System and method for turbomachine monitoring

Abstract

A system for monitoring a turbomachine is provided. The system includes a turbomachine component having a variable geometry, a first sensor disposed to sense a condition of the turbomachine component, a second sensor disposed to sense an operational condition of the turbomachine, the operational condition being associated with an operation of the turbomachine component and a controller operably coupled to the first and second sensors, the controller being configured to execute a turbomachine process in accordance with a result of sensing by the second sensor with respect to the operational condition regardless of whether the first sensor detects the condition.

1 . A system for monitoring a turbomachine, comprising:
 a turbomachine component having a variable geometry;   a first sensor disposed to sense a condition of the turbomachine component;   a second sensor disposed to sense an operational condition of the turbomachine, the operational condition being associated with an operation of the turbomachine component; and   a controller operably coupled to the first and second sensors, the controller being configured to execute a turbomachine process in accordance with a result of sensing by the second sensor with respect to the operational condition regardless of whether the first sensor detects the condition.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the turbomachine component comprises a variable stator vane (VSV) system. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the VSV system comprises:
 compressor inlet vanes disposed to occupy a predefined vane angle to thereby control an amount of air permitted to flow through a compressor of the turbomachine;   an actuation system configured to control the compressor inlet vanes to assume the predefined vane angle; and   a system controller operably disposed to respond to a failure of the compressor inlet vanes to assume the predefined vane angle by a predefined threshold for more than a predefined time period.   
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein the condition sensed by the first sensor is in effect when the compressor inlet vanes fail to assume the predefined vane angle by the predefined threshold for less than the predefined time period. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein the operational condition sensed by the second sensor is at least one or more of an exhaust gas temperature of the turbomachine, a core speed of the turbomachine, a generator output of the turbomachine, a high pressure compressor discharge pressure of the turbomachine and a pressure in an inlet of a high pressure compressor of the turbomachine. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the turbomachine process comprises a shut-down process. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the turbomachine process comprises an alarm initiation. 
     
     
         8 . A turbomachine, comprising:
 a compressor configured to compress inlet air, the compressor including inlet vanes having a variable geometry, which are disposed to permit airflow through the compressor in accordance with a current geometry of the inlet vanes;   a first sensor disposed to sense a condition of the inlet vanes;   a second sensor disposed to sense an operational condition of the turbomachine, the operational condition being associated with an operation of the inlet vanes; and   a controller operably coupled to the first and second sensors, the controller being configured to execute a turbomachine process in an event that the first sensor detects the condition and in accordance with a result of sensing by the second sensor with respect to the operational condition.   
     
     
         9 . The turbomachine according to  claim 8 , further comprising a variable stator vane (VSV) system. 
     
     
         10 . The turbomachine according to  claim 9 , wherein the VSV system comprises:
 the inlet vanes;   an actuation system configured to control the inlet vanes to assume the current geometry; and   a system controller operably disposed to respond to a failure of the compressor inlet vanes to assume the current geometry by a predefined threshold for more than a predefined time period.   
     
     
         11 . The turbomachine according to  claim 10 , wherein the condition sensed by the first sensor is in effect when the inlet vanes fail to assume the current geometry by the predefined threshold for less than the predefined time period. 
     
     
         12 . The turbomachine according to  claim 11 , wherein the operational condition sensed by the second sensor is at least one or more of an exhaust gas temperature of the turbomachine, a core speed of the turbomachine, a generator output of the turbomachine, a high pressure compressor discharge pressure of the turbomachine and a pressure in an inlet of a high pressure compressor of the turbomachine. 
     
     
         13 . The turbomachine according to  claim 8 , wherein the turbomachine process comprises a shut-down process. 
     
     
         14 . The turbomachine according to  claim 8 , wherein the turbomachine process comprises an alarm initiation. 
     
     
         15 . A method for monitoring a turbomachine, comprising:
 setting a turbomachine component having a variable geometry to assume a current geometry;   disposing a first sensor to sense a condition of the turbomachine component with respect to an assumption of the current geometry;   disposing a second sensor to sense an operational condition of the turbomachine, the operational condition being associated with an operation of the turbomachine component; and   executing a turbomachine process by a controller in an event that the first sensor detects the condition and in accordance with a result of sensing by the second sensor with respect to the operational condition.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising defining the condition sensed by the first sensor as being in effect when the turbomachine component fails to assume the current geometry by a predefined threshold for less than a predefined time. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the executing of the turbomachine process comprises executing a shut-down process. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the executing of the turbomachine process comprises initiating an alarm.