Method for tracking turbine blade creep
AssigneeSiemens Energy, Inc.
InventorsStephen Erick Holland, Chad W. Heinrich
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for inspecting a turbine blade of a turbine. The method includes operating the turbine and providing a plurality of ablative material strips on the turbine blade. Each strip is fabricated from a common base material and is configured to ablate after exposure to a corresponding predetermined temperature for a corresponding predetermined time period Ablation of a strip indicates a corresponding amount of creep has occurred in the blade. In addition, the method includes visually inspecting the strips at predetermined intervals to determine whether one or more of the strips is ablated.
Claims20
A method for inspecting a turbine blade of a turbine, comprising:
- operating the turbine;
- providing at least one ablative material strip on the turbine blade, wherein the strip is configured to ablate after exposure to a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time period and wherein ablation of the strip indicates a corresponding amount of creep has occurred in the blade;
- and
- visually inspecting the strip to determine whether the strip is ablated.
A method for inspecting a turbine blade of a turbine, comprising:
- operating the turbine;
- providing a plurality of ablative material strips on the turbine blade, wherein each strip is configured to ablate after exposure to a corresponding predetermined temperature for a corresponding predetermined time period and wherein ablation of a strip indicates a corresponding amount of creep has occurred in the blade;
- and
- visually inspecting the strips at predetermined intervals to determine whether one or more of the strips is ablated.
A method for inspecting a turbine blade of a turbine, comprising:
- operating the turbine;
- providing first, second and third ablative material strips on the turbine blade, wherein each strip is fabricated from a common base material and is configured to ablate after exposure to a corresponding predetermined temperature for a corresponding predetermined time period and wherein ablation of a strip indicates a corresponding amount of creep has occurred in the blade;
- and
- visually inspecting the strips at predetermined intervals to determine whether one or more of the strips is ablated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.