University System of Maryland

Alstom Technology Limited

Paolo Ruffino

Marino diMarzo

Hanspeter Zinn

Wolfgang Franz Dietrich Mohr

Andreas Ehrsam

Francesco Congiu

Peter Weiss

A method for determining the remaining service life of a rotor of a thermally loaded turboengine in which a temperature on the rotor is determined. Thermal stress on the rotor is calculated from the determined temperature, and the remaining service life of the rotor is calculated from the derived thermal stress. The temperature is measured directly at a predetermined point of the rotor, and the thermal stress on the rotor is derived from the measured temperature.

Method for determining the remaining service life of a rotor of a thermally loaded turboengine

An apparatus for a rapid measurement of temperatures in a hot gas flow, in particular in a gas turbine. The apparatus includes a sensor having two two-dimensional, electrically conductive heating elements, which are attached to the surface of a common, electrically insulating sensor body.

Apparatus for the rapid measurement of temperatures in a hot gas flow

A sensor probe and method of use for determining the temperature, velocity, and/or liquid volumetric fraction of gas laden with droplets. In one variation, the probe includes a single heating element used in a well-characterized flow. The heating element is maintained above the Leidenfrost transition for the droplets, which prevents cooling effects from the droplets from impacting the temperature measurement. In another variation, the probe includes two or more heating elements arranged in similar flow environments. The property of interest is derived by relying on thermodynamic and heat transfer principles, which are not usable in conjunction with conventional devices. In one variation, the temperature is determined using a relationship function for characteristics of two heating elements, maintained at two different temperatures, along with the power needed to maintain constant temperature in each element, and by eliminating dependence on other variables for the determination, such as the velocity of the gas.

Sensor probe for measuring temperature and liquid volumetric fraction of a liquid droplet laden hot gas and method of using same

Growing community of inventors

Mellingen, Switzerland

Paolo Ruffino