Method And Device For Monitoring The Cooling Air System Of A Turbine

Abstract

Disclosed are a method and a device for monitoring the cooling air system of a turbine, cooling air being fed to at least one series of blades of the turbine. According to the method and the device, an air pressure is determined in at least one cooling air reservoir from which the cooling air is discharged and is fed to the series of blades. Preferably, the air pressure that is detected by means of a pressure sensor is transmitted in a wireless manner to an evaluation unit.

1 .- 8 . (canceled)  
   
   
       9 . A method for monitoring a cooling air system of a turbine having a series of rotor blades, comprising: 
 providing a cooling air reservoir located in the interior of a rotating rotor blade shaft of the turbine;    determining an air pressure in the cooling air reservoir;    extracting cooling air from the reservoir;    feeding cooling air to the series of rotor blades; and    wirelessly transmitting a current value of the air pressure to an evaluation unit.    
   
   
       10 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the cooling air reservoir is arranged as a ring about a turbine axis.  
   
   
       11 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the cooling air reservoir is supplied with compressed air from a compressor and communicates directly with the series of rotor blades via a cooling air duct.  
   
   
       12 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the air pressure is determined by at least one pressure sensor.  
   
   
       13 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein a blockage of a cooling air inlet opening enveloped by at least one turbine blade is detected based upon an increasing air pressure in the reservoir.  
   
   
       14 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein a blockage of a cooling air outlet opening enveloped by at least one turbine blade is detected based upon an increasing air pressure in the reservoir.  
   
   
       15 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein a blockage of a turbine blade cooling air duct is detected based upon an increasing air pressure in the reservoir.  
   
   
       16 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein a blockage of a cooling air duct physically connected to the reservoir is detected based upon an increasing air pressure in the reservoir.  
   
   
       17 . A device for monitoring a cooling air system of a turbine, comprising: 
 a turbine having a series of rotor blades fed with cooling air;    a cooling air reservoir located in a rotor blade shaft, the cooling air extracted and fed from the shaft to the series of rotor blades;    a pressure sensor arranged in the cooling air reservoir that determines a current air pressure of the cooling air pressure; and    a wireless transmitter that transmits the current air pressure to an evaluation unit via the pressure sensor.    
   
   
       18 . The device as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the cooling air reservoir is arranged in the form of a ring about a turbine axis.  
   
   
       19 . The device as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein a compressor supplies the cooling air reservoir with compressed air.  
   
   
       20 . The device as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the cooling air reservoir communicates via a cooling air duct directly with the series of rotor blades.