Torque-based sensor and control method for varying gas-liquid fractions of fluids for turbomachines

Abstract

A torque-based sensor and control method for detecting varying gas-liquid fractions of a fluid entering a turbomachine that operates a fluid of varying liquid phases and compositions and using information about the actual gas-liquid fraction to set a control algorithm so that it can change the torque and therefore the rotation speed of the turbomachine to operate at safer conditions or conditions with higher efficiency or higher power output.

1 . A method of controlling a rotating flow machine, the method comprising:
 measuring an inlet temperature of the rotating flow machine and predicting an outlet temperature of the rotating flow machine therefrom;   measuring rotating flow machine shaft torque and determining mass flow changes at an inlet to the rotating flow machine therefrom; and   controlling rotational speed or torque of the rotating flow machine shaft in response to the predicted outlet temperature and the mass flow changes into the rotating flow machine such that the rotating machine achieves desired operating conditions in association with changes in gas-volume-fraction at the inlet to the rotating flow machine.   
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein controlling rotational speed or torque of the rotating flow machine shaft in response to the predicted outlet temperature and the mass flow changes into the rotating flow machine comprises inputting the predicted outlet temperature information and the mass flow change information into a fluidmechanical algorithmic model configured to generate the desired operating conditions. 
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the desired operating conditions are selected from rotating flow machine shaft torque and rotating flow machine shaft speed. 
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotating flow machine is selected from compressors, turbines, multiphase rotary pumps, and aircraft engines under rain conditions. 
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising performing an initial calibration event to determine the actual operating point of the rotating flow machine, prior to measuring the inlet temperature and the rotating flow machine shaft torque, and prior to controlling rotational speed or torque of the rotating flow machine shaft. 
   
   
       6 . A rotating flow machine control system comprising:
 a flow machine having a rotational shaft;   a torque sensor configured to measure rotational shaft torque associated with the flow machine;   an algorithmic software configured to determine mass flow changes at an inlet to the rotating flow machine in response to the measured rotational shaft torque;   a temperature sensor configured to measure fluidic temperature at an inlet to the flow machine;   a temperature sensor configured to measure fluidic temperature at an outlet to the flow machine; and   a feedback control loop configured to control rotational shaft speed or rotational shaft torque of the flow machine in response to the mass flow changes, the fluidic temperature at the flow machine inlet, and the fluidic temperature at the flow machine outlet, such that the rotating machine achieves desired operating conditions in association with changes in gas-volume-fraction at the inlet to the rotating flow machine.   
   
   
       7 . The rotating flow machine control system according to  claim 6 , wherein the rotating flow machine is selected from compressors, turbines, multiphase rotary pumps, and aircraft engines under rain conditions. 
   
   
       8 . The rotating flow machine control system according to  claim 6 , wherein the torque sensor is configured to measure and generate torque information within one rotational cycle of the rotating flow machine. 
   
   
       9 . The rotating flow machine control system according to  claim 6 , wherein the torque sensor is at least partially integrated into the rotational shaft. 
   
   
       10 . The rotating flow machine control system according to  claim 6 , wherein the torques sensor is based on a magnetically encoded rotational shaft or magnetically encoded parts attached to the rotational shaft. 
   
   
       11 . The rotating flow machine control system according to  claim 6 , wherein the algorithmic software comprises a fluidmechanical model of the rotating flow machine running under multiphase conditions. 
   
   
       12 . The rotating flow machine control system according to  claim 6 , wherein the desired operating conditions are selected from rotating flow machine shaft torque and rotating flow machine shaft speed. 
   
   
       13 . A rotating flow machine control system comprising:
 a flow machine having a rotational shaft;   a torque sensor configured to measure rotational shaft torque associated with the flow machine;   an algorithmic software configured to determine mass flow changes at an inlet to the rotating flow machine in response to the measured rotational shaft torque;   a fluidic bypass actuator; and   a controller configured to control rotational shaft torque of the flow machine via causing the fluidic bypass actuator to vary the amount of fluid entering the inlet to the flow machine in real-time in response to the mass flow changes, such that the rotating machine achieves desired operating conditions in association with changes in gas-volume-fraction at the inlet to the rotating flow machine.   
   
   
       14 . The rotating flow machine control system according to  claim 13 , wherein the rotating flow machine is selected from compressors, turbines, multiphase rotary pumps, and aircraft engines under rain conditions. 
   
   
       15 . The rotating flow machine control system according to  claim 13 , wherein the torque sensor comprises a magnetic sensor based on magnetic encoding of the rotational shaft or parts attached to the rotational shaft. 
   
   
       16 . The rotating flow machine control system according to  claim 13 , wherein the torque sensor is at least partially integrated into the rotational shaft. 
   
   
       17 . The rotating flow machine control system according to  claim 13 , wherein the algorithmic software comprises a fluidmechanical model of the rotating flow machine running under multiphase conditions. 
   
   
       18 . A method of controlling a rotating flow machine, the method comprising:
 measuring rotating flow machine shaft torque and determining gas-volume-fraction (GVF) changes at an inlet to the rotating flow machine therefrom; and   controlling rotational speed or torque of the rotating flow machine shaft in response to the GVF changes into the rotating flow machine such that the rotating machine achieves a desired operating point.   
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 18 , further comprising measuring an inlet temperature of the rotating flow machine and predicting an outlet temperature of the rotating flow machine therefrom. 
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 19 , further comprising inputting the predicted outlet temperature information and the GVF information into a fluidmechanical algorithmic model configured to generate the desired operating point.