General Electric Company
System and method for measuring clearance gaps between rotating and stationary components of a turbomachine

Abstract:

Systems and methods for measuring the clearance gaps between rotating and stationary components of a turbomachine are provided. In one exemplary aspect, flexible and degradable sensing arrays that include a plurality of microwave sensors are utilized to sense the clearance gaps between rotating and stationary components of the turbomachine. Microwaves generated by a microwave generator are transmitted to the sensors. Upon rotation of the rotating components, the rotating components reflect the microwaves transmitted thereto. The microwave sensors capture the transmitted signal and also capture a reflected signal indicative of the transmitted signal reflected by the rotating components. The signals are then forwarded to a computing device for processing. The amplitude difference at the interference fringes between the superimposed signals is representative of the clearance gaps between the rotating and stationary components. After measuring the clearance gaps, the turbomachine may be operated and the degradable sensing array may be consumed.