Westinghouse Electric Corporation

Serge P Barton

Peter G Smith

Michael Twerdochlib

James C Bellows

Paul F Rozelle

William R Berry

Louis Sangiorgio

Methods and apparatus for monitoring an arc welding process are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention creates a digital representation of the arc created during welding and, using a neural network computer, determines if the arc is representative of normal or abnormal welding conditions. The neural network disclosed is trained to identify abnormal conditions and normal conditions and may be adaptively retrained to classify images that are not in the initial set of normal and abnormal images. In certain embodiments, other data, such as current, weld wire emission spectra, or shielding gas flow rate are also collected and the neural network is trained to monitor these data. Also, in certain embodiments, an audio signal is collected from the vicinity of the welding process and is used by the neural network computer to further classify the arc as normal or abnormal. The present invention is most preferably implemented in repetitive and continuous welding operations, such as those encountered in the manufacture and rebuilding of steam turbines.

Automated rotor welding processes using neural networks

A method and apparatus wherein, during time periods when a turbine is off-line and in a restart-ready condition, residual steam is circulated in the turbine between the cover and base of the turbine such that the cover and base are maintained at generally equal temperatures.

Convective, temperature-equalizing system for minimizing cover-to-base

A steam turbine monitoring and control system for a steam turbine having a base, a cover and interfacing plant piping system with plural feed water heaters and fluid tanks, includes a plurality of water detectors located in the interfacing plant piping system, for detecting the presence of water or cool fluid, a plurality of heater blankets covering the steam turbine, temperature detector means, coupled to the base and cover of the steam turbine, for detecting temperature differentials between the base and the cover, a water detector controller coupled to the plurality of water detectors and the temperature detector means; and monitor/alarm means, coupled to the water blanket power source, the plurality of heater blankets, the temperature detector means, and the plurality of water detectors, for indicating a condition of potential water induction when water or cool fluid is detected at any one of the plurality of water detectors, and for switching on the heater blankets to maintain absolute and relative temperatures between the cover and base within prescribed limits when the turbine is off-line.

System for providing early warning of potential water induction events

A sensor assembly comprising a rod-shaped thermally conductive element oriented radially with respect to a flow pipe and two or more thermocouples installed on the thermally conductive element. A first end of the thermally conductive element is arranged in contact with or in thermal communication with the outer periphery of the pipe, while a second end of the thermally conductive element is spaced from the pipe. As a result of heat conduction through the pipe to the first end, a temperature gradient is provided across the thermally conductive element. The temperature gradient exhibits a relatively high temperature near the first end and a relatively low temperature near the second end. The thermocouples are installed along the length of the thermally conductive element. One thermocouple is arranged nearer to the pipe than the other thermocouple. Temperature dependent signals obtained from the thermocouples are transmitted to suitable evaluation electronics. The evaluational electronics determines a temperature difference between the two thermocouples based on the thermocouple signals. The temperature difference is then compared with known or preset values to determine the flow status of the pipe.

Cost effective fluid line status sensor system

System and method for characterizing the resonant responses of a plurality of rotating blades in a turbo machine. The system comprises a plurality of controllable fluid jets disposed about a blade row for exciting rotating blades with selectable frequencies of vibration. The sequential excitation of blades at a plurality of narrowly spaced frequencies and the simultaneous sensing of blade responses sufficiently resolves the resonant center frequencies and harmonics thereof in order to detect changes in characteristic blade resonances.

Programmable jet blade excitation system

A thermocouple element (10) for use in high-pressure, high temperature fluid applications having a cylindrical body portion (12) formed from a first metal and a cap (14) formed from a dissimilar metal. The cap is fused to the body such that the junction (18) forms an axial thermocouple junction. A plurality of grooves (13, 20) is formed in the cap and body to reduce the mass of material adjacent the junction for rapid conduction heat transfer from the fluid being monitored.

Fast response thermocouple element

A temperature measuring device for electrically measuring the temperature at a predetermined point within a body member is disclosed. The device comprises a temperature sensor electrically isolated within a metallic sheath, the sheath being securely attached to a deformable mounting head. The head is deformed to produce a gripping force to intimately hold it in position within a cavity disposed in the body member and to maintain the sensor in a temperature sensing relationship with the predetermined point of interest. A spacer member is provided to substantially fill the remainder of the cavity to prevent distortion of the temperature field. A deformable lip is disposed about the periphery of the cavity which overlaps the spacer member and provides a holding force to assist in maintaining the sensor in position.

Temperature measuring device having a deformable temperature sensing

A multiple sensor temperature measuring device for measuring temperatures at a predetermined number of points along a line of investigation within a body is described. The device has a plurality of temperature sensors mounted on a corresponding plurality of expandable mounting members, each sensor being surrounded by electrical insulation and being contained within a protective sheath. The mounting members are expanded by suitable spacers to dispose the sheath in an abutting and temperature sensing relationship with the body at each predetermined point of interest therein.

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Oviedo, FL, United States of America

Serge P Barton