Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090297341 | FLUIDIC SEALING FOR TURBOMACHINERY - Disclosed is a seal for turbomachinery including a seal face locatable between a first turbomachinery component and a second turbomachinery component. At least one fluid channel extends through the seal. The at least one fluid channel is capable of injecting fluid flow between the first turbomachinery component and the second turbomachinery component at the seal face thereby disrupting a leakage flow between the first turbomachinery component and the second turbomachinery component. Further disclosed is a turbomachine utilizing the seal. | 12-03-2009 |
20090320609 | Turbomachinery system fiberoptic multi-parameter sensing system and method - A fiberoptic multi-parameter sensing system for monitoring turbomachinery system shaft static and dynamic torques, vibration modes and associated operation status includes a multi-furcated fiber bundle based optical splitter configured to transmit light to a surface of at least one turbomachinery system shaft through a plurality of optical fiber bundles disposed at a plurality of locations in proximity to the surface of the at least one shaft, in which the plurality of locations together are arranged in a substantially axial direction between the ends of the at least one shaft. The system further includes an array of high-temperature bifurcated fiber bundle based reflectance probes to receive reflectance signals from the shaft surface and send to an array of photosensitive detectors, configured to detect dynamic light reflected from the at least one turbomachinery system shaft surface in response to the transmitted light during rotation of at least one turbomachinery system shaft and generate dynamic reflected light signals there from. A sensing mechanism is configured to determine a torque or vibration on at least one turbomachinery system shaft in response to the dynamic reflected light signal signatures based on time-domain and frequency-domain signal processes. | 12-31-2009 |
20100047058 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TEMPERATURE SENSING IN TURBINES - A method for measuring temperature of a rotating body such as a steam turbine is provided. The method includes striking a light beam onto the rotating body onto the rotating body and measuring a reflectance of the light beam from the rotating body. The method further includes obtaining a temperature of the rotating body based upon the measured reflectance. | 02-25-2010 |
20100074572 | FIBER OPTIC SENSING DEVICE AND METHOD - A device includes a stationary, rotary component, and a fiber optic sensing system. The fiber optic sensing system includes a cable having one or more fiber optic sensors disposed on the stationary component, the rotary component, or combinations thereof. The fiber optic sensing system is configured to detect one or more first parameters including temperature, strain, pressure, vibration, torque; or combinations thereof related to the stationary component, the rotary component, or combinations thereof. The one or more first parameters is used to determine one or more second parameters including thermal expansion, clearance, fluid flow rate variation, condensation, fluid leakage, thermal loss, life, thermal stress, or combinations thereof related to the stationary component, the rotary component, or combinations thereof. | 03-25-2010 |
20100078893 | ACTIVE RETRACTABLE SEAL FOR TURBOMACHINERY AND RELATED METHOD - An active retractable seal assembly is configured for use between a rotating component and a stationary component of turbo machinery is disclosed. The seal assembly includes a seal mounted to the stationary component. The seal is movable towards and away from the rotating component between a respective closed position and an open position as a function of pressure drop across the seal. The seal includes an active seal segment, a non-active seal segment, and a fluid by-pass circuit. The fluid by-pass circuit is configured for directing fluid around the active seal segment to reduce pressure drop across the active seal segment thereby resulting in the active seal segment moving towards an open position under the action of one or more biasing devices while maintaining the non-active seal segment in a closed position. | 04-01-2010 |
20100080500 | FIBEROPTIC CLEARANCE DETECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A fiberoptic system for clearance detection between rotating and stationary turbomachinery components is presented. The system comprises an optical fiber probe comprising a plurality of optical fibers, at least one of the optical fibers comprising a transmission fiber and at least one of the optical fibers comprising a signal fiber; a light source for providing light through the transmission fiber towards a target; filters for receiving light from the signal fibers, at least two of the filters for filtering different wavelengths; and at least one photodetector for receiving filtered light from the filters. | 04-01-2010 |
20100158674 | ADAPTIVE COMPLIANT PLATE SEAL ASSEMBLIES AND METHODS - A steam turbine comprises a steam turbine casing, a rotor, and at least one compliant plate seal assembly situated between the casing and the rotor. The compliant plate seal assembly comprises a supporting member being stationary with respect to the casing, a plurality of plate members movably mounted to the supporting member and extending towards the rotor, each plate member being inclined with respect to a rotation direction of the rotor, and an actuator for selectively exerting a pressure to retract the plate members in a direction away from the rotor. | 06-24-2010 |
20100176556 | Method Of Manufacturing Of A Compliant Plate Seal Assembly - A compliant plate seal manufacturing method is provided. The method includes assembling a plurality of compliant plates and a plurality of spacer shims into a weld fixture, thereby forming a leaf pack having a front and rear end and sides and a curvature, welding the sides of the leaf pack to hook plates on the weld fixture, removing a portion of the weld fixture, removing a portion of the hook plates and applying a radial flow plate to the leaf pack. | 07-15-2010 |
20100213675 | Method Of Manufacture Of Compliant Plate Seals - A compliant plate seal arrangement manufacturing method is provided. A compliant plate seal manufacturing method includes assembling a plurality of t-shims and a plurality of spacer shims into a straight weld fixture, thereby forming a shim pack having a front and rear end and sides, welding the sides of the shim pack to a top plate, removing a portion of the weld fixture, removing the plurality of spacer shims, shaping the shim pack into a target diameter, and applying a radial flow plate to the leaf pack. | 08-26-2010 |
20100239415 | SPRING SYSTEM DESIGNS FOR ACTIVE AND PASSIVE RETRACTABLE SEALS - A spring assembly for a retractable turbine rotor seal supported in an arcuate segment may include in one embodiment a first radially inner restraining plate having a lower surface adapted to engage a surface of a turbine stator, and a flat upper surface provide with an upstanding hub; a second radially outer restraining plate having a flat lower surface and an upper surface adapted to engage a surface of the arcuate segment, the radially outer restraining plate formed with an opening receiving the upstanding hub; and at least one spring telescoped over the upstanding hub and exerting a radially outward biasing force on the second radially outer restraining plate, and adapted to exert a radially outward retracting force on the arcuate segment. | 09-23-2010 |
20110135445 | PRESSURE BALANCED LOW-FRICTION SEAL - A pressure balance seal includes a sealing surface facing an inward radial direction, and a stator interface comprising at least one surface interfacing with a stator. The pressure balance seal further includes a friction reducing feature. The friction reducing feature includes a cavity on the sealing surface. The cavity is configured to receive a fluid such that a normal force acting on the pressure balance seal is counterbalanced by a force generated by a pressure of the fluid. | 06-09-2011 |
20120201489 | FIBEROPTIC CLEARANCE DETECTION METHOD AND OPTICAL FIBER PROBE USED THEREIN - A method includes transmitting light through at least one transmission optical fiber towards a target, receiving light reflected from the target through at least one signal optical fiber, filtering the received light at least two different wavelengths, and using the filtered light to detect a clearance variation. An optical fiber probe includes a plurality of optical fibers, a moisture-resistant enclosure enclosing the optical fibers, a hydrophobic layer situated over an end of the optical fiber probe for preventing moisture from reaching the optical fibers, and a broadband transmission layer between ends of the optical fibers and the hydrophobic layer. | 08-09-2012 |