Method for optimizing base points used in temperature mapping of a turbine hot gas flow path by determining acoustic signal intersection points

Abstract

A method for optimizing base points each used in a corresponding basis function utilized in generating a parameter map for a hot gas flow path constrained by a boundary. The method includes providing a plurality of transceivers, wherein each transceiver generates an acoustic signal that travels through a measurement space in the hot gas flow path and wherein each acoustic signal defines an acoustic path. The method also includes locating the transceivers such that the acoustic paths travel through a region of interest in the measurement space. In addition, an average temperature for each acoustic path is determined. Next, at least one base point in the measurement space is determined. Further, the method includes providing a basis function for each base point and generating a weight of each basis function.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for optimizing base points each used in a corresponding basis function utilized in generating a parameter map for a hot gas flow path constrained by a boundary, comprising:
 providing a plurality of transceivers, wherein each transceiver generates an acoustic signal that travels through a measurement space in the hot gas flow path and wherein each acoustic signal defines an acoustic path;   determining an average temperature for each acoustic path;   determining at least one base point in the measurement space;   providing a basis function for each base point; and   generating a weight of each basis function.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a constraint includes setting a maximum and minimum temperature for each weight. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a constraint includes minimizing differences in weighting of basis functions of relatively close seat points. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein an objective is to minimize line fit error relative to each average temperature. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , further including determining intersection points of each acoustic path, wherein each intersection point corresponds to a base point. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein uniformly spaced base points are added for defining known boundary conditions. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , further including locating the transceivers so as to increase acoustic path density in a region of interest in the measurement space to thereby increase a number of base points in the measurement space. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the basis function is selected from the group consisting of Gaussian, subgaussian, supergaussian and spline basis functions. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the basis function is a combined basis function that includes more than one type of basis function. 
     
     
         10 . A method for optimizing base points each used in a corresponding basis function utilized in generating a parameter map for a hot gas flow path constrained by a boundary, comprising:
 providing a plurality of transceivers, wherein each transceiver generates an acoustic signal that travels through a measurement space in the hot gas flow path and wherein each acoustic signal defines an acoustic path;   locating the transceivers such that the acoustic paths travel through a region of interest in the measurement space;   determining an average temperature for each acoustic path;   determining at least one base point in the measurement space;   providing a basis function for each base point; and   generating a weight of each basis function.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein a constraint includes setting a maximum and minimum temperature for each weight. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein a constraint includes minimizing differences in weighting of basis functions of relatively close seat points. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein an objective is to minimize line fit error relative to each average temperature. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 10 , further including determining intersection points of each acoustic path, wherein each intersection point corresponds to a base point. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein uniformly spaced base points are added for defining known boundary conditions. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 10 , further including locating the transceivers so as to increase acoustic path density in a region of interest in the measurement space to thereby increase a number of base points in the measurement space. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the basis function is selected from the group consisting of Gaussian, subgaussian, supergaussian and spline basis functions. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the basis function is a combined basis function that includes more than one type of basis function. 
     
     
         19 . A method for optimizing base points each used in a corresponding basis function utilized in generating a parameter map for a hot gas flow path constrained by a boundary, comprising:
 providing a plurality of transceivers, wherein each transceiver generates an acoustic signal that travels through a measurement space in the hot gas flow path and wherein each acoustic signal defines an acoustic path;   locating the transceivers such that the acoustic paths travel through a region of interest in the measurement space;   determining an average temperature for each acoustic path;   determining at least one base point in the measurement space;   generating additional base points based on apriori information;   providing a basis function for each base point; and   generating a weight of each basis function.