System for clearance measurement and method of operating the same
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorAndrzej May
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A clearance sensing system is disclosed. The system includes a probe separated from a test object by a variable distance d. The system also includes an alternating current (AC) source for supplying a current through the probe, wherein the AC source and the probe are configured to generate a controlled plasma channel between a tip of the probe and the test object. The system further includes a processing unit configured to determine the variable distance d based on a voltage difference between the tip of the probe and the test object.
Claims18
A clearance sensing system comprising:
- a probe separated from a test object by a variable distance d;
- an alternating current (AC) source for supplying a current through the probe, wherein the AC source and the probe are configured to generate and sustain a controlled plasma channel between a tip of the probe and the test object;
- and
- a processing unit for measuring a voltage difference between the tip of the probe and the test object and computing the variable distance d from the voltage difference.
A method for measuring a distance to an electrically conductive rotating object, the method comprising:
- disposing a probe a variable distance d from the electrically conductive rotating object;
- initiating and stabilizing a plasma discharge between a tip of the probe and the electrically conductive rotating object;
- measuring at least one of a voltage drop between the tip of the probe and the test object, a current through a plasma formed between the tip of the probe and the electrically conductive rotating object, and an impedance of the probe;
- and
- computing the variable distance d to the electrically conductive rotating object based upon at least one of the voltage drop between the tip of the probe and the test object, the current and the impedance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.