and the additional valve monitoring function. The system uses its own existing resources (temperature and pressure sensors already installed in the fluid circuit) to monitor valve operation, eliminating the need for separate monitoring infrastructure and reducing installation constraints.
2Measurement precision
If complete physical model with multiple variable geometry sensors is implemented, then system state determination is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential monitoring function from the complete physical model approach. Instead of implementing a comprehensive model with multiple variable geometry sensors for full system state determination, it extracts and focuses solely on detecting valve opening/closing events using simple temperature and pressure sensor data, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining sufficient measurement precision for the specific monitoring goal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by not trying to determine complete system state to infer valve status, but rather by directly detecting valve status through characteristic temperature/pressure patterns. Instead of using complex sensors to measure all system variables and then deducing valve state, it uses simple sensors to directly observe the thermal and pressure signatures of valve operation.
3Reliability
If additional acquisition methods and sensor harnesses are implemented, then monitoring capability is improved, but weight and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes existing sensors multi-functional by using them for both their primary measurement tasks and for valve monitoring. The fluid temperature and pressure sensors serve dual purposes: monitoring fluid conditions and detecting valve operational state through analysis of temperature variations and pressure evolution patterns, thereby eliminating the need for additional monitoring sensors and reducing overall system weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The existing sensor network performs self-service monitoring by using its own data to detect valve failures. The system leverages data already being collected for other purposes (fluid temperature and pressure measurement) to simultaneously monitor valve operation, eliminating the need for separate monitoring infrastructure and reducing both weight and cost.
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 approach allows for robust detection of valve behavior, reducing false alarms and enabling weight savings by utilizing existing sensors, thus improving the monitoring of pressure relief valves without additional hardware.
Implementation Method 1
a fluid pressure sensor in the fluid circuit
Implementation Method 2
a fluid temperature sensor in the fluid circuit
Implementation Method 3
said pressure relief valve being configured to limit the maximum fluid pressures in the fluid circuit and to open if the fluid temperature is below a threshold fluid temperature
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for monitoring the operating state of an overpressure valve of a turbine engine, the turbine engine comprising a fluid circuit, at least one pressure sensor for the fluid in the fluid circuit, a temperature sensor for the fluid in the fluid circuit, said overpressure valve being configured to limit the maximum fluid pressures in the fluid circuit, and the method comprising the following steps: - (E2) determining an opening or closing indicator of the overpressure valve on the basis of the change in the fluid pressure over time; - (E3) determining an operating state of the valve as a function of a fluid threshold temperature and of the determined opening or closing indicator of the overpressure valve.