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A passive blade detection sensor exploits the electrically conductive trait of typical turbo machinery components such as fan, compressor and turbine blades. A permanent magnet is placed strategically adjacent to a wire coil to generate a single pulse/antipulse signal when a blade passes in front of

A passive blade detection sensor exploits the electrically conductive trait of typical turbo machinery components such as fan, compressor and turbine blades. A permanent magnet is placed strategically adjacent to a wire coil to generate a single pulse/antipulse signal when a blade passes in front of the sensor. The electrically conductive blade allows eddy currents to flow briefly as it passes through the magnetic field, the local reluctance is momentarily increased, and the magnetic field is momentarily changed. The coil is sensitive only to the portion of change through its cross section, so that a simple voltage pulse, useful for precise timing of blade passage, is produced. The present disclosure also describes an open-loop and closed-loop active cooling system. The cooling system includes a casing, having internal sensing components and an inlet, coupled to one end of the casing. A cooling medium is transferred from the inlet into the casing, where the inlet is arranged to cause the cooling medium to travel around the components. An outlet is coupled to another end of the casing, where the outlet is arranged to direct cooling medium out of the casing. The cooling medium may flow freely or through a predetermined path within the casing.

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What is claimed is: 1. An Eddy Current sensor comprising: a permanent magnet and a wire coil adjacent to said permanent magnet, wherein said permanent magnet and said wire coil comprise a sensor; a casing housing and configured to position said permanent magnet and wire coil in close proximity to a

What is claimed is: 1. An Eddy Current sensor comprising: a permanent magnet and a wire coil adjacent to said permanent magnet, wherein said permanent magnet and said wire coil comprise a sensor; a casing housing and configured to position said permanent magnet and wire coil in close proximity to at least one passing rotating blade; leads with accessible terminations to facilitate a connection to electronics for monitoring at least one of blade time of arrival measurement and blade tip clearance measurement; an inlet, coupled to said casing, wherein the inlet is defined by a tube extending into the casing and arranged to allow a cooling medium to enter inside the casing and travel adjacent to said permanent magnet and to said wire coil; and an outlet, coupled to said casing, wherein the outlet is defined by a tube extending out of the casing and arranged to allow the cooling medium to be directed out of said casing. 2. The Eddy Current sensor of claim 1, wherein the inlet and outlet are each insulated. 3. The Eddy Current sensor of claim 1, wherein the casing is insulated. 4. The Eddy Current sensor of claim 1, wherein the cooling medium is one of a liquid, gas and gel. 5. The Eddy Current sensor of claim 1, wherein the inlet and outlet are coupled together through a common conduit, wherein the conduit is arranged within the casing to form a path through which said cooling medium travels around components within the casing. 6. The Eddy Current sensor of claim 5, wherein the conduit is arranged in one of a serpentine path, a circular path, a helical path and a straight path. 7. The Eddy Current sensor of claim 5, wherein the inlet and outlet are arranged as an open-loop system. 8. The Eddy Current sensor of claim 5, wherein the inlet and outlet are arranged as a closed-loop system. 9. The Eddy Current sensor of claim 1, wherein the inlet terminates inside of said casing, allowing the cooling medium to flow freely within said casing. 10. The Eddy Current sensor of claim 9, wherein the inlet and outlet are arranged as a closed-loop system. 11. A method for operating a sensor comprising a permanent magnet and a wire coil placed adjacent to said magnet, the method comprising: positioning said permanent magnet and wire coil in close proximity to at least one passing rotor blade; monitoring at least one of blade time of arrival measurement and blade tip clearance measurement; transferring a cooling medium through an inlet directed into a casing that houses the sensor, wherein the inlet is defined by a tube extending into the casing and arranged to cause the cooling medium to travel adjacent to the permanent magnet and to said wire coil; and directing the cooling medium to exit the casing through an outlet directed out of said casing, wherein the outlet is defined by a tube extending out of the casing. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the cooling medium is one of a liquid, gas and gel. 13. The method of claim 11, which includes a defined path through which the cooling medium flows from the inlet to the outlet. 14. The method of claim 11, wherein the defined path is one of a serpentine path, a circular path, a helical path and a straight path. 15. The method of claim 11, further wherein the inlet and outlet are arranged as an closed-loop system. 16. The method of claim 11, wherein the cooling medium flows freely in at least a portion of said casing. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the inlet and outlet are arranged as a closed-loop system. 18. An Eddy Current sensor comprising: a permanent magnet and a wire coil adjacent to said permanent magnet, wherein said permanent magnet and said wire coil comprise a sensor; a casing housing and configured for positioning said permanent magnet and wire coil in close proximity to at least one passing rotating blade; leads with accessible terminations to facilitate a connection to electronics for monitoring at least one of blade time of arrival measurement and blade tip clearance measurement; an inlet, coupled to said casing, wherein the inlet is arranged to allow a cooling medium to enter inside the casing and travel adjacent to the sensor, wherein the inlet is defined by a tube extending into the casing; and an outlet, coupled to said casing, wherein the outlet is defined by a tube extending out of the casing and is arranged to allow the cooling medium to be directed out of said casing. 19. An Eddy Current sensor comprising: a permanent magnet and a wire coil adjacent to said permanent magnet, wherein said permanent magnet and said wire coil comprise a sensor; a casing housing and configured for positioning said permanent magnet and wire coil in close proximity to at least one passing rotating blade; leads with accessible terminations to facilitate a connection to electronics for monitoring at least one of blade time of arrival measurement and blade tip clearance measurement; an inlet, coupled to said casing, wherein the inlet is arranged to allow a cooling medium to enter inside the casing and travel adjacent to the sensor, wherein the cooling medium is one of a liquid and gel; and an outlet, coupled to said casing, wherein the outlet is arranged to allow the cooling medium to be directed out of said casing. 20. An Eddy Current sensor comprising: a permanent magnet and a wire coil adjacent to said permanent magnet, wherein said permanent magnet and said wire coil comprise a sensor; a casing housing and configured for positioning said permanent magnet and wire coil in close proximity to at least one passing rotating blade; leads with accessible terminations to facilitate a connection to electronics for monitoring at least one of blade time of arrival measurement and blade tip clearance measurement; an inlet, coupled to said casing, wherein the inlet is arranged to allow a cooling medium to enter inside the casing and travel adjacent to the sensor; and an outlet, coupled to said casing, wherein the outlet is arranged to allow the cooling medium to be directed out of said casing, wherein the inlet and outlet are coupled together through a common conduit, wherein the conduit is arranged within the casing to form a path through which said cooling medium travels around components within the casing, and wherein the inlet and outlet are arranged as a closed-loop system. 21. An Eddy Current sensor comprising: a permanent magnet and a wire coil adjacent to said permanent magnet, wherein said permanent magnet and said wire coil comprise a sensor; a casing housing and configured for positioning said permanent magnet and wire coil in close proximity to at least one passing rotating blade; leads with accessible terminations to facilitate a connection to electronics for monitoring at least one of blade time of arrival measurement and blade tip clearance measurement; an inlet, coupled to said casing, wherein the inlet is arranged to allow a cooling medium to enter inside the casing and travel adjacent to the sensor and wherein the inlet terminates inside of said casing, allowing the cooling medium to flow freely within said casing; and an outlet, coupled to said casing, wherein the outlet is arranged to allow the cooling medium to be directed out of said casing, wherein the inlet and outlet are arranged as a closed-loop system. 22. A method for operating a sensor comprising a permanent magnet and a wire coil placed adjacent to said magnet, the method comprising: positioning said sensor in close proximity to at least one passing rotor blade; monitoring at least one of blade time of arrival measurement and blade tip clearance measurement; transferring a cooling medium through an inlet directed into a casing that houses the sensor, wherein the inlet is arranged to cause the cooling medium to travel adjacent to the sensor, wherein the cooling medium is one of a liquid and gel; and directing the cooling medium to exit the casing through an outlet directed out of said casing. 23. A method for operating a sensor comprising a permanent magnet and a wire coil placed adjacent to said magnet, the method comprising: positioning said sensor in close proximity to at least one passing rotor blade; monitoring at least one of blade time of arrival measurement and blade tip clearance measurement; transferring a cooling medium through an inlet directed into a casing that houses the sensor, wherein the inlet is arranged to cause the cooling medium to travel adjacent to the sensor, wherein the inlet and outlet are arranged as an closed-loop system; and directing the cooling medium to exit the casing through an outlet directed out of said casing. 24. A method for operating a sensor comprising a permanent magnet and a wire coil placed adjacent to said magnet housed in a casing, the method comprising: positioning said permanent magnet and wire coil in close proximity to at least one passing rotor blade, wherein a metallic shield is positioned between the sensor and the at least one passing rotating blade; monitoring at least one of blade time of arrival measurement and blade tip clearance measurement; transferring a cooling medium through an inlet directed into the casing, wherein the inlet is arranged to cause the cooling medium to travel at least partially between the permanent magnet and to the wire coil; and directing the cooling medium to exit the casing through an outlet directed out of said casing. 25. An Eddy Current sensor comprising: a single permanent magnet and a single wire coil adjacent to said permanent magnet, wherein said permanent magnet and said wire coil comprise a sensor; a casing housing and configured for positioning said sensor in close proximity to at least one passing rotating blade, wherein the sensor is oriented such that said at least one passing rotating blade passes said permanent magnet before passing said coil; leads with accessible terminations to facilitate a connection to electronics for monitoring at least one of blade time of arrival measurement and blade tip clearance measurement; and a cooling system coupled to said casing and arranged to allow a cooling medium to reduce a temperature of the sensor. 26. The Eddy Current sensor of claim 25, wherein the cooling medium travels adjacent to said permanent magnet and wire coil. 27. The Eddy Current sensor of claim 25, wherein the cooling medium travels at least partially between said permanent magnet and wire coil. 28. The Eddy Current sensor of claim 25, wherein the cooling system includes an inlet, coupled to said casing, wherein the inlet is arranged to allow the cooling medium to enter inside the casing. 29. The Eddy Current sensor of claim 25, wherein the cooling system includes an outlet, coupled to said casing, wherein the outlet is arranged to allow the cooling medium to be directed out of the casing. 30. The Eddy Current sensor of claim 25, wherein the cooling medium is one of a liquid, gas and gel. 31. The Eddy Current sensor of claim 25, further comprising a metallic shield positioned between the sensor and the at least one passing rotating blade. 32. The Eddy Current sensor of claim 25, further comprising a thermocouple wire coupled to the wire coil to detect temperature. 33. An Eddy Current sensor comprising: a permanent magnet and a wire coil adjacent to said permanent magnet, wherein said permanent magnet and said wire coil comprise a sensor; a casing housing and configured for positioning said permanent magnet and wire coil in close proximity to at least one passing rotating blade; leads with accessible terminations to facilitate a connection to electronics for monitoring at least one of blade time of arrival measurement and blade tip clearance measurement; an inlet, coupled to said casing, wherein the inlet is arranged to allow a cooling medium to enter inside the casing and travel adjacent to said permanent magnet and to said wire coil; and an outlet, coupled to said casing, wherein the outlet is arranged to allow the cooling medium to be directed out of said casing, wherein the inlet and outlet are coupled together through a common conduit, wherein the conduit is arranged within the casing to form a path through which said cooling medium travels around components within the casing, and wherein the inlet and outlet are arranged as a closed-loop system. 34. An Eddy Current sensor comprising: a permanent magnet and a wire coil adjacent to said permanent magnet, wherein said permanent magnet and said wire coil comprise a sensor; a casing housing and configured for positioning said permanent magnet and wire coil in close proximity to at least one passing rotating blade; leads with accessible terminations to facilitate a connection to electronics for monitoring at least one of blade time of arrival measurement and blade tip clearance measurement; an inlet, coupled to said casing, wherein the inlet is arranged to allow a cooling medium to enter inside the casing and travel adjacent to said permanent magnet and to said wire coil and wherein the inlet terminates inside of said casing, allowing the cooling medium to flow freely within said casing; and an outlet, coupled to said casing, wherein the outlet is arranged to allow the cooling medium to be directed out of said casing, wherein the inlet and outlet are arranged as a closed-loop system. 35. A method for operating a sensor comprising a permanent magnet and a wire coil placed adjacent to said magnet, the method comprising: positioning said permanent magnet and wire coil in close proximity to at least one passing rotor blade; monitoring at least one of blade time of arrival measurement and blade tip clearance measurement; transferring a cooling medium through an inlet directed into a casing that houses the sensor, wherein the inlet is arranged to cause the cooling medium to travel adjacent to the permanent magnet and to said wire coil; and directing the cooling medium to exit the casing through an outlet directed out of said casing, wherein the inlet and outlet are arranged as a closed-loop system. 36. A method for operating a sensor comprising a permanent magnet and a wire coil placed adjacent to said magnet, the method comprising: positioning said permanent magnet and wire coil in close proximity to at least one passing rotor blade; monitoring at least one of blade time of arrival measurement and blade tip clearance measurement; transferring a cooling medium through an inlet directed into a casing that houses the sensor, wherein the cooling medium flows freely in at least a portion of said casing and wherein the inlet is arranged to cause the cooling medium to travel adjacent to the permanent magnet and to said wire coil; and directing the cooling medium to exit the casing through an outlet directed out of said casing, wherein the inlet and outlet are arranged as a closed-loop system.