Monitoring system for turbomachinery

A monitoring system for turbomachinery, comprising:

• a) a turbomachinery housing for containing at least one electrically conductive moving element;
• and,
• b) a sensing system positioned proximate said moving element for monitoring a property of said electrically conductive moving element, said sensing system, comprising:
• i) a sensing system housing;
• ii) a magnetic core contained within said sensing system housing;
• iii) a coil positioned about at least a portion of said core, said coil being electrically connectable to a property data analysis device;
• and,
• iv) a first magnet and a second magnet, each of said magnets being positioned about said coil and being positionable proximate a moving element of turbomachinery to be monitored, a primary magnetic field being generated by said first and second magnets,
• wherein when said moving element enters said primary magnetic field a current is induced in said moving element, thus generating a time-variable magnetic field and commensurate voltage signal generated in said coil, said voltage signal being amplified by said magnetic core, said voltage signal providing an indication of a property of said moving element;
• and
• c) a data analysis system, comprising:
• a data acquisition module for acquiring said voltage signal;
• a data processing module for rendering said acquired voltage signal compatible with a desired display, said data processing module providing a processed signal;
• and,
• an algorithm module for converting said processed signal to provide indications of the health status of said moving element.

A control system for controlling a property of at least one of a plurality of electrically conductive moving elements of turbomachinery, comprising:

• a) a monitoring system for turbomachinery, comprising:
• i) a sensing system positioned proximate said at least one of said plurality of electrically conductive moving elements, said sensing system providing an indication of a property of said moving element;
• and,
• ii) a data analysis system for acquiring said indication, providing a processed signal therefrom, and converting said processed signal to provide indications of the status of said moving element, said data analysis system including an algorithm module for providing real-time control signals;
• b) a feedback system for receiving said real-time control signals from said algorithm module and providing a plurality of feedback signals;
• and,
• c) a turbomachinery operating controller for receiving said feedback signals and utilizing said feedback signals to adjust the operation level of said turbomachinery in accordance with said status of said plurality of moving elements to maximize the operating efficiency of said turbomachinery.

A method for controlling a property of at least one of a plurality of electrically conductive moving elements of turbomachinery, comprising the steps of:

• a) monitoring selected turbomachinery, comprising the steps of:
• i) providing an indication of a property of the moving element by utilizing a sensing system positioned proximate said at least one of said plurality of electrically conductive moving elements;
• and,
• ii) acquiring said indication, providing a processed signal therefrom and converting said processed signal to provide indications of the status of the moving element, via a data analysis system, said data analysis system including an algorithm module for providing real-time control signals;
• b) receiving said real-time control signals from said algorithm module and providing a plurality of feedback signals, via a feedback system;
• and,
• c) receiving said feedback signals and utilizing said feedback signals to adjust the operation level of said turbomachinery in accordance with said status of said plurality of moving elements to maximize the operating efficiency of said turbomachinery.

A monitoring system for turbomachinery, comprising:

• a turbomachinery housing for containing a plurality of electrically conductive moving elements;
• and,
• a sensing system positioned proximate said moving element for monitoring a property of said electrically conductive moving elements, said sensing system, comprising:
• a sensing system housing;
• a magnetic core contained within said sensing system housing;
• a coil positioned about at least a portion of said core, said coil being electrically connectable to a property data analysis device;
• and,
• a first magnet and a second magnet, each of said magnets being positioned about said coil and being positionable proximate a moving element of turbomachinery to be monitored, a primary magnetic field being generated by said first and second magnets, wherein when said moving elements enter said primary magnetic field a current is induced in said moving elements, thus generating a time-variable magnetic field and commensurate voltage signal generated in said coil, said voltage signal being amplified by said magnetic core, said voltage signal providing an indication of a property of said moving elements;
• and
• a data analysis system, comprising:
• a data acquisition module for acquiring said voltage signal;
• a data processing module for rendering said acquired voltage signal compatible with a desired display, said data processing module providing processed signals;
• and,
• an algorithm module for converting said processed signals to provide indications of the status of said plurality of moving elements, said algorithm module, comprising:
• a plurality of comparing algorithms for receiving said processed signals and comparing said processed signals with a trend relationship for providing diagnostic and prognostic information;
• and,
• a plurality of diagnostic and prognostic algorithms for receiving said diagnostic and prognostic information and providing logistics instructions.