In-situ sensors for gas turbines
AssigneeSiemens Westinghouse Power Corporation
InventorsPaul John Zombo, Peter Gerald Marsh
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Abstract
A sensing device for protecting a sensor from environmental conditions present in a turbine is provided. The sensing device comprises a heat pipe exposed to the environmental conditions for protecting the sensor from these conditions. The sensing device further comprises a sensor located in a center channel of the heat pipe and a working fluid located in an annulus of the heat pipe to aid in regulating heat along the length of the heat pipe. In alternate embodiments, the sensing device further comprises power wires extending from a power source outside the turbine to the sensor for supplying power to the sensor, and signal wires extending from the sensor to a data acquisition system outside the turbine for transmitting readings from the sensor to the data acquisition system.
Claims11
In a combustion turbine, a sensing device inside the turbine to protect a sensor mounted therein from environmental conditions present in the turbine, the sensing device comprising:
- a heat pipe, located in the turbine and exposed to the environmental conditions, for protecting the sensor from the environmental conditions, said heat pipe having a length, a hollow side wall defining an annulus, and a center channel;
- a sensor located in the center channel of said heat pipe;
- and
- a working fluid located in said annulus to aid in regulating heat along the length of the heat pipe.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.