Methods and apparatus for controlling rotary machines

Patent · Tue Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2009

OSTI ID:988847

Bagepalli, Bharat Sampathkumaran ^[1]; Jansen, Patrick Lee ^[2]; Barnes, Gary R ^[3]; Fric, Thomas Frank ^[4]; Lyons, James Patrick Francis ^[1]; Pierce, Kirk Gee ^[5]; Holley, William Edwin ^[4]; Barbu, Corneliu ^[6]

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1. Niskayuna, NY
2. Scotia, NY
3. Delanson, NY
4. Greer, SC
5. Simpsonville, SC
6. Guilderland, NY

A control system for a rotary machine is provided. The rotary machine has at least one rotating member and at least one substantially stationary member positioned such that a clearance gap is defined between a portion of the rotating member and a portion of the substantially stationary member. The control system includes at least one clearance gap dimension measurement apparatus and at least one clearance gap adjustment assembly. The adjustment assembly is coupled in electronic data communication with the measurement apparatus. The control system is configured to process a clearance gap dimension signal and modulate the clearance gap dimension.

• Research Organization: Midwest Research Institute, Kansas City, MO (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-99GO10337
• Assignee: General Electric Company (Schenectady, NY)
• Patent Number(s): 7,581,921
• Application Number: 11/424,951
• OSTI ID: 988847
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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