Rotor stall sensor system

Abstract

A system for detecting onset of a stall in a rotor is disclosed, the system comprising a sensor spaced radially outwardly and apart from tips of a circumferential row of blades at a location on a static component that is between a first location and a second location wherein the first location is at a first distance of about 25% blade tip-chord length axially forward from the leading edge of a blade and the second location is at a second distance of about 25% blade tip-chord length axially aft from the trailing edge of a blade and wherein the sensor is capable of generating an input signal corresponding to a flow parameter at a location near the tip of a blade and indicative of the onset of a stall and a correlation processor that generates a stability correlation signal.

1 . A system for detecting onset of a stall in a rotor, the system comprising:
 a sensor spaced radially outwardly and apart from tips of a circumferential row of blades at a location on a static component that is between a first location and a second location wherein the first location is at a first distance of about 25% blade tip-chord length axially forward from the leading edge of a blade and the second location is at a second distance of about 25% blade tip-chord length axially aft from the trailing edge of a blade and wherein the sensor is capable of generating an input signal corresponding to a flow parameter at a location near the tip of a blade and indicative of the onset of a stall;   a control system capable of generating a rotor speed signal; and   a correlation processor capable of receiving the input signal and the rotor speed signal wherein the correlation processor generates a stability correlation signal.   
     
     
         2 . A system according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 a plurality of sensors arranged on the static component spaced radially outwardly and apart from tips of the row of blades.   
     
     
         3 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor capable of generating a signal corresponding to the pressure at a location near the blade tip. 
     
     
         4 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein the sensor is a temperature sensor capable of generating a signal corresponding to the temperature at a location near the blade tip. 
     
     
         5 . A system according to  claim 4  wherein the sensor is located at a location on the static component corresponding to the mid-chord of a blade. 
     
     
         6 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein the sensor is a velocity sensor capable of generating a signal corresponding to the flow velocity at a location near the blade tip. 
     
     
         7 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein the sensor is capable of generating a signal corresponding to the entropy at a location near the blade tip. 
     
     
         8 . A system according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 a plurality of sensors arranged circumferentially on the static component around an axis of rotation of the rotor and spaced radially outwardly and apart from tips of the row of blades.   
     
     
         9 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein the static component is a casing. 
     
     
         10 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein the static component is a shroud. 
     
     
         11 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein the rotor comprises a plurality of fan rotors. 
     
     
         12 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein the rotor is a compressor rotor. 
     
     
         13 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein the rotor is a booster rotor. 
     
     
         14 . A system for detecting onset of a stall in a compressor rotor comprising:
 a sensor spaced radially outwardly and apart from tips of a circumferential row of compressor blades at a location on a static component that is between a first location and a second location wherein the first location is at a first distance of about 25% blade tip-chord length axially forward from the leading edge of a blade and the second location is at a second distance of about 25% blade tip-chord length axially aft from the trailing edge of a blade and wherein the sensor is capable of generating an input signal corresponding to a flow parameter at a location near the tip of a blade and indicative of the onset of a stall in the compressor; and   a correlation processor capable of receiving the input signal and a rotor speed signal wherein the correlation processor generates a stability correlation signal.   
     
     
         15 . A system according to  claim 14  further comprising a plurality of compressor rotors wherein a plurality sensors are located on the static component surrounding tips of compressor blades of at least two compressor rotors. 
     
     
         16 . A system according to  claim 14  further comprising a plurality of sensors arranged circumferentially on the static component around an axis of rotation of the compressor rotor and spaced radially outwardly and apart from tips of the row of compressor blades. 
     
     
         17 . A system according to  claim 14  wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor capable of generating a signal corresponding to the pressure at a location near the compressor blade tip. 
     
     
         18 . A system according to  claim 14  wherein the sensor is a temperature sensor capable of generating a signal corresponding to the temperature at a location near the compressor blade tip. 
     
     
         19 . A system according to  claim 14  wherein the sensor is a velocity sensor capable of generating a signal corresponding to the flow velocity at a location near the compressor blade tip. 
     
     
         20 . A system according to  claim 14  wherein the sensor is capable of generating a signal corresponding to the entropy at a location near the compressor blade tip.