Method and apparatus for detecting rub in a turbomachine

A system, comprising:

• a plurality of turbomachine sensors configured to couple to a turbomachine comprising a rotor, a stator, and a plurality of blades extending radially from the rotor, or the stator, or a combination thereof, wherein the plurality of turbomachine sensors is configured to sense operational parameters of the turbomachine;
• and
• a rub detection system configured to monitor the plurality of turbomachine sensors and to detect a turbomachine rub event occurring between tip portions of the plurality of blades and corresponding seal portions of the turbomachine based on one or more abnormal conditions, wherein the abnormal conditions comprise an abnormal vibration value, an abnormal eccentricity value, an abnormal response to a transient condition, an abnormal response to a variation in load, an abnormal response to a variation in pressure, and an abnormal differential expansion of the stator and the rotor.

A system, comprising:

• a rub detection system configured to monitor operational parameters of a turbomachine comprising a rotor, a stator, and a plurality of blades extending radially from the rotor, or the stator, or a combination thereof, wherein the rub detection system is configured to detect a turbomachine rub event occurring between tip portions of the plurality of blades and corresponding seal portions of the turbomachine based on one or more abnormal conditions, wherein the abnormal conditions comprise a high vibration amplitude relative to a baseline, a high variation in vibration amplitude, and a sudden change in vibration amplitude.

A computer implemented method, comprising:

• analyzing turbomachine operational data to detect a rub event based on one or more abnormal conditions in the turbomachine, wherein the turbomachine comprises a rotor, a stator, and a plurality of blades extending radially from the rotor, or the stator, or a combination thereof, the rub event occurs between tip portions of the plurality of blades and corresponding seal portions of the turbomachine, and the one or more abnormal conditions comprise a high vibration amplitude, a high variation in vibration amplitude, a sudden change in vibration amplitude, an abnormal eccentricity value, an abnormal response to a transient condition, an abnormal response to a variation in load, an abnormal response to a variation in pressure, and an abnormal differential expansion of the stator and the rotor, and a combination thereof;
• and
• outputting an indication of the rub event to a computer display.

A system, comprising:

• a turbomachine monitor configured to identify abnormal operational events as an indication of a rub in at least near real time between components of a turbomachine, wherein the abnormal operational events comprise an abnormal vibration value relative to a baseline.

A system, comprising:

• a turbomachine monitor configured to identify abnormal operational events as an indication of a rub between components of a turbomachine, wherein the abnormal operational events comprise a sudden change in vibration relative to a first baseline, a large variance in vibration relative to a second baseline, or a large vibration amplitude relative to a third baseline, or a combination thereof.

A system, comprising:

• a turbomachine monitor configured to monitor for abnormal operational events to identify a possible rub between components of a turbomachine in at least near real time, wherein the abnormal operational events comprise a sudden change relative to a first baseline, or a high variation relative to a second baseline, or a high value relative to a third baseline, or a combination thereof, of an operational parameter of the turbomachine, wherein the operational parameter comprises vibration amplitude.