Systems and methods for determining turbomachine engine safe start clearances following a shutdown of the turbomachine engine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9988928-B2
Application number	US-201615156640-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 17, 2016
Priority date	May 17, 2016
Publication date	Jun 5, 2018
Grant date	Jun 5, 2018

Abstract

System and methods for predicting a turbomachine engine safe start clearance following a shutdown of the turbomachine engine is provided. The system includes a controller operatively connected to a plurality of temperature detecting means (TDM). The TDMs are arranged at an upper and lower part of the engine casing, and are configured to sense parameters of the engine and to transmit the sensed parameters to the controller. The controller is configured to receive the sensed parameters and to determine, via a control application of the controller, whether components of the engine have sufficient clearance. The controller is further configured to transmit the clearance information, e.g., to a user. Based on the clearance information, the turbomachine engine is restarted.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method in a controller operably connected to a plurality of sensors selectively arranged on a turbomachine engine for determining a safe start clearance for the turbomachine engine following a shutdown, comprising:
monitoring parameters of the turbomachine engine, via the plurality of sensors;
identifying an upper casing temperature and a lower casing temperature from the monitored parameters;
determining whether a component of the turbomachine engine is above a minimum clearance value for the turbomachine engine based in part on the identified casing temperatures; and
initiating a restart of the turbomachine engine upon determining that the component is above the minimum clearance value.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein initiating a restart of the turbomachine engine comprises:
generating a message indicative of the component being above the minimum clearance and transmitting the message to an operator.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein initiating a restart of the turbomachine engine comprises:
generating a restart signal and transmitting the signal to the turbomachine engine to restart the turbomachine engine while operating on turning gear.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors includes a first sensor arranged at an upper part of a casing of the turbomachine, and a second sensor arranged at a corresponding lower part of the casing.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the first and second sensors are arranged relative to the turbomachine row two and three locking key studs.

6. A system comprising:
a controller comprising a memory, a control application on the memory, and a processor coupled to the memory and operably configured to execute instructions of the control application;
a plurality of sensors selectively arranged on a turbomachine engine and operably configured to detect and transmit parameters of the turbomachine engine to the controller;
wherein the plurality of sensors detects the parameters and at least one of the plurality of sensors transmits the parameters to the controller, and
wherein the controller identifies an upper casing temperature and a lower casing temperature from the transmitted parameters, and under the control of the control application, determines whether a component of the turbomachine engine is above a minimum clearance value for the turbomachine engine based in part on the identified upper and lower casing temperatures.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the component is above the minimum clearance value, and the controller, under the control of the control application, initiates a restart of the turbomachine engine.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the controller initiates a restart by generating a message indicative of the component being above the minimum clearance value, and wherein the message is provided to a user of the system visually, in audible, or both.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the controller initiates a restart by generating a start signal for the turbomachine engine, and transmitting the start signal to the turbomachine engine for restarting the same.

10. The system of claim 6 , wherein the component is not above the minimum clearance value, and the controller, under the control of the control application, is configured to delay a restart restriction of the turbomachine engine until it is determined that the component is above the minimum clearance value.

11. The system of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of sensors includes a first sensor arranged at an upper part of a casing of the turbomachine, and a second sensor arranged at a corresponding lower part of the casing.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first and second sensors are arranged relative to the turbomachine third row vane.

13. A method for starting a turbomachine engine following a shutdown of the turbomachine engine, comprising:
initiating a direct air injection system (DAIS) for injecting air into the turbomachine engine;
monitoring parameters of the turbomachine engine, via a plurality of sensors selectively attached to the turbomachine engine;
identifying an upper casing temperature and a lower casing temperature from the monitored parameters; and
determining whether a component of the turbomachine engine is above a minimum clearance value for the turbomachine engine based in part on the identified upper and lower casing temperatures and a cold build clearance value for the turbomachine engine.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:
initiating a restart of the turbomachine engine upon determining that the component is above the minimum clearance value.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein initiating a restart of the turbomachine engine comprises:
generating a message indicative of the component being above the minimum clearance and transmitting the message to an operator.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein initiating a restart of the turbomachine engine comprises:
generating a restart signal and transmitting the signal to the turbomachine engine to restart the turbomachine engine while operating on turning gear.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of sensors includes a first sensor arranged at an upper part of a casing of the turbomachine, and a second sensor arranged at a corresponding lower part of the casing.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the first and second sensors are arranged relative to the turbomachine third row vane.

19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the component is not above the minimum clearance value, and wherein the method comprises:
delaying a time-based restart restriction of the DAIS operation until it is determined that the component above the minimum clearance value.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprises:
initiating a temperature based lockout restriction upon delaying the time-based restriction, and wherein the temperature based lockout restriction remains active until it is determined that the component is above the minimum clearance value.

Assignees

• Siemens Energy Inc

Inventors

• Popescu Cristina C
• Olejarski Michael J
• Mazzotta Timothy E

Classifications

• F01D19/02 Primary

  dependent on temperature of component parts, e.g. of turbine-casing · 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

• F01D25/12

  Cooling · CPC title

• F05D2270/44

  active, predictive, or anticipative · CPC title

• F01D21/003

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