US 4,518,917 AGranted

Plural sensor apparatus for monitoring turbine blading with undesired component elimination

AssigneeWestinghouse Electric Corp.

InventorsRobert M. Oates, Carlo F. Petronio, Mark G. Kraus

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Abstract

A plurality of proximity sensors are disposed in a turbine flow guide to measure flow guide-to-turbine blade tip distance at various points around the flow guide. The sensor signals are detected and the peak-to-peak voltage of the detected signals provides an indication of the desired distance measurement. The signals are also monitored and if ambient operating conditions causes the signals to exceed predetermined positive or negative thresholds, corrective signals are generated so as to bring the detected signal back into an acceptable range. A proximity sensor is also provided to measure axial movement of the rotor to which the blades are attached so that the other sensor signals can be modified as a function of the measured axial position.

Claims17

Dependent claims

Turbine blading monitoring apparatus comprising:

(A) a plurality of sensors of the type having a certain impedance which changes in response to the sensor's proximity to a conducting member;
(B) said sensors being positioned adjacent said blading at respective positions around the periphery thereof for providing respective output signals each having a component related to turbine blading proximity, and being subject to inclusion of an indesired component which is nonproximity related;
(C) signal processing means responsive to said sensor output signals for generating detected sensor signals having alternate positive and negative peaks;
(D) control means including computer means for deriving proximity indications in response to said detected sensor signals;
(E) peak detector means operable to receive said detected sensor signals to provide a peak signal indicative of the envelope of said detected sensor signals applied to it;
(F) said signal processing means including circuit means for generating respective balancing signals and combining them with respective ones of said output signals due to said turbine blading to minimize the effects of said undesired component therein whenever said peak signal exceeds predetermined positive and negative threshold values.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.