Acoustic monitoring of foreign objects in combustion turbines during operation

A system for monitoring acoustic signals generated within a combustion turbine, the combustion turbine having an interior portion, said system comprising:

• an acoustic waveguide adapted to be located within acoustic communication with the combustion turbine's interior portion;
• an acoustic receiver in communication with said acoustic waveguide, said acoustic receiver being adapted to produce an electrical signal having a voltage in response to receipt of an acoustic signal;
• a transformer adapted to increase said voltage of said electrical signal from said acoustic receiver sufficiently to light a light-emitting device;
• a voltage divider network electrically connected to said transformer;
• a plurality of light-emitting devices electrically connected to said voltage divider network;
• said voltage divider network being adapted to provide an electrical current to an increasing number of light emitting devices with increasing voltage received at said voltage divider network;
• and
• the system being adapted to receive the electrical power necessary for providing the electrical current to the light emitting devices from receiving the acoustic signals generated within the combustion turbine, and converting the acoustic signals to electrical signals.