Laser thermography
AssigneeSiemens Energy, Inc.
InventorsDustin C. Boudin, Anand A. Kulkarni
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A non-destructive method for condition assessment of a turbine component is provided. The method includes providing a laser generating a light pulse that heats the turbine component. An infrared image is then captured of the heated turbine component. An analysis of the turbine component for a particular characteristic of the turbine component may then be done. A system for the non-destructive condition assessment of a turbine component is also provided.
Claims12
A non-destructive method for condition assessment of a turbine component, comprising:
- providing a laser generating a light pulse that heats the turbine component;
- capturing at least one infrared image of the heated turbine component;
- analyzing a turbine component characteristic on the at least one image;
- and
- activating the laser at a first specified wavelength;
- focusing the laser to flash heat a desired area of a surface of the turbine component for a first pulse duration;
- and
- capturing an infrared image of the desired area of the surface of the turbine component;
- deactivating the laser at the specified wavelength;
- activating the laser at a second specified wavelength;
- focusing the laser to flash heat the desired area of a subsurface of the turbine component for a second pulse duration;
- and
- capturing a second infrared image of the desired area of the subsurface of the turbine component,
- wherein the first image contains a first set of data regarding the desired area of the surface of the turbine component and the second image contains a second set of data regarding the desired area of the subsurface the turbine component, and
- wherein the first specified wavelength and the second specified wavelength are different, and
- wherein the specified wavelength only flash heats the surface and the second specified wavelength only flash heats the subsurface of the component,
- wherein the analyzing includes comparing the first set of data with known material parameters in order to assess the surface for damage,
- wherein the analyzing includes comparing the second set of data with known material parameters in order to assess the subsurface for damage, and
- wherein the pulse duration of the laser is in a range of 1-30 ms.
A system for non-destructive condition assessment of a turbine component, comprising:
- a laser source, wherein the laser source generates a light pulse that flash heats the turbine component;
- an infrared camera including an infrared sensor for detecting thermal energy radiated by the turbine component wherein the radiated thermal energy is transmitted to the infrared sensor to enable generation of the infrared image;
- and
- a turbine component,
- wherein the infrared camera captures at least one infrared image of the turbine component,
- wherein the turbine component comprises a thermal barrier coating and/or a bond coating overlying a substrate,
- wherein the laser source is configured to flash heat an area of a surface of the turbine component for a time duration at a first specified wavelength in order to capture a first infrared image of the thermal barrier coating,
- wherein the laser source is configured to flash heat the area of a subsurface of the turbine component for a pulse duration at a second specified wavelength in order to capture a second infrared image of the bond coat and/or substrate,
- wherein the first specified wavelength only flash heats the surface and the second specified wavelength only flash heats the subsurface of the component, and
- wherein the pulse duration of the laser is in a range of 1-30 ms.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.