# US 2014/0154047 A1 · Method and system for steam purity monitoring through use of high electron mobility transistors > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0154047 A1 - Document ID: US20140154047A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/689,808 - Filed: 2012-11-30 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30 - Assignees: General Electric Company - Applicants: General Electric Company - Inventors: Andrew Batton WITNEY - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140154047A1 ## CPC - F01D 21/003: {Arrangements for testing or measuring (for measuring vibrations G01H)} - F01D 21/14: responsive to other specific conditions - G01N 33/182: {Specific anions in water} - F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract A method or system for steam purity monitoring in a steam powered turbine includes providing a chloride-sensing device in a steam flow path; generating a signal from the chloride-sensing device indicative of a concentration level of chloride ions in a steam flow; and indicating a concentration level of chloride ions in a steam flow. The steam turbine includes a rotor, a rotating shaft and a plurality of axially spaced rotor wheels. A plurality of rotating blades is mechanically coupled to each rotor wheel. A chloride-sensing device is disposed in a steam flow path. A controller is arranged to generate a signal from the chloride-sensing device indicative of a concentration level of chloride ions in a steam flow and indicate a concentration level of chloride ions in a steam flow. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for steam purity monitoring comprising: providing a chloride-sensing device in a steam flow path; generating a signal from the chloride-sensing device indicative of a concentration level of ions in a steam flow; and indicating a concentration level of chloride ions in a steam flow. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring chloride ion concentration of the steam flowing in an inlet conduit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising amplifying the signal from the chloride-sensing device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, further comprising conditioning the signal with signal processing circuitry and inputting the signal after processing to a controller. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the step of amplifying comprises providing a voltage gain and a power increase to the signal so that the signal is acceptable for input to a controller. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising determining based on the signal whether a chloride ion level present in the steam is above or below a predetermined threshold. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, further comprising generating an alarm or message in response to detecting a chloride ion level greater than the predetermined threshold. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the step of generating further comprises communicating the alarm to an operator display or a computer controlling the operation of a steam turbine. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising determining an increasing chloride ion concentration to signal chloride ion concentration levels reaching a predetermined threshold level. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, further comprising initiating remedial action in response to the signal being equal to or exceeding the predetermined threshold while operating a steam turbine. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the chloride sensing device comprises a chloride-sensitive transistor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising packaging the chloride-sensitive transistors suitable for a steam turbine environment. ### Claim 13 A system for steam purity monitoring, comprising: a chloride-sensing device disposed in a steam flow path; and a controller configured to generate a signal from the chloride-sensing device indicative of a concentration level of chloride ions in a steam flow and to indicate a concentration level of chloride ions in a steam flow. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the chloride-sensing device comprises a chloride sensitive transistor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, further comprising a signal amplifier disposed in a path between the chloride-sensing device and the controller, the amplifier configured to receive the signal and provide a voltage gain and power increase to the signal for input to the controller. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, further comprising signal processing circuitry associated with the amplifier, the signal processing circuitry configured to condition the signal from chloride-sensing device for input to the controller. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to receive the signal and determine based on the signal whether the chloride ion level present in the steam is above or below a predetermined threshold. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the controller is further configured to generate an alarm or message in response to the signal indicating a chloride ion level above the predetermined threshold. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the system further comprises a steam turbine comprising a rotor, a rotating shaft and a plurality of axially spaced rotor wheels; a plurality of rotating blades coupled to each rotor wheel, a plurality of stationary nozzles cooperative with the blades to form a stage, the nozzles defining a portion of the steam flow path through the turbine. ### Claim 20 A method for steam purity monitoring comprising: providing an ion-sensing device in a steam flow path; generating a signal from the ion-sensing device indicative of a concentration level of ions in a steam flow; and indicating a concentration level of ions in a steam flow; wherein the ion is selected from one of the following: sulfate, fluoride, acetate, formate, and chloride; and wherein the ion-sensing device is tuned for the selected ion.