System and Method for Regulating Velocity of Gases in a Turbomachine

Abstract

The present disclosure is direct to a system for regulating a velocity of gases in a turbomachine. The system includes an exhaust section of the turbomachine. The system also includes a damper having an actuator and a restriction. The damper is positioned within the exhaust section and is operable to adjust the velocity of the gases based on a position of the restriction. The system further includes a controller communicatively coupled to the damper. The controller is configured to control the position of the restriction to regulate the velocity of the gases relative to a predetermined velocity range.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for regulating a velocity of gases in a turbomachine, the system comprising:
 an exhaust section of the turbomachine;   a damper including an actuator and a restriction, the damper being positioned within the exhaust section and operable to adjust the velocity of the gases based on a position of the restriction; and   a controller communicatively coupled to the damper, the controller being configured to control the position of the restriction to regulate the velocity of the gases relative to a predetermined velocity range.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the damper is operable to adjust the velocity of the gases while not reducing a flow rate of air through the turbomachine. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the position of the restriction when the velocity of the gases exceeds a maximum velocity threshold such that the velocity of the gases is reduced. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the position of the restriction when the velocity of the gases is below a minimum velocity threshold such that the velocity of the gases is increased. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator moves the restriction to a restricted position when the velocity of the gases exceeds a maximum velocity threshold, and wherein the actuator moves the restriction to an unrestricted position when the velocity of the gases is below a minimum velocity threshold. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the restriction is moveable between an unrestricted position and a restricted position to regulate the velocity of the gases relative to the predetermined velocity range. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the restriction is moveable to one or more discrete intermediate positions located between the unrestricted position and the restricted position to regulate the velocity of the gases relative to the predetermined velocity range. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a sensor in operative association with the turbomachine to detect an operating parameter associated with the velocity of the gases through the turbomachine, wherein the controller is configured to control the position of the restriction based on measurement signals received from the sensor.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the sensor is in operative association with the exhaust section. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the operating parameter is a pressure of exhaust gases, an ambient temperature, a load on the turbomachine, a fuel flow rate, or a velocity of the exhaust gases. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the restriction comprises a moveable door. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the turbomachine comprises a gas turbine engine. 
     
     
         13 . A method for regulating a velocity of gases in a turbomachine, the method comprising:
 detecting, with a sensor in operative association with the turbomachine, an operating parameter associated with the velocity of the gases through the turbomachine;   receiving, with a controller, a measurement signal from the sensor, the signal being associated with the operating parameter; and   controlling, with the controller, a position of a restriction of a damper positioned within an exhaust section of the turbomachine based on the measurement signal to regulate the velocity of the gases relative to a predetermined velocity range, wherein the damper is operable to adjust the velocity of the gases based on a position of the restriction.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the damper is operable to adjust the velocity of the gases while not reducing a mass flow rate of air through the turbomachine. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 controlling, with the controller, the position of the restriction when the velocity of the gases exceeds a maximum velocity threshold such that the velocity of the gases is reduced.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 controlling, with the controller, the position of the restriction when the velocity of the gases is below a minimum velocity threshold such that the velocity of the gases is increased.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 moving, with an actuator of the damper, the restriction to a restricted position when the velocity of the gases exceeds a maximum velocity threshold; and   moving, with the actuator of the damper, the restriction to an unrestricted position when the velocity of the gases is below a minimum velocity threshold.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 moving, with an actuator of the damper, the restriction between an unrestricted position and a restricted position to regulate the velocity of the gases relative to the predetermined velocity range.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 moving, with the actuator of the damper, the restriction to one or more intermediate positions located between the unrestricted position and the restricted position to regulate the velocity of the gases relative to the predetermined velocity range.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein controlling the position of the restriction comprises controlling, with an actuator of the damper, a position of a moveable door.