Methods for monitoring components

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9953408-B2
Application number	US-201514942159-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 16, 2015
Priority date	Nov 16, 2015
Publication date	Apr 24, 2018
Grant date	Apr 24, 2018

Abstract

Methods for monitoring components are provided. A component has an exterior surface. A method includes locating a centroid of a reference feature configured on the component, and measuring a first value of a characteristic of the reference feature relative to the centroid at a first time. The method further includes measuring a second value of the characteristic relative to the centroid at a second time after the first time, and comparing the first value and the second value.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for monitoring a component, wherein the component is a turbine component having an exterior surface, the method comprising:
locating a centroid of a first reference feature and a second reference feature configured on the exterior surface of the turbine component;
measuring a first distance between the centroid of the first reference feature and the centroid of the second reference feature at a first time;
measuring a second distance between the centroid of the first reference feature and the centroid of the second reference feature at a second time;
performing an operational use of the turbine component after the first time and before the second time, wherein the turbine component experiences strain during the operational use; and
comparing the first distance and the second distance.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of assigning a first weighting factor to the first reference feature and a second weighting factor to the second reference feature, the first weighting factor based on the area of the first reference feature, the second weighting factor based on the area of the second reference feature.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second reference feature is a plurality of second reference features.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first reference feature is a plurality of first reference features.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of measuring the first distance is performed in a two-dimensional coordinate system; and wherein the step of measuring the second value is performed in the two-dimensional coordinate system.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving an image of the first reference feature and the second reference feature at the first time, and receiving an image of the first reference feature and the second reference feature at the second time.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first reference feature and the second reference feature are elements of a strain sensor configured on the exterior surface of the turbine component.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first reference feature is disposed within a serial region of the strain sensor.

9. A method for monitoring a turbine component, the turbine component having an exterior surface the method comprising:
locating, with an image capture device, a centroid of a first reference feature and a second reference feature configured on the exterior surface of the turbine component;
measuring, with a processor, a first distance between the centroid of the first reference feature and the centroid of the second reference feature at a first time;
measuring, with the processor, a second distance between the centroid of the first reference feature and the centroid of the second reference feature at a second time; and
comparing, with the processor, the first distance and the second distance.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising receiving, with the processor; an image from the image capture device of the first reference feature and the second reference feature at the first time, and receiving, with the processor, an image from the image capture device of the first reference feature and the second reference feature at the second time.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising the step of assigning a first weighting factor to the first reference feature and a second weighting factor to the second reference feature, the first weighting factor based on the area of the first reference feature, the second weighting factor based on the area of the second reference feature.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the second reference feature is a plurality of second reference features.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first reference feature is a plurality of first reference features.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the step of measuring the first distance is performed in a two-dimensional coordinate system, and wherein the step of measuring the second value is performed in the two-dimensional coordinate system.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first time occurs before operational use of the turbine component, and the second time occurs after operational use of the turbine component.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first reference feature and the second reference feature are configured on the exterior surface of the turbine component.

17. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first reference feature and the second reference feature are elements of a strain sensor configured on the turbine component.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the first reference feature is disposed within a serial region of the strain sensor.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Burnside Jason Lee
• Hovis Gregory Lee
• Ranson William F
• Davidoff Robert William

Classifications

• F05D2270/80

  Devices generating input signals, e.g. transducers, sensors, cameras or strain gauges · CPC title

• G01B21/32 Primary

  for measuring the deformation in a solid · CPC title

• F05D2270/332

  Maximum loads or fatigue criteria · CPC title

• F01D25/24

  Casings (modified for heating or cooling F01D25/14); Casing parts, e.g. diaphragms, casing fastenings (casings for rotary machines or engines in general F16M {; special arrangements in stators dealing with breaking-off of part of rotor F01D21/045}) · CPC title

• F04D27/001

  Testing thereof; Determination or simulation of flow characteristics; Stall or surge detection, e.g. condition monitoring · CPC title