# US 10,865,643 B2 · Method and system for a component lifetime counter > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,865,643 B2 - Document ID: US10865643B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/159,827 - Filed: 2018-10-15 - Published: 2020-04-16 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2018-10-15 - Assignees: General Electric Technology GmbH - Applicants: General Electric Technology GmbH - Inventors: Martin Reigl; Johann Sigurd Kubel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10865643B2 ## CPC - F01D 1/26: traversed by the working-fluid substantially axially - F01D 17/145: {by means of valves, e.g. for steam turbines (valves in general F16K)} - F01D 21/003: {Arrangements for testing or measuring (for measuring vibrations G01H)} - F16K 37/0083: {by measuring valve parameters} - G05B 23/0283: {Predictive maintenance, e.g. involving the monitoring of a system and, based on the monitoring results, taking decisions on the maintenance schedule of the monitored system; Estimating remaining useful life [RUL] (preventive maintenance, i.e. planning maintenance according to the available resources without monitoring the system G06Q10/06)} - F05D 2220/31: in steam turbines - F05D 2260/80: Diagnostics - F05D 2260/821: Parameter estimation or prediction - F05D 2260/94: Functionality given by mechanical stress related aspects such as low cycle fatigue [LCF] of high cycle fatigue [HCF] - F05D 2270/303: Temperature - F05D 2270/80: Devices generating input signals, e.g. transducers, sensors, cameras or strain gauges - F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D) - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS ## Abstract A method of determining a remaining life in a component and a rotatable machine system are provided. The rotatable machine system includes a plurality of valves coupled in flow communication with a rotatable machine of the rotatable machine system, a plurality of sensors configured to receive operating parameters associated with the rotatable machine and the plurality of valves, and an online valve lifetime counter (OVLIC), including a processor communicatively coupled to the plurality of sensors. The OVLIC is configured to determine a trend of differential temperature across a body of a valve of the plurality of valves, convert the trend of differential temperature to a stress induced into the valve over time, and determine life remaining in the valve based on a total damage of the valve wherein the total damage is a function of creep damage and fatigue damage to the valve. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A rotatable machine system comprising: a plurality of valves coupled in flow communication with a rotatable machine of said rotatable machine system; a plurality of sensors configured to receive operating parameters associated with said rotatable machine and said plurality of valves; and an online valve lifetime counter (OVLIC), comprising a processor communicatively coupled to said plurality of sensors, said OVLIC configured to: receive a first temperature signal from a first temperature sensor of said plurality of temperature sensors, said first temperature sensor located at a first position on a body of a valve of said plurality of valves; receive a second temperature signal from a second temperature sensor of said plurality of temperature sensors, said second temperature sensor located at a second position on said body of said valve; determine at least one of an axial temperature gradient and a radial temperature gradient between the first position and the second position; determine a stress induced into the valve over time based on the at least one of the axial temperature gradient and the radial temperature gradient; determine a number and a severity of stress cycles acting on the valve over time; and determine life remaining in said valve based on a total damage of said valve wherein the total damage is a function of creep damage and fatigue damage to said valve. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The rotatable machine system of claim 1, wherein said OVLIC is further configured to determine a creep damage using the at least one of the axial temperature gradient and the radial temperature gradient and a time the at least one of the axial temperature gradient and the radial temperature gradient is present. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The rotatable machine system of claim 1, wherein said OVLIC is further configured to determine a fatigue damage using the at least one of the axial temperature gradient and the radial temperature gradient from a cold metal condition to an operating temperature range of at least one valve of the plurality of valves. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The rotatable machine system of claim 3, wherein said OVLIC is further configured to determine a fatigue damage using a time rate of change of temperature between the cold metal condition and the operating temperature range. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The rotatable machine system of claim 1, wherein said OVLIC is further configured to determine a magnitude of stress generated in the stress cycles. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The rotatable machine system of claim 1, wherein said OVLIC is further configured to output an estimated life remaining and a consumption rate of the estimated life. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The rotatable machine system of claim 1, wherein said OVLIC is further configured to output a recommendation of altering one or more of a plurality of operational parameters, the plurality of operational parameters includes altering at least one of an operating pressure of at least one valve of the plurality of valves, a spindle position of at least one valve of the plurality of valves, a mass flow rate of fluid through at least one valve of the plurality of valves, and removing at least one valve of the plurality of valves from service. ### Claim 8 An online valve lifetime counter (OVLIC) comprising a processor communicatively coupled to a memory device, the memory device containing instructions that when executed by said processor, cause said processor to: receive signals relating to temperature and pressure operational parameters of a valve, including: receiving a first temperature signal from a first temperature sensor located at a first position; and receiving a second temperature signal from a second temperature sensor located at a second position; determine at least one of an axial temperature gradient and a radial temperature gradient between the first position and the second position; determine a creep stress acting on the valve using the temperature and pressure operational parameters of the valve between a first time and a second time; determine a number and a severity of stress cycles acting on the valve between the first time and the second time; determine a fatigue stress acting on the valve using the temperature and pressure operational parameters of the valve; accumulate the determined creep stress and the determined fatigue stress between the first time and the second time; and determine a life remaining and a life consumption rate based on the accumulated creep stress and the accumulated fatigue stress. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The OVLIC of claim 8, wherein said instructions that when executed by said processor, cause said processor to receive a temperature or pressure signal from a virtual sensor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The OVLIC of claim 8, wherein said instructions that when executed by said processor, cause said processor to: determine a creep stress acting on the valve in a first direction; determine a creep stress acting on the valve in a second direction; and determine a total creep stress acting on the valve by combining the determined creep stress acting on the valve in the first direction and the determined creep stress acting on the valve in the second direction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The OVLIC of claim 8, wherein said instructions that when executed by said processor, cause said processor to recommend a course of action to reduce the life consumption rate of the valve, the course of action including altering at least one of an operating pressure of the valve, a spindle position, a mass flow rate of fluid through the valve, and removing the valve from service. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The OVLIC of claim 8, wherein said instructions that when executed by said processor, cause said processor to output the determined life remaining of the valve and the life consumption rate of the valve. ### Claim 13 A computer-implemented method for determining a remaining life in a valve of a plurality of valves of a rotatable machine, the method implemented using a processor coupled to a user interface and a memory device, the method comprising: receiving information indicative of a total creep stress acting in the valve over time, including: receiving information indicative of a creep stress in the valve acting in a first direction in the valve over time; receiving information indicative of a creep stress in the valve acting in a second direction in the valve over time; and determining the total creep stress over time using the received information; receiving information indicative of a total fatigue stress acting in the valve over time; determining a total stress acting in the valve over time using the received information; and determining a life remaining in the valve and a consumption rate of the determined life remaining. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein receiving information indicative of a creep stress in the valve acting in a second direction in the valve comprises receiving information indicative of a creep stress in the valve acting in a second direction in the valve wherein the second direction is approximately orthogonal to the first direction. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein receiving information indicative of a total fatigue stress in the valve acting in the component over time comprises: receiving information indicative of a number of and a severity of stress cycles acting on the valve between a first time and a second time; and determining a total fatigue stress acting on the valve using a plurality of temperature and pressure operational parameters of the valve and the received information indicating the number of and the severity of stress cycles acting on the valve. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein determining a life remaining in the valve and a consumption rate of the determined life remaining comprises combining the total creep stress and the total fatigue stress in the valve. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising recommending actions to take to reduce a consumption rate of the determined life, the actions include altering at least one of an operating pressure of the valve, a spindle position, a mass flow rate of fluid through the valve, and removing the valve from service.