Gas turbine exhaust diffuser mounted blade path thermocouple probe

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016356174-A1
Application number	US-201514732972-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 8, 2015
Priority date	Jun 8, 2015
Publication date	Dec 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A thermocouple probe assembly for monitoring the temperature of an exhaust gas flow at an output of a gas turbine engine. The probe assembly includes a plenum pipe positioned within an opening extending through an outer casing wall and a plenum plate of the engine, where an air gap is provided between the casing wall and the plate. The plenum pipe is rigidly secured to the plenum plate and resiliently mounted to the casing wall so that the plenum pipe is operable to slide relative to the wall. The probe assembly further includes a diffuser liner boss rigidly secured to an outer liner of an exhaust gas diffuser in the gas turbine engine, where the liner boss includes a central bore, and where the shaft of the thermocouple probe extends through the central bore in the liner boss so that the sensor is positioned within the exhaust gas diffuser.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A thermocouple probe assembly for monitoring temperature of an exhaust gas flow at an output of a gas turbine engine, said probe assembly comprising:
a thermocouple probe including a probe shaft, a thermocouple sensor provided at a sensing end of the shaft, an electrical connector provided at an opposite end of the shaft from the sensor and a guide pipe through which the shaft extends and being mounted to the shaft between the sensor and the connector; a plenum pipe operable to be positioned within an opening extending through an outer casing wall and a plenum plate, where an air gap is provided between the casing wall and the plate, said plenum pipe being rigidly secured to the plenum plate and resiliently mounted to the casing wall so that the plenum pipe is operable to move relative to the wall, said probe shaft and guide pipe extending through the plenum pipe and being spaced therefrom; and a liner boss operable to be rigidly secured to an outer diffuser liner of an exhaust gas diffuser in the gas turbine engine, said liner boss including a central bore, wherein the shaft of the thermocouple probe extends through the central bore in the liner boss so that the sensor is positioned within the exhaust gas diffuser, and wherein the guide pipe is rigidly secured to the liner boss.

2 . The thermocouple probe assembly according to claim 1 wherein the plenum pipe is welded to the plenum plate and the liner boss is welded to the diffuser liner.

3 . The thermocouple probe assembly according to claim 1 wherein the plenum pipe is resiliently mounted to the casing wall by an O-ring.

4 . The thermocouple probe assembly according to claim 1 wherein the guide pipe is rigidly secured to the liner boss by a threaded connection.

5 . The thermocouple probe assembly according to claim 1 wherein the guide pipe is rigidly secured to the shaft by a threaded connection.

6 . A sensor probe assembly for monitoring temperature of an exhaust gas flow at an output of a gas turbine engine, said probe assembly comprising:
a sensor probe including a probe shaft and a sensor provided at a sensing end of the shaft; a plenum pipe operable to be positioned within an opening extending through an outer casing wall and a plenum plate, where an air gap is provided between the casing wall and the plate, said plenum pipe being rigidly secured to one of the plenum plate or the casing wall and resiliently mounted to the other of the plenum plate or the casing wall; and a liner boss operable to be rigidly secured to an outer diffuser liner of an exhaust gas diffuser in the gas turbine engine, said liner boss including a central bore, wherein the shaft of the thermocouple probe extends through the central bore in the liner boss so that the sensor is positioned within the exhaust gas diffuser.

7 . The sensor probe assembly according to claim 6 wherein the plenum pipe is rigidly secured to the plenum plate and resiliently mounted to the casing wall so that the plenum pipe is operable to slide relative to the wall.

8 . The sensor probe assembly according to claim 7 wherein the plenum pipe is resiliently mounted to the casing wall by an O-ring.

9 . The sensor probe assembly according to claim 6 wherein the sensor probe includes a probe shaft and a guide pipe through which the probe shaft extends, and wherein the probe shaft and the guide pipe extend through the plenum pipe and are spaced therefrom.

10 . The sensor probe assembly according to claim 9 wherein the guide pipe is rigidly secured to the liner boss by a threaded connection.

11 . The sensor probe assembly according to claim 9 wherein the guide pipe is rigidly secured to the shaft by a threaded connection.

12 . The sensor probe assembly according to claim 6 where the sensor probe is a thermocouple probe.

13 . The sensor probe assembly according to claim 6 wherein the plenum pipe is welded to the plenum plate and the liner boss is welded to the diffuser liner.

14 . A method for mounting a thermocouple probe in an output of a gas turbine engine so as to monitor temperature of an exhaust gas flow, said probe including a probe shaft, a thermocouple sensor mounted at a sensing end of the shaft, an electrical connector mounted at an opposite end of the shaft from the sensor and a guide pipe through which the shaft extends and being mounted to the shaft between the sensor and the connector, said method comprising:
positioning a plenum pipe within an opening extending through an outer casing wall of the engine and a plenum plate, where an air gap is provided between the casing wall and the plate, so that the plenum pipe is rigidly secured to the plenum plate and resiliently mounted to the casing wall so that the plenum pipe is operable to move relative to the wall, said probe shaft and guide pipe extending through the plenum pipe and being spaced therefrom; rigidly securing a diffusion liner boss to an exhaust gas diffuser liner of an exhaust gas diffuser in the gas turbine engine, said liner boss including a central bore; and inserting the probe through the plenum pipe so that it is spaced therefrom, rigidly securing the guide pipe to the liner boss and inserting the probe pipe through the bore in the liner boss so that the sensor is positioned within the exhaust gas diffuser.

15 . The method according to claim 14 wherein the plenum pipe is welded to the plenum plate and the liner boss is welded to the diffuser liner.

16 . The method according to claim 14 wherein the plenum pipe is resiliently mounted to the casing wall by an O-ring.

17 . The method according to claim 14 wherein the guide pipe is rigidly secured to the liner boss by a threaded connection.

18 . The method according to claim 14 wherein the guide pipe is rigidly secured to the shaft by a threaded connection.

Assignees

• Siemens Energy Inc

Inventors

• Myers Gerald A
• Giaimo John
• Buttice James
• Brooks Stephen

Classifications

• F05D2260/83

  Testing, e.g. methods, components or tools therefor · CPC title

• F01D25/30

  Exhaust heads, chambers, or the like · CPC title

• F05D2220/32

  in gas turbines · CPC title

• F01D9/02

  Nozzles; Nozzle boxes; Stator blades; Guide conduits {, e.g. individual nozzles (nozzle boxes F01D9/047)} · CPC title

• F01D21/003 Primary

  Arrangements for testing or measuring (for measuring vibrations G01H) · CPC title