Apparatus and method of detecting wear in an abradable coating system

Abstract

A component for use in a combustion turbine () is provided that includes a substrate () and an abradable coating system () deposited on the substrate (). A planar proximity sensor () may be deposited beneath a surface of the abradable coating system () having circuitry () configured to detect intrusion of an object () into the abradable coating system (). A least one connector () may be provided in electrical communication with the planar proximity sensor () for routing a data signal from the planar proximity sensor () to a termination location (). A plurality of trenches () may be formed at respective different depths below the surface of the abradable coating system () with a planar proximity sensor () deposited within each of the plurality of trenches (). A processing module () may be programmed for receiving data from the planar proximity sensor () and calculating a clearance between a row of blades () within a combustion turbine and the planar proximity sensor (). The processing module () may control a clearance between the row of blades () and a ring segment () based on data received from the planar proximity sensors ().