Abstract: A non-transitory computer readable medium with instructions stored thereon, the instructions executable by one or more processors for selecting infrequent or frequent autotuning of a combustor; and determining the health of a combustor. Also, a method of monitoring a combustor within a gas turbine engine system, comprising providing a gas turbine engine system, wherein the gas turbine engine includes an autotuning system; selecting infrequent or frequent autotuning of the combustor; and determining the health of the combustor; wherein said determining the health of a combustor comprises receiving real-time fuel gas temperature data from at least one thermocouple.

Abstract: A method for detecting blowout precursors in at least one gas turbine combustor comprising: receiving combustion dynamics acoustic data measured by an acoustic measuring device associated with the combustor in real time; performing wavelet analysis on the acoustic data using simplified Mexican Hat wavelet transform analysis; and determining the existence of a blowout precursor based at least in part on the wavelet analysis. Provided also is a system and a non-transitory computer readable medium configured to perform the method.

Abstract: A non-transitory computer readable medium with instructions stored thereon, the instructions executable by one or more processors for calculating base swirl in a gas turbine; and calculating relative swirl in the gas turbine. Also, a method for gas turbine maintenance, comprising identifying a combustor in need of repair or replacement within a gas turbine; and repairing or replacing the combustor; wherein said identifying comprises calculating base swirl of the gas turbine and calculating relative swirl of the gas turbine in order to associate a gas path from a thermocouple to the combustor in need of repair or replacement.

Abstract: A non-transitory computer readable medium with instructions stored thereon, the instructions executable by one or more processors for calculating base swirl in a gas turbine; and calculating relative swirl in the gas turbine. Also, a method for gas turbine maintenance, comprising identifying a combustor in need of repair or replacement within a gas turbine; and repairing or replacing the combustor; wherein said identifying comprises calculating base swirl of the gas turbine and calculating relative swirl of the gas turbine in order to associate a gas path from a thermocouple to the combustor in need of repair or replacement.

Abstract: A method for detecting blowout precursors in at least one gas turbine combustor comprising: receiving combustion dynamics acoustic data measured by an acoustic measuring device associated with the combustor in real time; performing wavelet analysis on the acoustic data using simplified Mexican Hat wavelet transform analysis; and determining the existence of a blowout precursor based at least in part on the wavelet analysis. Provided also is a system and a non-transitory computer readable medium configured to perform the method.

Abstract: A non-transitory computer readable medium with instructions stored thereon, the instructions executable by one or more processors for calculating base swirl in a gas turbine; and calculating relative swirl in the gas turbine. Also, a method for gas turbine maintenance, comprising identifying a combustor in need of repair or replacement within a gas turbine; and repairing or replacing the combustor; wherein said identifying comprises calculating base swirl of the gas turbine and calculating relative swirl of the gas turbine in order to associate a gas path from a thermocouple to the combustor in need of repair or replacement.

Abstract: A non-transitory computer readable medium with instructions stored thereon, the instructions executable by one or more processors for selecting infrequent or frequent autotuning of a combustor; and determining the health of a combustor. Also, a method of monitoring a combustor within a gas turbine engine system, comprising providing a gas turbine engine system, wherein the gas turbine engine includes an autotuning system; selecting infrequent or frequent autotuning of the combustor; and determining the health of the combustor; wherein said determining the health of a combustor comprises receiving real-time fuel gas temperature data from at least one thermocouple.

Abstract: An apparatus for merging a low energy electron flow into a high energy electron flow may include: a high energy electron path for accommodating the high energy electron flow; and a plurality of magnetic elements arranged to guide the low energy electron flow through a chicane presenting a path having a first end and a second end. The path intersects the high energy electron path at the second end. The path has a plurality of turns and path segments intermediate the first and second ends. Respective adjacent path segments intersect at each respective turn. The path establishes a respective bend radius and subtends a respective path angle between respective adjacent path segments at each respective turn. Each respective path angle is maximized within predetermined path angle limits. Each respective bend radius is minimized within predetermined bend radius limits.