Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include downhole leak monitor systems, downhole leak monitors, and methods to monitor downhole leaks. In one embodiment, a downhole leak monitor system includes a plurality of downhole leak monitors (monitor), where each monitor is deployed along a casing of a wellbore. Each monitor is operable to detect at least one property of a fluid flow through an aperture of a barrier and to determine a location of the aperture. Each monitor is also operable to establish a connection with at least one other monitor, the connection being one of a plurality of connections, together which, communicatively connects the monitor to a top monitor. Each of the monitor is further operable to transmit data indicative of the at least one property of the fluid flow and the location of the aperture to the at least one other monitor.

Abstract: A passive array of acoustic sensors capture acoustic signals produced by sand movement. The array tool is deployed downhole where it passively listens for acoustic energy generated by sand movement in the well. Once acoustic signals are acquired, model-based frameworks are used to extract single and multiple sensor features from the acoustic signals. The extracted features are used as signatures to detect or classify the production of sand.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include downhole telemetry systems and methods to obtain data indicative of wellbore properties. In one embodiment, a downhole telemetry system includes a plurality of sensor boxes, where each of the plurality of sensor boxes is deployed along a casing of a wellbore. Each sensor box is operable to obtain data indicative of at least one property of the wellbore and to transmit signals comprising data indicative of the at least one property of the wellbore. The downhole telemetry system also includes a downhole tool coupled to a conveyance and deployable in the wellbore. The downhole tool operable to transmit an activation signal to one or more sensor boxes of the plurality of sensor boxes to initiate communication with the one or more sensor boxes, and is also operable to receive signals comprising data indicative of the at least one property of the wellbore.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include downhole leak monitor systems, downhole leak monitors, and methods to monitor downhole leaks. In one embodiment, a downhole leak monitor system includes a plurality of downhole leak monitors (monitor), where each monitor is deployed along a casing of a wellbore. Each monitor is operable to detect at least one property of a fluid flow through an aperture of a barrier and to determine a location of the aperture. Each monitor is also operable to establish a connection with at least one other monitor, the connection being one of a plurality of connections, together which, communicatively connects the monitor to a top monitor. Each of the monitor is further operable to transmit data indicative of the at least one property of the fluid flow and the location of the aperture to the at least one other monitor.

Abstract: A passive array of acoustic sensors capture acoustic signals produced by sand movement. The array tool is deployed downhole where it passively listens for acoustic energy generated by sand movement in the well. Once acoustic signals are acquired, model-based frameworks are used to extract single and multiple sensor features from the acoustic signals. The extracted features are used as signatures to detect or classify the production of sand.

Abstract: A method of verifying operation of at least one wind turbine sensor includes dynamically defining a neighborhood of neighbor wind turbines for a first wind turbine, each neighbor wind turbine including at least one sensor. The method also includes receiving data from at least one neighbor wind turbine sensor and determining a status of at least one sensor of the first wind turbine using the data received from the neighbor wind turbine sensor.

Abstract: A method of verifying operation of at least one wind turbine sensor includes dynamically defining a neighborhood of neighbor wind turbines for a first wind turbine, each neighbor wind turbine including at least one sensor. The method also includes receiving data from at least one neighbor wind turbine sensor and determining a status of at least one sensor of the first wind turbine using the data received from the neighbor wind turbine sensor.

Abstract: A gas turbine system is provided. The system includes a gas turbine engine including at least one combustor can, at least one of a combustor dynamics pressure sensor and flame sensor coupled to at least one of the combustor cans, the sensor configured to monitor combustion in each respective can and transmit a signal indicative of combustion in each respective can, and at least one control system configured to receive the signal from said at least one sensor. The control system is programmed to filter the combustion signal to determine the presence of a lean blowout (LBO) precursor, determine a probability of LBO from the filtered signal, and control the gas turbine system to facilitate reducing the probability of LBO.

Abstract: Systems and methods for multi-level optimization of emission levels and efficiency for a boiler system that includes creating both boiler-level models and burner-level models and receiving a plurality of boiler-level system variables. The received system variables are used along with boiler system constraints to optimize boiler-level setpoints. Once the boiler-level setpoints have been optimized they are sent to the burner level of a hierarchical control system, where they are used to optimize burner-level setpoints. Once the burner-level setpoints have been optimized they are sent to the burner control loops of the plant control system to be implemented.

Abstract: A system, a method, and an article of manufacture for adjusting CO emission levels in predetermined locations in a boiler system are provided. The boiler system has a plurality of burners and a plurality of CO sensors disposed therein. The system determines locations within the boiler system that have relatively high CO levels utilizing the plurality of CO sensors and then adjusts A/F ratios of burners affecting those locations to decrease the CO levels at the locations.

Abstract: A system and a method for decreasing a rate of slag formation at predetermined locations in a boiler system are provided. The boiler system has a plurality of burners, a plurality of slag detection sensors, a plurality of temperature sensors and a plurality of CO sensors disposed therein. The system determines locations within the boiler system that have relatively high slag thickness levels utilizing the plurality of slag detection sensors and then adjusts A/F ratios or mass flows of burners affecting those locations, or adds slag reducing additives to the burners affecting those locations, to decrease a rate of slag formation at the locations, utilizing signals from the plurality of slag detection sensor, the plurality of temperature sensors, and the plurality of CO sensors.

Abstract: A system, a method, and an article of manufacture for adjusting temperature levels in predetermined locations in a boiler system are provided. The boiler system has a plurality of burners and a plurality of temperature sensors and CO sensors disposed therein. The system determines locations within the boiler system that have relatively high temperature levels utilizing the plurality of temperature sensors and then adjusts A/F ratios of burners affecting those locations to decrease the temperature levels at the locations while maintaining CO levels at or below a threshold level.

Abstract: A sensing module positioned about an optical fiber cable having a long axis. The optical fiber includes a core that transmits light through the optical fiber cable. The sensing module includes a first short-period fiber grating positioned about the core. A second short-period fiber grating is positioned about the core and at a distance along the long axis with respect to the first short-period fiber grating. At least one of a long-aperiod fiber grating and a long-period fiber grating is positioned between the first short-period fiber grating and the second short-period fiber grating. A fiber cladding is positioned around the long-period grating and/or the long-aperiod grating of the sensing module. A sensing skin is positioned about the fiber cladding and includes a chemical gas active material.

Abstract: A method, system and software for reducing combustion chamber to chamber variation in a multiple-combustion chamber turbine system comprising sensing dynamic combustion pressure tones emitted from combustion chambers in a multiple combustion chamber turbine and determining a combustion chamber stratification index for the combustion chambers from the dynamic combustion pressure tones emitted for the combustion chambers to record and/or tune combustion chamber performance variations in the multiple-chamber combustion turbine system.

Abstract: In accordance with an implementation of the present technique, a method for processing data is disclosed. The method involves analyzing consistency of sensor readings obtained from a plurality of sensors monitoring a device, where each sensor reading is indicative of at least one operational parameter of the device. The method also involves assigning a confidence value to each of the sensor readings, where the confidence value is indicative of an operational condition of one of the plurality of sensors that provided the sensor reading. The method also includes weighting each sensor reading based on the confidence value assigned to the sensor reading to determine an acceptance or a rejection of the sensor reading and fusing the sensor readings that are accepted to obtain a fused sensor reading corresponding to the operational parameter measured by the sensors on the device.

Abstract: In accordance with one exemplary embodiment the invention provides a multi-parameter fiber optic sensing system with an aperiodic sapphire fiber grating as sensing element for simultaneous temperature, strain, NOx, CO, O2 and H2 gas detection. The exemplary sensing system includes an aperiodic fiber grating with an alternative refractive index modulation for such multi-function sensing and determination. Fabrication of such quasiperiodic grating structures can be made with point-by-point UV laser inscribing, diamond saw micromachining, and phase mask-based coating and chemical etching methods. In the exemplary embodiment, simultaneous detections on multi-parameter can be distributed, but not limited, in gas/steam turbine exhaust, in combustion and compressor, and in coal fired boilers etc.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a physical parameter comprises receiving a sensor signal representative of an actual value from each of a plurality of sensors. The method further comprises calculating confidence value for each sensed value and a weighted average of actual values of the sensor signal by weighting each sensed value by the respective confidence value. The weighted average is used to determine a corresponding value of the sensed parameter.

Abstract: A method of monitoring and controlling the combustion dynamics of a gas turbine engine system is provided. The system includes at least one gas turbine that includes at least one combustor can. The method includes receiving a signal from a gas turbine engine sensor that is indicative of combustion dynamics in at least one of the combustor cans, processing the received signal to determine a probability of lean blowout for at least one combustor can, and controlling the gas turbine engine system to facilitate reducing a probability of a lean blowout (LBO) event using the determined probability of lean blowout.

Abstract: A method for predicting lean blow-outs (LBOs) in a gas turbine engine includes extracting a plurality of tones in pressure signals representative of pressure within monitored combustor cans, tracking a frequency of a hot tone in each monitored can, and utilizing the extracted tones and the tracked frequency to determine a probability of an LBO.