Using optical pyrometry to measure gas turbine blade metal temperatures: Final report

Technical Report · Thu Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:6627023

Lindsey, O L

This report presents the experience gained by field testing an infrared optical pyrometer as a Turbine Blade Temperature Measurement System (TBTMS). This system was designed, built, and tested to make diagnostic measurements on an operating gas turbine at the T.H. Wharton Station of Houston Lighting and Power. The TBTMS is comprised of a probe assembly, an optical conduit, a detector, and a signal processor. The system senses thermal radiation from the turbine blades and transforms that signal into a real time value indicating the blade metal surface temperature. The information supplied by the TBTMS was recorded by a data acquisition system that also gathered information about the operation and performance of the engine. The information from the TBTMS was correlated with the critical operating parameters of the engine over a span of approximately 7000 hours. Initial performance of the TBTMS was satisfactory, and the configuration proved reasonably durable, demonstrating the value of such a probe for diagnosing engine conditions. Most notably, the pyrometer detected several blades that were consistently hotter than adjacent blades; such conditions could lead to shorter blade life. The report discusses blade temperature profiles and math models for predicting the durability of the blades. Recommendations were included which addressed design improvements for future TBTMS. 56 figs.

• Research Organization: Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (USA); Solar Turbines, Inc., San Diego, CA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6627023
• Report Number(s): EPRI-AP-6020; ON: TI89004853
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
FAILED ELEMENT DETECTION
OPTICAL PYROMETERS
TURBINE BLADES
TEMPERATURE MONITORING
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
FIBER OPTICS
GAS TURBINES
NUMERICAL DATA
PROGRESS REPORT
DATA
DETECTION
DOCUMENT TYPES
INFORMATION
MACHINERY
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MONITORING
PYROMETERS
TURBINES
TURBOMACHINERY
200104* - Fossil-Fueled Power Plants- Components
440300 - Miscellaneous Instruments- (-1989)