Thermal inspection system and method

Abstract

A thermal inspection method is provided for a component comprising at least one complex internal passage arrangement defining at least one opening. The thermal inspection method includes flowing a fluid through the at least one complex internal passage arrangement. The fluid has an initial temperature that differs from an initial temperature of the component. The thermal inspection method further includes measuring a thermal response of the component to the fluid flow and analyzing the thermal response to determine a number of heat transfer coefficients {hlmn} corresponding to respective locations {l,m,n} within the complex internal passage arrangement. The thermal inspection method further includes using the heat transfer coefficients {hlmn} to determine at least one of (a) a flow rate through respective ones of the at least one opening, and (b) a cross-sectional area for respective ones of the at least one opening.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.