초록 ▼

An infrared camera is configured to measure a temperature distribution on a surface of at least one rotating turbine bucket. With the measured surface temperature distribution, a condition index is determined which reflects either an overall condition of a bucket or a specific location on the bucket

An infrared camera is configured to measure a temperature distribution on a surface of at least one rotating turbine bucket. With the measured surface temperature distribution, a condition index is determined which reflects either an overall condition of a bucket or a specific location on the bucket. The condition index can be used to predict the remaining useful life of a turbine bucket, which can be used to optimize maintenance intervals and thereby reduce maintenance costs.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of estimating turbine bucket oxidation condition comprising:(a) measuring, with an infrared camera, a temperature distribution on a surface of at least one rotating turbine bucket;(b) determining a condition index based on the temperature distribution, the condition index reflecting at l

1. A method of estimating turbine bucket oxidation condition comprising:(a) measuring, with an infrared camera, a temperature distribution on a surface of at least one rotating turbine bucket;(b) determining a condition index based on the temperature distribution, the condition index reflecting at least one of an overall oxidation condition of a bucket and an oxidation condition of a specific location on the bucket; and(c) estimating turbine bucket oxidation condition based on the condition index,wherein step (a) is practiced by triggering the infrared camera at predetermined intervals based on a rotating speed of the at least one rotating turbine bucket. 2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising (c) determining a bucket oxidation amount according to a comparison with known inspection data. 3. A method according to claim 2, wherein step (c) is practiced by establishing a neural network and defining a damage level including oxidation and spallation of a turbine bucket determined to have at least one defect. 4. A method according to claim 3, further comprising determining remaining bucket life via the neural network according to the bucket oxidation amount. 5. A method according to claim 1, wherein step (a) is practiced by measuring the temperature distribution on respective surfaces of a plurality of rotating turbine buckets, and wherein the predetermined intervals are set to measure the temperature distribution of one bucket per revolution. 6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the predetermined intervals are set to measure the temperature distribution of one bucket per revolution in sequence, such that the predetermined intervals equal a time for one bucket revolution plus a distance between adjacent buckets. 7. A system for estimating turbine bucket oxidation condition comprising:an infrared camera that measures a surface temperature distribution of at least one rotating turbine bucket;a triggering mechanism coupled with the infrared camera, the triggering mechanism triggering the infrared camera at predetermined intervals based on a rotating speed of the at least one rotating turbine bucket; anda processor receiving output from the infrared camera, the processor determining a condition index based on the measured surface temperature distribution, wherein the condition index reflects at least one of an overall oxidation condition of a bucket and an oxidation condition of a specific location on the bucket.