Abstract:
The invention provides a temperature measurement system including a temperature sensor and means for biasing the temperature sensor in the direction of a thermal energy source in response to receiving thermal energy from the source. The invention also provides a continuous casting system including at least one temperature sensor disposed in the secondary cooling region and means for biasing the temperature sensor in the direction of the strand of metal in response to receiving thermal energy from the strand of metal.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a fuel injector (110) for a gas turbine engine combustor that includes a fuel nozzle (126) for injecting fuel into the gas turbine engine combustor and a fiber optic microphone (140) operatively associated with the fuel nozzle for measuring acoustic pressure differentials within a combustion chamber (14) of the gas turbine engine combustor. The fiber optic microphone includes a fiber bundle having at least one light transmitting fiber and one light receiving fiber; and a dynamic pressure-sensing diaphragm operatively spaced apart from a sensing end of the fiber bundle. The diaphragm has a reflective surface and is formed from a material capable of withstanding temperatures associated with flame exposure. The diaphragm is adapted and configured for deflecting in response to acoustic pressure changes within the combustion chamber. The fuel injector can further include a mechanism for measuring the temperature of the diaphragm, so as to account for changes in the material properties of the diaphragm caused by temperature changes in the combustion chamber.
Abstract:
A fuel injector for a gas turbine combustor is disclosed which includes a fuel nozzle for issuing fuel into the combustor for combustion, at least one photodetector responsive to flame radiation indicative of an OH chemiluminescence peak, and at least one photodiode responsive to flame radiation indicative of a CH chemiluminescence peak.
Abstract:
A fuel injector, 20, for a gas turbine engine is disclosed which includes a nozzle body, 28, for issuing fuel and air into a combustor, 30, and an on-axis optical probe, 50, located within the nozzle body, 28, for observing combustor flame radiation, wherein the optical probe, 50, includes a plurality of optical fiber bundles, 60a - 60g, extending to a distal end of the probe, 50, and a shaped lens, 56, is supported at the distal end of the probe, 50, to provide a multi-directional field of view of combustion characteristics and properties in an operating gas turbine engine combustor.
Abstract:
A system for stabilizing combustion in a gas turbine engine comprises a) optical sensing means embedded within a fuel injector for observing conditions within a combustion chamber of a gas turbine engine; b) means for detecting combustion instabilities based upon conditions observed by the optical sensing means; and c) means for modulating a fuel flow rate to reduce detected combustion instabilities.