On-line monitor for detecting excessive temperatures of critical components of a turbine

Abstract

A monitor for detecting overheating of a critical component in a combustion turbine is provided. The monitor, when used in conjunction with a closed-loop cooling system, comprises a coating comprising an indicator material having an activation temperature. The coating is situated on the internal cooling passages of the critical component. The monitor further comprises a sensor connected to an outlet conduit of the cooling system for determining the amount of degradation of indicator material by monitoring the cooling fluid flowing through the outlet conduit. Embodiments further comprising “sniffer” tubes for use with open-loop air cooling systems also are provided. In alternative embodiments, auxiliary cooling systems for supplying auxiliary cooling to critical components at certain activation temperatures also are provided.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.