Abstract: A method for monitoring a high-temperature region of interest in a turbine engine (10) is provided. The method includes providing an internally-cooled stationary vane (12). The method may further include locating at least one monitoring port (14) in the stationary vane and operatively connecting a monitoring instrument (16) to the monitoring port to provide a field of view of a region of interest.

Abstract: An optical probe (10) includes an inner tube (30), and a light-redirecting element (54) disposed at a distal end (56) of the inner tube. The light-redirecting element is supported at the distal end by an affixing structure (57) not attached to an optically-working surface (58) of the light-redirecting element.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for determining a two-dimensional temperature distribution in a cross-sectional path of a hot-temperature flow in a turbine engine (10). A grid (22, 24, 38) is located in a path of a hot-temperature flow in the turbine engine. A thermal imager (34) has a field of view configured to sense infrared emissions from the grid. A processor (50) is configured to generate data indicative of a two-dimensional temperature distribution in a cross-sectional path of the flow based on the sensed infrared emissions.

Abstract: An optical probe (10) including one or more optical elements (32), and an inner tube (30) to house the optical elements. The inner tube may be made up of at least two cooperating inner tube sections (34, 36) separable from one another along a longitudinal axis of the inner tube.

Abstract: In an optical probe (10) having an inner tube (30) arranged to house one or more optical elements (32), a method is provided which allows constructing the inner tube to have at least two corresponding inner tube sections (32, 34) separable from one another along a longitudinal axis of the inner tube. While corresponding inner tube sections (32, 34) are detached from one another, one or more of the optical elements may be disposed into either of the inner tube sections. The inner tube sections may be attached to one another by way of at least one removable affixing element to facilitate servicing of the probe.

Abstract: Two adjacent objects with a gap between the objects rotate in a hot atmosphere with a temperature greater than 300 F in a gas turbine. Automatic and accurate contactless measurement of the gap is performed by taking images of the gap. An image, preferably an infra-red image is taken from the gap, a processor extracts the two edges from the image of the gap. The processor also determines a line through the pixels of an edge by applying a Hough transform on the pixels. The edges are substantially parallel. A line substantially perpendicular to the lines is also determined. Using the substantially parallel lines and the line substantially perpendicular to the substantially parallel lines the processor determines a width of the gap.

Abstract: Internal components of power generation machinery, such as gas and steam turbines are inspected with an optical camera inspection system that is capable of automatically positioning the camera field of view (FOV) to an area of interest within the machinery along a pre-designated navigation path and capturing images without human intervention. Automatic camera positioning and image capture can be initiated automatically or after receipt of operator permission. The pre-designated navigation path can be defined by operator manual positioning of an inspection scope within the power machine or a similar one of the same type and recording of positioning steps for future replication. The navigation path can also be defined by virtual simulation.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for determining a two-dimensional temperature distribution in a cross-sectional path of a hot-temperature flow in a turbine engine (10). A grid (22, 24, 38) is located in a path of a hot-temperature flow in the turbine engine. A thermal imager (34) has a field of view configured to sense infrared emissions from the grid. A processor (50) is configured to generate data indicative of a two-dimensional temperature distribution in a cross-sectional path of the flow based on the sensed infrared emissions.

Abstract: A system (8) for monitoring a high-temperature region of interest in a turbine engine (10) is provided. The system includes an internally cooled stationary vane (12) located in a path of a working gas of the turbine. A monitoring port (14) is located in the stationary vane. A monitoring instrument (16) is operatively connected to the monitoring port of the stationary vane to provide a field of view of the region of interest.

Abstract: An optical probe (10) includes an inner tube (30), and a light-redirecting element (54) disposed at a distal end (56) of the inner tube. The light-redirecting element is supported at the distal end by an affixing structure (57) not attached to an optically-working surface (58) of the light-redirecting element.

Abstract: An optical probe (10) including one or more optical elements (32), and an inner tube (30) to house the optical elements. The inner tube may be made up of at least two cooperating inner tube sections (34, 36) separable from one another along a longitudinal axis of the inner tube.

Abstract: In an optical probe (10) having an inner tube (30) arranged to house one or more optical elements (32), a method is provided which allows constructing the inner tube to have at least two corresponding inner tube sections (32, 34) separable from one another along a longitudinal axis of the inner tube. While corresponding inner tube sections (32, 34) are detached from one another, one or more of the optical elements may be disposed into either of the inner tube sections. The inner tube sections may be attached to one another by way of at least one removable affixing element to facilitate servicing of the probe.

Abstract: Internal components of power generation machinery, such as gas and steam turbines are inspected with an optical camera inspection system that is capable of automatically positioning the camera field of view (FOV) to an area of interest within the machinery along a pre-designated navigation path and capturing images without human intervention. Automatic camera positioning and image capture can be initiated automatically or after receipt of operator permission. The pre-designated navigation path can be defined by operator manual positioning of an inspection scope within the power machine or a similar one of the same type and recording of positioning steps for future replication. The navigation path can also be defined by virtual simulation. The inspection system includes an articulated multi-axis inspection scope.

Abstract: An inspection system formed at least from an inspection system housing including at least one internal chamber that supports an extendible camera support shaft extending distally through a pilot nozzle port into a combustor of a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The inspection system may include a camera capable of capturing high quality images together with position coordinates. Thus, the inspection system enables images in a combustor of a gas turbine engine to be captured and recaptured at a subsequent outage so that the images may be analyzed and compared for preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, and the like. The inspection system may include three degrees of freedom for the camera mounted on the extendible camera support shaft.

Abstract: Internal components of power generation machinery, such as gas and steam turbines are inspected with an optical camera inspection system that is capable of automatically positioning the camera field of view (FOV) to an area of interest within the machinery along a pre-designated navigation path and capturing images without human intervention. Automatic camera positioning and image capture can be initiated automatically or after receipt of operator permission. The pre-designated navigation path can be defined by operator manual positioning of an inspection scope within the power machine or a similar one of the same type and recording of positioning steps for future replication. The navigation path can also be defined by virtual simulation.

Abstract: Internal components of power generation machinery, such as gas and steam turbines are inspected with an optical camera inspection system that is capable of automatically positioning the camera field of view (FOV) to an area of interest within the machinery along a pre-designated navigation path and capturing images without human intervention. Automatic camera positioning and image capture can be initiated automatically or after receipt of operator permission. The pre-designated navigation path can be defined by operator manual positioning of an inspection scope within the power machine or a similar one of the same type and recording of positioning steps for future replication. The navigation path can also be defined by virtual simulation. The inspection system includes an articulated multi-axis inspection scope.

Abstract: The monitoring system for a gas turbine engine including a viewing tube assembly having an inner end and an outer end. The inner end is located adjacent to a hot gas flow path within the gas turbine engine and the outer end is located adjacent to an outer casing of the gas turbine engine. An aperture wall is located at the inner end of the viewing tube assembly and an optical element is located within the viewing tube assembly adjacent to the inner end and is spaced from the aperture wall to define a cooling and purge chamber therebetween. An aperture is defined in the aperture wall for passage of light from the hot gas flow path to the optical element. Swirl passages are defined in the viewing tube assembly between the aperture wall and the optical element for passage of cooling air from a location outside the viewing tube assembly into the chamber, wherein swirl passages effect a swirling movement of air in a circumferential direction within the chamber.

Abstract: Two adjacent objects with a gap between the objects rotate in a hot atmosphere with a temperature greater than 300 F in a gas turbine. Automatic and accurate contactless measurement of the gap is performed by taking images of the gap. An image, preferably an infra-red image is taken from the gap, a processor extracts the two edges from the image of the gap. The processor also determines a line through the pixels of an edge by applying a Hough transform on the pixels. The edges are substantially parallel. A line substantially perpendicular to the lines is also determined. Using the substantially parallel lines and the line substantially perpendicular to the substantially parallel lines the processor determines a width of the gap.

Abstract: An inspection system formed at least from an inspection system housing including at least one internal chamber that supports an extendible camera support shaft extending distally through a pilot nozzle port into a combustor of a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The inspection system may include a camera capable of capturing high quality images together with position coordinates. Thus, the inspection system enables images in a combustor of a gas turbine engine to be captured and recaptured at a subsequent outage so that the images may be analyzed and compared for preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, and the like. The inspection system may include three degrees of freedom for the camera mounted on the extendible camera support shaft.

Abstract: A system (8) for monitoring a high-temperature region of interest in a turbine engine (10) is provided. The system includes an internally cooled stationary vane (12) located in a path of a working gas of the turbine. A monitoring port (14) is located in the stationary vane. A monitoring instrument (16) is operatively connected to the monitoring port of the stationary vane to provide a field of view of the region of interest.