US4902139A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus and method for measuring the thermal performance of a heated or cooled component
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1988-04-13
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Granted: 1990-02-20
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Expires: 2008-04-13
Abstract
Abstract The thermal performance of cooling circuits for cooled components, such as turbine blades used in gas turbine engines, may be determined by applying a known amount of heat flux to a predetermined surface of the component, directing a cooling fluid flow having predetermined characteristics through the cooling circuit of the component, and measuring a temperature distribution on a preselected surface of the component. The thermal performance of heating circuits for heated components, such as those involved in clearance control in a gas turbine engine, or other components in which a controlled thermal contraction or expansion is desired, may be determined by applying a known amount of heat flux to a predetermined surface of the component, applying a cooling fluid flow having predetermined characteristics to the heating circuits, and measuring a temperature distribution on a preselected surface of the component.
Inventors
- 👤 Eugene F. Adiutori
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 22:52
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N25/00; G01N25/18; G01K; G01K17/00; G01K17/06; G01K17/08; G01K17/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 44
Claim 1
Independent Claim
79 words
An apparatus for measuring the thermal performance of a component, comprising: a means for applying a predetermined amount of heat flux to a predetermined outer surface of the component; a means for applying a cooling fluid flow having predetermined characteristics to the component and a means for measuring a temperature distribution on a preselected surface of the component while the predetermined amount of heat flux and the cooling fluid flow having predetermined characteristics are being applied to the component.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
79 words
An apparatus for measuring the thermal performance of a component, comprising: a means for applying a predetermined amount of heat flux to a predetermined outer surface of the component; a means for applying a cooling fluid flow having predetermined characteristics to the component and a means for measuring a temperature distribution on a preselected surface of the component while the predetermined amount of heat flux and the cooling fluid flow having predetermined characteristics are being applied to the component.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1, in which the means for applying a predetermined amount of heat flux comprises a resistive, foil heater attached to the predetermined surface of the component.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1, in which the means for measuring a temperature distribution comprises a plurality of thermocouples attached to the preselected surface of the component.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 3, in which the thermocouples are embedded in the preselected surface of the component.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 3, in which the means for applying a predetermined amount of heat flux comprises a resistive, foil heater covering the thermocouples and a means for varying the electrical power input to the resistive, foil heater.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 1, in which the means for measuring a temperature distribution comprises a means for measuring a temperature distribution on a predetermined surface of the heat flux applying means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 6, in which the means for measuring a temperature distribution on a predetermined surface of the heat flux applying means comprises film thermocouples attached to a predetermined surface of the heat flux applying means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 6, in which the means for measuring the temperature distribution on a predetermined surface of the heat flux applying means comprises an infrared camera.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 6, in which the means for measuring the temperature distribution on a predetermined surface of the heat flux applying means comprises a liquid crystal attached to a predetermined surface of the heat flux applying means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 1, in which the means for applying cooling fluid flow to the component comprises a means for applying cooling fluid to the component at a predetermined temperature and flow rate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 1, in which the means for applying cooling fluid flow to the component comprises a means for applying cooling fluid to the component at a predetermined temperature and pressure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 1, in which the component contains one or more internal passages for the flow of fluid and in which the means for applying cooling fluid flow to the component directs a cooling fluid flow through the passages in the component
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 12, in which the passages are cooling passages.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 12, in which the passages are heating passages.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1, in which the component is a turbine engine component.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1, in which the component is a cooled component in a gas turbine engine.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1, in which the component is a heated component in a gas turbine engine.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1, in which the component is a turbine blade having internal cooling passages.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1, in which the component is the rear frame of the turbine in a gas turbine engine.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
73 words
A method of measuring the thermal performance of a component, comprising the steps of: applying a predetermined amount of heat flux to a predetermined outer surface of a component; applying a cooling fluid flow having predetermined characteristics to the component; and measuring a temperature distribution on a preselected surface of the component while the predetermined amount of heat flux and the cooling fluid flow having predetermined characteristics are being applied to the component.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
73 words
A method of measuring the thermal performance of a component, comprising the steps of: applying a predetermined amount of heat flux to a predetermined outer surface of a component; applying a cooling fluid flow having predetermined characteristics to the component; and measuring a temperature distribution on a preselected surface of the component while the predetermined amount of heat flux and the cooling fluid flow having predetermined characteristics are being applied to the component.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 20, in which the step of applying heat flux to a predetermined surface of the component comprises the step of attaching a resistive, foil heater to the predetermined surface of the component and applying a predetermined amount of electrical power to the resistive, foil heater.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 20, in which the measuring step comprises attaching a number of thermocouples to the preselected surface of the component and measuring the outputs of the thermocouples.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 22, in which the attaching step comprises embedding the thermocouples in the preselected surface of the component.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 22, in which the step of applying a predetermined amount of heat flux to a predetermined surface of the component comprises covering the thermocouples with a resistive heater and varying the electrical power input to the resistive heater.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 20, in which the measuring step comprises the step of measuring the temperature distribution over a predetermined surface of a heater used to apply the predetermined amount of heat flux to the predetermined surface of the component.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 25, in which the step of measuring the temperature distribution over a predetermined surface of a heater comprises the step of applying film thermocouples to the predetermined surface of the heater and measuring the output of the thermocouples.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 25, in which the step of measuring the temperature distribution over a predetermined surface of a heater comprises the step of mapping the temperature distribution over the predetermined surface of the heater with an infrared camera.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 25, in which the step of measuring the temperature distribution over a predetermined surface of a heater comprises the step of attaching a liquid crystal to the predetermined surface of the heater and observing the color of the liquid crystal.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 20, in which the step of applying cooling fluid flow to the component comprises the step of directing cooling fluid to the component at a predetermined temperature and flow rate.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 20, in which the step of applying cooling fluid flow to the component comprises the step of directing cooling fluid to the component at a predetermined temperature and pressure.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 20, in which the step of applying a cooling fluid flow to the component comprises the step of applying the cooling fluid flow through one or more passages in the component.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 31, in which the passages are cooling passages.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 31, in which the passages are heating passages.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 20, in which the component is a turbine engine component.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 20, in which the component is a cooled component in a gas turbine engine.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 20, in which the component is a heated component in a gas turbine engine.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 20, in which the component is a turbine blade containing internal cooling passages.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 20, in which the component is the rear frame of the turbine in a gas turbine engine.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 20, further comprising the steps of: performing a thermal analysis based on the predetermined amount of heat flux and the predetermined characteristics of the cooling fluid flow to derive a predicted temperature distribution; comparing the predicted temperature distribution with the measured temperature distribution; and adjusting one or more analytical inputs used in the thermal analysis based on the comparing step.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 39, further comprising the step of performing a thermal analysis using the adjusted analytical inputs.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 40, in which the thermal analysis using the adjusted analytical inputs is based on expected conditions to be experienced by the component in actual operation.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 39, in which the analytical inputs include a heat transfer coefficient distribution.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-02-19 | 1993-08-21 | 1994-02-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-02-19 | 1997-08-21 | 1998-02-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-02-19 | 2001-08-21 | 2002-02-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |