Abstract: A standardized inspection port system with common inspection port bodies and port plugs are incorporated in plural inspection locations within a gas turbine engine casing to facilitate internal engine inspection. The inspection ports preferably have identical internal diameter, stub flange dimensions and axial length from the gas turbine casing inspection seat to the stub flange for standardized mounting of inspection instruments at different locations about the turbine. The inspection port system components are preferably axially and radially aligned along the turbine casing for establishing a common reference position along all turbine blade/vane rows. The port plug incorporates a magnetically attractive pole piece for concentration or redirection of an attractive magnetic field circuit generated by an inspection port plug service tool during plug insertion or retrieval.

Abstract: Turbine engine rotor corresponding thru-bolts and disc cavities are inspected with a camera inspection system that includes one or both of a thru-bolt male threads inspection apparatus and a rotor disc cavity inspection apparatus. The thru-bolts threads inspection apparatus engages the male threads and advances along the bolt threads pattern, selectively capturing camera images at desired spatial positions along the threads pattern. The plural camera threads images are desirably combined to form a composite image of a desired portion of or the entire thru-bolt male threads profiles, which aids their inspection evaluation and provides an archived composite image of the profiles.

Abstract: Internal components of power generation machinery, such as gas turbine engines, are inspected with a spherical optical camera inspection system mounted on a compact diameter, single-axis inspection scope that is capable of insertion within an inspection port or other accessible insertion site. The inspection scope includes nested, non-rotatable telescoping tubes, which define an extension axis. Circumscribing, telescoping tubes have anti-rotation collars, which are in sliding engagement with a mating axial groove on an outer circumferential surface of a circumscribed tube. The camera is advanced and/or retracted along a scope extension axis by nested, drive tubes, which incorporate at least one external drive screw on a circumscribed drive tube and corresponding female threads formed in a circumscribing drive tube. The spherical camera has a 360-degree field of view, and captures images without rotation about the scope extension axis.

Abstract: A system for performing acoustic thermography inspection of a turbine blade while the blade is in place in an assembled turbine. The system includes an acoustic thermography stack with a cap and a frame that the acoustic thermography stack is slidably mounted to, said frame including an end frame portion that allows the blade to be clamped between the cap and the end frame portion. The system also includes an air cylinder that provides force to move the acoustic thermography stack up and down a rail of the frame such that the turbine blade may be clamped between the cap and the end frame portion and then excited using the acoustic thermography stack, and a casing that encases the air cylinder, a portion of the acoustic thermography stack and a portion of the frame.

Abstract: An optical measurement system for detecting at least one locked blade assembly in a gas turbine. The system includes at least one light source for emitting light that impinges on a blade surface of each blade in a row of blade assemblies. The system also includes a video device for imaging the blades as the blades rotate about the center axis. Further, the system includes a controller for controlling operation of the light source and video device. The controller detects a pixel intensity associated with each blade and a spacing between each pixel intensity wherein a change in spacing between consecutive pixel intensities indicates that a distance between consecutive blades has changed relative to the first distance thereby indicating at least one locked blade assembly.

Abstract: A laser measurement system for detecting at least one locked blade assembly in a gas turbine. The system includes at least one laser device for emitting a laser beam that impinges on a blade surface of each blade in a row of blade assemblies. The laser beam is also transmitted through a space between adjacent blades to impinge on corresponding internal surfaces of the gas turbine. Further, the system includes a photon detector for detecting a first time period in which first laser energy is reflected from each blade surface and a second time period in which second laser energy is reflected from each internal surface and transmitted through each space. The system also includes a controller for detecting a change in at least one second time period to indicate that a distance between consecutive blades has changed and that at least one locked blade assembly is locked.

Abstract: An acoustic measurement system for detecting locked blade assemblies in a gas turbine having a plurality of blade assemblies. The system includes at least one acoustic sensor for detecting acoustic energy generated as a result of movement of the blade assemblies during a turning gear operation. In addition, the system includes a housing for holding the acoustic sensor, wherein the housing is mounted to an outer diffuser of the gas turbine. The housing also includes a rotatable joint for enabling rotation of the acoustic sensor. Further, the system includes a data acquisition unit that detects an absence of acoustic energy wherein the absence of acoustic energy is indicative of locked blade assemblies. The blade assemblies are locked due to wedging of a sealing pin between the blade assemblies. The acoustic energy is detected in a frequency range of approximately 0.9 kHz to 10 kHz.

Abstract: Internal components of power generation machinery, including for example gas or steam industrial turbines as well as generators, are inspected a camera inspection system that is inserted and positioned within the machinery by an elongated cable carrier that has restricted cable flexure along a two-dimensional carrier cable flexure motion plane. A camera head that retains the camera is coupled to a distal end of the cable carrier. Embodiments also include a connector block coupled between the cable carrier distal end and the camera head. The connector block has a pivot axis coupled to the camera head for swinging the camera head along a camera head range of motion path that intersects the cable carrier flexure motion plane. Embodiments include a camera head swing motion drive system for selectively positioning the camera head along the camera head range of motion path.

Abstract: A system and method include an acoustic thermography stack and a frame that the stack is slidably mounted to. The frame includes an end frame portion with a blade stop, and an air cylinder provides force to move the stack up and down a rail of the frame such that a turbine blade may be clamped between a cap of the stack and the blade stop. The clamped blade is excited using the stack, and an infrared camera is used to detect critical indications in the blade.

Abstract: An on-line optical inspection and monitoring system is externally mounted to existing man way service access within the combustor housing. A replacement man way cover having an optical window is mounted to the combustor housing. One or more optical cameras are oriented so that the camera field of view (FOV) is directed through the man way cover optical window. The camera FOV is moved to plural positions within the combustion section, such as under control of an automated motion control system, and images are captured. Multiple images are combined to form a composite image, which may include an image of an entire transition within the combustion section. Visual images and/or infrared (IR) thermal images may be captured. Thermal image information is correlated with component temperature. Image information is utilized to determine vibration characteristics of the imaged components.

Abstract: A method and a system for inspection of gas turbine are presented. An inspection tool is attached on a track which is permanently positioned on site with respect to the gas turbine. The inspection tool includes an extendible shaft with a proximal end attached on the track and a distal end carrying a sensor. The inspection tool moves along the track for accessing an inspection port of the gas turbine by the shaft. A control system is coupled to the inspection tool for controlling the inspection tool for the inspection of the gas turbine. The method and system enable an automated engine inspection which allows for the engine to have been inspected and reviewed by an engineer without having to send the engineer on site.

Abstract: An image capturing system includes an imaging device positioned at a location in a stationary portion of a turbo machine, the imaging device having a field of view proximate to one or more vanes of a variable vane stage of the turbo machine and configured to capture an image of the field of view. The system also includes an image analyzer in communication with the imaging device configured to determine an angle of rotation of the one or more vanes of the variable vane stage based on the captured image of the field of view.

Abstract: Fastener-removal method and assembly including a washer member (22) integral with a fastener-removal member (26) are provided. A fastener (16) may be disposed in a through hole (24) in the washer member. The fastener-removal member is arranged to receive a mechanical force effective to remove the fastener. Embodiments of the disclosed assembly are effective for quick removal of relatively high-strength fasteners, as may be used in combustion turbine engines, without having to directly apply torque to structures of the fastener, such as the head of a fastener, and thus reducing the possibility of damage to the fastener during servicing operations of the turbine engine involving fastener removal.

Abstract: An optical based system and method for monitoring turbine engine blade deflection during engine operation. An optical camera is coupled the exterior of an engine inspection port, so that its field of view captures images of a rotating turbine blade, such as the blade tip. The camera's image capture or sampling rate matches blade rotation speed at the same rotational position, so that successive temporal images of one or more blades show relative movement of the blade tip within the image field of view. The captured successive images are directed to a blade deflection monitoring system (BDMS) controller. The controller correlates change in a blade's captured image position within the camera field of view between successive temporal images with blade deflection. The BDMS alarms or trips engine operation if the monitored blade deflection falls outside permissible operation parameters.

Abstract: Non-destructive evaluation optical inspection systems include video cameras or other reflective-photonic optical instruments, such as laser profilometers or 3D white light laser dimensional scanners, which are incorporated in a camera head. The camera head is coupled to a distal end of a self-supporting and shape-retaining elongate deformable deployment tether. The deployment tether is bendable, for insertion through cavities of power generation machines and orientation of the camera head field of view on the internal area of interest. The deployment tether is capable of being deformed repeatedly, for inspection of different areas of interest. In some embodiments, interchangeable camera heads are selectively coupled to the deployment tether, so that a kit or family of different optical inspection instruments are available to carry out multiple types of inspections within a single or multiple types of power generation machinery.

Abstract: A camera scope inspection system with a flexible, tether mounted camera head that is maneuverable in confined internal cavities of power generation machinery. A camera head position sensing system inferentially determines the three dimension (3D) position of the camera head within the inspected machinery. Camera head position data are correlated with camera image data by a controller. In this manner correlated internal inspection image data and corresponding position data are available for future analysis and image tracking.

Abstract: Internal components of power generation machines, such as gas or steam turbines, are inspected with a laser profilometer inspection system that is inserted and positioned within the turbine, for example through an inspection port that is in communication with an open inter-row spacing volume between an opposing turbine vane and turbine blade row. Component surface profile scans are performed to determine relative profile heights along a two-dimensional scan line generated by the profilometer. Three-dimensional profile information is obtained by translating the scan line across the surface. Real time profile information is gathered without physical contact, which is helpful for extracting off-line engineering information about component surface conditions, including surface spallation, perforation, and gaps between components. The system is capable of determining blade tip gap between a turbine blade tip and its opposing abradable surface in the turbine casing.

Abstract: Internal components of gas and steam turbines are inspected with an optical camera inspection system that is capable of automatically and/or manually positioning the camera field of view (FOV) to an area of interest within the turbine along a pre-designated navigation path and capturing images with or without human intervention. Camera positioning and image capture can be initiated automatically or after receipt of operator permission. The inspection system includes an articulated multi-axis inspection scope with an optical camera that is inserted through a combustor nozzle access port, combustor and transition, so that the camera FOV captures the leading edge of Row 1 rotating turbine blades while the rotor is spinning at up to 1000 RPM. An illumination system strobe light and the camera image capture are synchronized with the blade rotation speed so that images of multiple or all blades may be obtained from a single inspection scope insertion point.

Abstract: Turbine engine rotor corresponding thru-bolts and disc cavities are inspected with a camera inspection system that includes one or both of a thru-bolt male threads inspection apparatus and a rotor disc cavity inspection apparatus. The thru-bolts threads inspection apparatus engages the male threads and advances along the bolt threads pattern, selectively capturing camera images at desired spatial positions along the threads pattern. The plural camera threads images are desirably combined to form a composite image of a desired portion of or the entire thru-bolt male threads profiles, which aids their inspection evaluation and provides an archived composite image of the profiles.

Abstract: Turbine engine rotor corresponding thru-bolts and disc cavities are inspected with a camera inspection system that includes one or both of a thru-bolt male threads inspection apparatus and a rotor disc cavity inspection apparatus. The disc cavity inspection scope apparatus is insertable in one or more of the desired rotor disc cavities and orients an attached inspection camera field of view generally transverse to the circumferential wall in the rotor disc that defines the cavity. Preferably inspection scope apparatus insertion into the disc cavities is performed with a motion control system that monitors spatial position of the camera field of view relative to the recess circumferential wall. The plural camera cavity circumferential wall images are desirably combined to form a composite image of a desired portion of or the entire disc cavity circumferential surface, which aids their inspection evaluation and provides an archived composite image of the surface.