General Electric Company

Bently Nevada Corporation

Baker Hughes, a Ge Compnay, LLC

Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC

Other

Baker Hughes Holdings LLC

Lysle R Turnbeaugh

Dan Tho Lu

David Erik Folkner

Brian Francis Howard

Trevor Cowan

Martin Bucher

Michael Alan Tart

Steven Thomas Clemens

David Robert O'Connor

Mitchell Dean Cohen

Sean Kelly Summers

Bryan James Shadel

Daniel Lewis Farr

Daniel Farr

Lam Arthur Campbell

Pekka Tapani Sipila

Pekka Tapani Sipilä

Brian Bowlds

Han Tran

Dan Tho Liu

A gap compensated stress sensing system and methods for using the same are provided. The system can include a sensor head in communication with a controller. The sensor head can contain a stress sensor configured to generate a stress signal representing stress applied to a target based upon measurement of generated magnetic fluxes passing through the target. The system can also include a drive circuit configured to provide a current for generation of the magnetic fluxes, and to measure signals characterizing a gap between the sensor head and the target. The controller can analyze these signals to determine a gap-dependent reference signal that is relatively insensitive to electrical runout. The controller can further adjust the stress signal based upon the gap-dependent reference signal to determine an improved stress signal that has reduced sensitivity to gap changes.

Reference signal compensation for magnetostrictive sensor

A method for calibrating an output of a torsional vibration transducer can include: providing a torsional vibration transducer proximate to a body of a shaft configured to rotate along an axis of rotation, the torsional vibration transducer configured to measure a torsional vibration of the shaft; actuating the shaft to cause rotation of the shaft; while the shaft rotates, acquiring, using the torsional vibration transducer, a plurality of zero-stress measurements of the shaft across a plurality of gaps between the torsional vibration transducer and the shaft; calculating at least one calibration coefficient using the plurality of zero-stress measurements; and calibrating the output of the torsional vibration transducer according to the at least one calibration coefficient to reduce a sensitivity of the torsional vibration transducer to changes in gap between the torsional vibration transducer and the shaft when the torsional vibration of the shaft is measured.

Field calibration for torsional vibration sensor

Systems and methods for turbomachine control based upon magnetostrictive sensor measurements are provided. A turbomachine (e.g., a compressor) can be instrumented with at a sensor configured to measure an operating parameter, and a magnetostrictive sensor configured to acquire a torsional measurement (e.g., torsional vibration and/or torque) of a turbomachine shaft. An analyzer can receive the operating parameter measurement and torsional measurement and determine an updated operating parameter limit and/or an updated exclusion zone based upon the torsional measurement for control of the operating parameter.

Closed loop control employing magnetostrictive sensing

A system may include a first sensor and a second sensor. The first sensor may include a driving pole that includes a driving coil that receives a driving current and emits a magnetic flux portion through a structure. The first sensor may also include a sensing pole that may include a sensing coil that receives the magnetic flux portion and generate a first signal based at least in part on the received magnetic flux portion. The first signal is based at least in part on a force on the structure. The second sensor may be disposed on the driving pole and may generate a second signal representative of a distance between the driving pole and the structure. The system may also include a circuit that may adjust the first signal based on the second signal.

Systems and methods for compensating for air gap sensitivity in torque sensors

A sensor system for positioning, orienting, and/or aligning a sensor assembly to a target object are provided. In some embodiments, the sensor system can include a sensor assembly and a control and processing module coupled to the sensor assembly. The control and processing module can be configured to process signals generate by the sensor assembly. The sensor system can include a mounting assembly configured to receive the sensor assembly and to position the sensor assembly relative to a surface of a target object. The mounting assembly can include a retaining element configured to translate along a first axis.

Non-contact magnetostrictive sensor alignment

Systems, methods, and devices for positioning, orienting, and/or aligning a stress sensor assembly are provided. In some embodiments, a sensor assembly can be received within a retaining element of a sensor mounting assembly. The sensor mounting assembly can include the retaining element, an adjustment mechanism, a first member, a second member, and a third member. The adjustment mechanism can allow the sensor assembly to be displaced linearly in a proximal and/or distal direction. The first and second members can be pivotally coupled to enable the sensor assembly to be rotated about a first axis, and the second and third members can be pivotally coupled to allow the sensor assembly to be rotated about a second axis.

A gap compensated torque sensing system and methods for using the same are provided. The system can include a magnetostrictive torque sensor and at least one proximity sensor in communication with a controller. The proximity sensor can be substantially rigidly coupled to a sensor head of the torque sensor, either contained within the sensor head or mounted proximate to the sensor head using a bracket or other coupling mechanism. The torque sensor can sense magnetic flux passing through the target and the proximity sensor can measure a gap between itself and the target. The controller can estimate torque applied to the target from magnetic flux sensed by the torque sensor. The estimated torque can be modified by the gap measurement to compensate for changes in magnetic properties of the target due to variations in the gap. In this manner, the accuracy of the torque measurements can be increased.

Integration of proximity sensors with magnetostrictive torque sensors

Systems, methods, and devices for positioning, orienting, and/or aligning a stress sensor assembly are provided. Raw stress signals, which can correspond to stress in the target, can be generated by detecting a magnetic flux that travels through the target. The raw stress signals can be sensitive to an alignment of the sensor relative to the target. In order to minimize measurement error, the stress sensor can be properly aligned relative to the target prior to taking a stress measurement. Sensor alignment can involve adjusting a yaw, pitch, and/or roll of the sensor, measuring the raw stress signals, attenuating the detected magnetic flux, and measuring the raw stress signals again. When the stress sensor is properly aligned, a change in a size of a gap between the sensor and a surface of a target can result in approximately equal changes in the raw stress signal.

A system includes a proximity probe. The system also includes a probe information element. The probe information element is coupled to the proximity probe. The probe information element includes first data corresponding to one or more first error characteristics of the proximity probe.

Proximity probe interchange compensation

A stress sensing system for measuring stress in a conductive target material includes at least one sensor positioned proximate to the conductive target material. The sensor is configured to measure stress in the conductive target material and to transmit a signal indicative of the measured stress to a controller. The controller is coupled in communication with the sensor. The controller is configured to receive the signal from the sensor, determine a runout portion of the signal corresponding to the runout of the conductive target material, determine a runout pattern waveform from the runout portion, and subtract the runout pattern waveform from the signal.

Methods and systems for non-contact magnetostrictive sensor runout compensation

A method for aligning a sensor with a conductive material includes inducing a first magnetic flux in the conductive material to generate a first magnetic field state, and receiving a first signal at a first signal output level from a first detector and a second signal at a second signal output level from a second detector at the first magnetic field state. The method also includes inducing a second magnetic flux in the conductive material to generate a second magnetic field state, and receiving a third signal at a third signal output level from the first detector and a fourth signal at a fourth signal output level from the second detector at the second magnetic field state. Moreover, the method includes, based on changes in the signal output levels, adjusting a position of the sensor relative to the conductive target material to adjust the signal output levels to desired levels.

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Minden, NV, United States of America

Lysle R Turnbeaugh