Siemens Energy, Inc.

Alejandro Bancalari

Clifford Hatcher

David Letter

Joshua DeAscanis

Anand A Kulkarni

Forrest R Ruhge

James P Williams

Dustin C Boudin

Robert G Shannon

Kevin Licata

A blackbody material application system for a turbine. The system includes a blackbody material supply and a moveable hose connected to the blackbody material supply wherein the hose sprays blackbody material onto a selected area within the turbine. The system also includes a rotatable bracket that holds the hose, wherein rotation of the bracket moves the hose toward the selected area within the turbine to enable application of the blackbody material onto the selected area. In addition, the system includes a motor for rotating the bracket and a moveable arm that holds the bracket wherein the bracket is inserted through an opening in the turbine and movement of the arm enables positioning of the bracket and hose in relative close proximity to the selected area suitable for spraying blackbody material onto the selected area.

Blackbody material application system for a turbine

A robotically articulated inspection scope () inserted into a pilot fuel nozzle port () of a turbine engine () for in-situ measurement of gaps () between tips of turbine blades (A) and the surrounding shroud (). A non-contact gap measuring device () on a distal end () of the scope may be navigated through a combustor () and transition duct () into a position proximate a blade tip gap. The scope may be controlled via computer () via a robotic drive () affixed to the pilot fuel nozzle port. Multiple scopes may be used to measure gaps (A-D) at multiple azimuths of the turbine simultaneously. The turbine disk () may be rotated on its operating turning gear to sequentially measure each blade at each azimuth. The computer may memorize an interactively navigated path for subsequent automated positioning.

In-situ measurement of blade tip-to-shroud gap in turbine engine

Non-destructive evaluation optical inspection systems include video cameras or other reflective-photonic optical instruments, such as laser profilometers or 3D white light laser dimensional scanners, which are incorporated in a camera head. The camera head is coupled to a distal end of a self-supporting and shape-retaining elongate deformable deployment tether. The deployment tether is bendable, for insertion through cavities of power generation machines and orientation of the camera head field of view on the internal area of interest. The deployment tether is capable of being deformed repeatedly, for inspection of different areas of interest. In some embodiments, interchangeable camera heads are selectively coupled to the deployment tether, so that a kit or family of different optical inspection instruments are available to carry out multiple types of inspections within a single or multiple types of power generation machinery.

Video inspection system with deformable, self-supporting deployment tether

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Casselberry, FL, United States of America

Alejandro Bancalari