EP4116545A1

EP4116545A1 - Continuous flow engine measurement arrangement

Info

Publication number: EP4116545A1
Application number: EP21183612.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Oleg Naryzhnyy; Petr LALETIN; Evgenii Rusetskii
Original assignee: Siemens Energy Global GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Siemens Energy Global GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2021-07-05
Filing date: 2021-07-05
Publication date: 2023-01-11

Abstract

The present invention refers to a continuous flow engine component providing improved means to provide sensor data during utilization of the corresponding continuous flow engine component (2). Furthermore, the present invention refers to a continuous flow engine providing an improved monitoring based on such continuous flow engine. Additionally, the present invention refers to a method to improve the insight into the operation of such continuous flow engine utilizing such means.Furthermore, the present invention refers to the use of such improved continuous flow engine component (2) to increase the insight and operation of a continuous flow engine.

Description

The present invention refers to a continuous flow engine component providing improved means for acquiring sensor data. Furthermore, the present invention refers to a continuous flow engine containing such inventive continuous flow engine component. Additionally, the present invention refers to a method of an improved monitoring the temperature within a continuous flow engine component utilizing such continuous flow engine component. Furthermore, the present invention refers to a use of such continuous flow engine components to determine the temperature during utilization of said component.
Although, continuous flow engines like gas turbines, steam turbines and compressors are very complex and very specialized technical machines the importance for modern technology should not be underestimated. Despite their already highly sophisticated nature they represent an essential backbone of the industry. For example, such mere compressors represent essential elements of many chemical processes to enable daily life as it is. Also, continuous flow engines like gas turbines utilize fossil fuel yet are an essential requirement to make use of renewable energy. For example, they compensate fluctuations and dampen peaks of power consumption to keep a power network safe and running.
Despite their already highly advanced state there is a constant need for further improvement. Recent developments even resulted in new requirements like resistance against tremendous changes of the load of such continuous flow engine to compensate for fluctuations within a power network in split seconds. Additionally, upgrades introduced into existing facilities containing such continuous flow engines result more and more in the need to correspondingly provides improvements and upgrades for even already existing continuous flow engines to adapt such backbone to the surrounding changes and requirements. Also, it allows to make even better use of such devices and provide additional possibilities to render such elements being highly adaptable to a plurality of uses.
These problems are solved by the products and methods as disclosed hereafter and in the claims. Further beneficial embodiments are disclosed in the dependent claims and the further description. These benefits can be used to adapt the corresponding solution to specific needs or to solve further problems.
According to one aspect the present invention refers to a continuous flow engine component, wherein the continuous flow engine component is adapted to contact a fluid stream of a continuous flow engine, wherein the continuous flow engine component contains at least one thermal measurement channel, wherein the at least one thermal measurement channel extends from a side of the continuous flow engine component not being adapted to contact the fluid stream of the continuous flow engine into a wall of the continuous flow engine component, wherein the wall provides an outer surface, wherein the outer surface is adapted to contact the fluid stream.
It was noted that utilizing such thermal measurement channels allows to significantly increase the insight in such continuous flow engine during utilization. For example, gaining such highly detailed and reliable insight during load changes allows to significantly improve the utilization of such continuous flow engine. For example, the increased insight and combination of detailed thermal properties in correlation with the physical strain during such load change allows to run a controlled an optimized ramp to realize such load change. Herein, it, for example, not only possible to reduce the burden on each component. Taking into account the detailed insight into a plurality of components utilizing such thermal measurement channels it becomes possible to improve the overall utilization by balancing out the strain on the mass of components to provide an evenly spread wear out of the continuous flow engine enabling to, for example, prolong the time between service and maintenance actions as long as possible.
According to a further aspect the present invention refers to a continuous flow engine containing an inventive continuous flow engine component.
According to a further aspect the present invention refers to a method of determining the temperature within a continuous flow engine component during use of the continuous flow engine component, wherein the method contains the steps of

introducing an inventive continuous flow engine component in a continuous flow engine,
placing a sensor or directing a sensor in the at least one thermal measurement channel before, during or after the inventive continuous flow engine component is placed in a continuous flow engine,
retrieving sensor data during utilization of the continuous flow engine using the sensor.

It was noted that utilizing the inventive continuous flow engine component allows to, for example, very simply provide an improved insight in such continuous flow engine. Furthermore, the further embodiments as described herein provide, for example, practical benefits rendering such method significantly simplified as well as more reliable to especially prevent, for example, human mistakes. Additionally, it allows to, for example, provide a significantly high lift time of the sensors based on their protection while the exact location and possibility to place the sensors at a location of interest allows to gain a highly improved and reliable insight even rendering new methods of operation and optimization possible.
According to a further aspect the present invention refers to a use of thermal measurement channels to determine the temperature in an inventive continuous flow engine component during utilization of the continuous flow engine component in a continuous flow engine.
To simplify understanding of the present invention it is referred to the detailed description hereafter and the figures attached as well as their description. Herein, the figures are to be understood being not limiting the scope of the present invention, but disclosing preferred embodiments explaining the invention further.

Fig. 1 shows a cut view of an inventive continuous flow engine component being a turbine vane.
Fig. 2 shows a cutout of the cut view of figure 1.
Fig. 3 shows a cross section of the turbine vane of figure 1, wherein the cross section is perpendicular to one of the thermal measurement channels.
Fig. 4 shows a top view of the turbine vane of figure 1,
wherein the cut view through the turbine vane as shown in figure 1 is indicated.

According to one aspect the present invention refers to a continuous flow engine component as described above.
According to further embodiments it is preferred that the continuous flow engine component contains at least one one-sided thermal measurement channel, wherein the at least one one-sided thermal measurement channel provides one opening, wherein the opening connects the inside of the one-sided thermal measurement channel and the outside of the continuous flow engine component. Typically, it is preferred that the continuous flow engine component contains at least two thermal measurement channels, wherein at least 50%, more preferred at least 90%, even more preferred at least 95%, of the thermal measurement channels are one sided thermal measurement channels. It was noted that such one-sided thermal measurement channels, for example, allow to easily secure placement of the sensor at the correct location inside the continuous flow engine component. Furthermore, it was noted that such one-sided thermal measurement channels are typically preferred for cooled continuous flow engine component. Taking into account the low amount of available space and the required distribution possibility of the cooling fluid it was noted that utilizing channels with multiple openings theoretically allow to tailor some heat distribution and increase the number of possible adaptions to tailor the thermal measurement channels according to the specific requirements. However, surprisingly the misfit originating from, for example, a lack of clogging all thermal measurement channels based on, for example, a lack of the corresponding sensor at a given time resulting in a significant change of the cooling fluid stream outweighs the benefits. For typical applications and long term real life setting such possible uncontrolled cooling fluid flow is preferably avoided. In this context, it was noted that based on the thermal measurement channels even unknown problems may arise in such case. Tests showed that such unplanned cooling fluid flow through such thermal measurement channel may lead to thermal stress and crack creation in some cases being unknown from the former continuous flow engine components utilizing different sensors not requiring such channel system to be included.
According to further embodiments it is preferred that the continuous flow engine component contains at least two, more preferred at least three thermal measurement channels. It was noted that for typical applications a plurality of sensors can be beneficially utilized, wherein the inventive thermal measurement channels allow to closely fixate these sensors at a given location. Securing the reliability of the sensor data as well as prevention damages based on vibrations of multiple sensors being located near each other and potentially damaging each other based on such sensors hitting each other in this context.
According to further embodiments it is preferred that wherein the continuous flow engine component contains at least two, more preferred at least three neighboring thermal measurement channels, wherein such neighboring thermal measurement channels provide a distance of their opening being at most 20%, more preferred at most 15%, even more preferred at most 12%, of the length of the longest neighboring thermal measurement channel, wherein the length of the length of the longest neighboring thermal measurement channel is measured from the middle of the opening of the corresponding thermal measurement channel along the center of the corresponding thermal measurement channel until it reaches the end of the corresponding thermal measurement channel. It was noted that, for example, placing the thermal measurement channels at this location allows to easily access the different thermal measurement channels at the same time. Although, such arrangement seems like one of many options it was noted that it is especially useful for the inventive use in the field of continuous flow engines.
Components of such continuous flow engines typically not only provide a very limited area where such openings are typically easily accessible. A significant problem specifically in this field is that the components are highly costly and their surface like the hot gas path surface of a blade in a gas turbine is easily damaged in case of hitting it somewhere during rotating said component. Thus, locating the openings in a certain area is, thus, surprisingly beneficial for a practical point of view.
According to further embodiments it is preferred that the fluid stream is a hot fluid stream. For example, it was noted that corresponding continuous flow engines are especially prone to damages based on a lack of control of the temperature. Introducing the inventive thermal measurement options there is, thus, surprisingly beneficial to improve the functionality and lifetime of corresponding continuous flow engine components.
According to further embodiments it is preferred that the continuous flow engine component contains at least a first and a second thermal measurement channels,

wherein the first and the second thermal measurement channels are one sided thermal measurement channels, wherein the second thermal measurement channel provides a length being at most 70% of the length of the first thermal measurement channel,
wherein the length of the length of the first thermal measurement channel and the length of the second thermal measurement channel are measured from the middle of the opening of the corresponding thermal measurement channel along the center of the corresponding thermal measurement channel until it reaches the end of the corresponding thermal measurement channel. Providing a selection of different lengths is surprisingly beneficial for a practical reason. For example, it was noted that during servicing especially when implementing upgrades and new components the current field service persons suffer from lack of experience and easily end up placing a sensor in an incorrect thermal measurement channel. Providing such simple feature in such highly sophisticated component like a gas turbine hot gas path component, thus, for example, allows to significantly reduce mistakes and prevents that incorrect sensor data is provided.

According to further embodiments it is preferred the continuous flow engine component contains cooling channels, wherein the cooling channels are located outwards of the at least one thermal measurement channel. While it seems reasonable to locate such thermal measurement channel between or even closer to the outer surface than the cooling channels it was noted that for applications like gas turbines it is for many applications beneficial to arrange the placement in such way. It was noted that, for example, such arrangement typically provides a higher lifetime especially in case such components are manufactured using 3D printing.
According to further embodiments it is preferred that the continuous flow engine component contains a cavity, wherein the at least one thermal measurement channel is located in a wall surrounding the cavity, wherein the wall provides an inhomogenous thickness in a cross section perpendicular to the at least one thermal measurement channel, wherein the cross section provides a higher thickness in the area containing the at least one thermal measurement channel. Typically, it is preferred that the continuous flow engine component is a continuous flow engine component being adapted to be moving during use of the continuous flow engine. Although, applying additional material is typically less point of interest for components of continuous flow engines and especially moving continuous flow engine components like the rotating components like blades it was noted that, for example, the improved stability and temperature homogenization achieved this way easily outweighs the misfits like increased inertia resulting from it.
According to further embodiments it is preferred that the at least one thermal measurement channel provides an opening, wherein at least one opening is located on an elevation of the surface of the continuous flow engine component. Such placement not only allows to, for example, that a unit containing multiple sensors is automatically aligned when being attached to said elevation smoothly correcting misplacement to allow a highly reliable centered orientation with very simple means. Furthermore, such simply elevation allows to, for example, easily differentiate such thermal measurement channels from cooling channels being located near them. While this seems trivial it was noted that during real life applications such problem easily arises and might even result in some short sensor being inserted into a cooling channel rendering the acquired data incorrect and even blocking of the cooling partially.
The openings of neighboring thermal measurement channels can be identical. For example, such openings can be arranged as row, wherein the distance between two neighboring openings is the same. According to further embodiments it is preferred that the continuous flow engine component contains a first neighboring thermal measurement channel, a second neighboring thermal measurement channel and a third neighboring thermal measurement channel, wherein the first neighboring thermal measurement channel, the second neighboring thermal measurement channel and the third neighboring thermal measurement channel each provide an opening, wherein the opening of the second neighboring thermal measurement channel is located between the opening of the first neighboring thermal measurement channel and the opening of the third neighboring thermal measurement channel, wherein the distance of the opening of the first neighboring thermal measurement channel to the opening of the second neighboring thermal measurement channel differs from the distance of the second neighboring thermal measurement channel to the opening of the third neighboring thermal measurement channel, wherein the distance of the openings is measured from the center of the openings. Typically, it is preferred that the distance of the opening of the first neighboring thermal measurement channel to the opening of the second neighboring thermal measurement channel is at least 1.5-fold, more preferred at least 2-fold, even more preferred at least 3-fold, the distance of the second neighboring thermal measurement channel to the opening of the third neighboring thermal measurement channel. It was noted that utilizing such arrangement surprisingly allows to, for example, significantly increase the correct placement of the sensors under real working conditions. For example, multiple sensors can be arranged a unit to be ensured to be entered in the correct thermal measurement channel that way. Also, utilizing a standardized system like placing a specific type of sensor always being located most remotely allows to prevent mistakes during the placement of the sensor resulting from, for example, trying to enter a sensor in an incorrect thermal measurement channel being too short resulting in damaging the sensor. Although, this sounds pretty simple it was noted that such way under normal maintenance action conditions significantly reduces mistakes based on the huge number of sensors to be controlled, replaced and upgraded being a specific benefit for the field of continuous flow engine utilizing such huge number of sensors with a high density resulting in such problem under real life conditions.
Herein, the term "between" as used herein does not require that the opening of the second neighboring thermal measurement channel is located in a direct line from the opening of the first neighboring thermal measurement channel to the opening of the third neighboring thermal measurement channel. Essentially, it is required that the second thermal measurement channel is selected so that the total distance of the distance of the opening of the first neighboring thermal measurement channel to the opening of the second neighboring thermal measurement channel and the opening of the second neighboring thermal measurement channel to the opening of the third neighboring thermal measurement channel is lower than the total distance of the opening of the first neighboring thermal measurement channel to the opening of the third neighboring thermal measurement channel and the opening of the first neighboring thermal measurement channel to the opening of the second neighboring thermal measurement channel and lower than the total distance of the opening of the third neighboring thermal measurement channel to the opening of the first neighboring thermal measurement channel and the opening of the third neighboring thermal measurement channel to the opening of the second neighboring thermal measurement channel.
According to further embodiments it is preferred that at least the at least one thermal measurement channel was manufactured using 3D printing. It was noted that such method of manufacturing is especially beneficial as it, for example, provides the possibility to easily adapt the design, size and shape of the thermal measurement channels. This is surprisingly beneficial as it was noted during tests that, for example, depending on the specific location of the continuous flow engine component or even merely the typical utilization of the continuous flow engine different sensors is especially beneficial. In this context, it was also noted that utilizing 3D printing allows to significantly cut down the manufacturing time for correspondingly designed components. Especially, realizing specific designs to specifically adapt the thermal measurement channels to the specific needs of the components and its application as intended can be significantly speeded up utilizing 3D printing. For example, it was noted that for front row blades utilized in gas turbines being utilized as compensating units to compensate power fluctuations in electrical grids specific types of sensors being highly resistant to temperature and acceleration changes are very beneficial. However, such sensors either need to be specifically manufactured or the corresponding thermal measurement channel has to be adapted to provide a sufficient fit. Relying on standard shapes of such sensors enables to significantly reduce problems like availability issues noted for special designs and ensures that a reliability utilization of such application is ensured.
Such 3D-printing can be realized by convention 3D-printer. Typically, it is preferred that such 3D-printer uses selective laser melting, electron beam melting or binder jetting, more preferred selective laser melting or electron beam melting. These types of devices have a high potential and possibility of flexible production. This allows to, for example, easily adapt the design of the inventive continuous flow engine components on demand. For example, it allows to rearrange the thermal measurement channels, change their depth and width, and the like. This renders such method surprisingly beneficial for the invention. For example, it also allows to easily adapt the set of components of a given continuous flow engine based on a change of utilization being nothing unusual for such continuous flow engines being in the field for decades, wherein such change of the components allows to easily tailor the functionality according to the specific demands at a given time being surprisingly beneficial in real life.
According to further embodiments it is preferred that the continuous flow engine is a gas turbine. It was noted that applying the invention for such engines is especially beneficial as it, for example, allows to gain significant additional insight into such gas turbine being especial important without impairing the lifetime of such continuous flow engine component being already optimized to provide as much as possible to ensure a safe operation. Herein, it is especially referred to the significant number of loads changes a typical gas turbine is confronted with.
According to a further aspect the present invention refers to a continuous flow engine containing an inventive continuous flow engine component.
According to a further aspect the present invention refers to a method of monitoring a continuous flow engine component during use of the continuous flow engine component, wherein the method contains the steps of

According to further embodiments it is preferred that the method contains the step of determining a spallation of a thermal barrier coating of the continuous flow engine component based on the retrieved sensor data. It was noted that the detailed, and highly reliable sensor data that can be continuously acquired using the inventive continuous flow engine component allows to identify a spallation of such thermal barrier coating, for example, based on a deviation noted in comparison to an expected thermal behavior. Herein, such comparison can be based on historic data, simulated data or a machine learning based system identifying unusual behaviors in comparison to, for example, a load change and/or the operating condition.
According to further embodiments it is preferred that the method contains the step of determining a blockage of cooling channels of the continuous flow engine component based on the retrieved sensor data. Typically, it is preferred that such determination is based on retrieved sensor data of sensors contained in at least two, more preferred at least three, thermal measurement channels. It was noted that it is further possible to identify a blockage of a cooling channel based on the highly detailed and reliable data available based on the inventive thermal measurement channels. Corresponding deviations from the expected behavior enable to identify such blockage. According to further embodiments it is preferred that the method includes identifying the location of the blockage based on the retrieved sensor data. It is possible to locate such blockage, for example, based on a combination of the sensor data of a single sensor contained in an inventive thermal measurement channel based on the specific geometry of the component, the operating conditions and the temperature profile monitored in detail deviating from the expected behavior. However, typically, it is beneficial to utilize the sensor data from multiple thermal measurement channels to triangulate the source of unexpected temperature deviation. This makes very good use of the possibilities of the inventive thermal measurement channels enabling to locate the data sources a highly defined location and providing a sufficient high lifetime of corresponding sensors including their reliability.
According to further embodiments it is preferred that the method includes the step of determining the temperature of a hot fluid stream like the hot gas path stream of a gas turbine the continuous flow engine component is contacting based on the retrieved sensor data. While it should be considered that the temperature of the hot fluid stream is trivial and should be known it was noted that detailed and reliable sensor data available with the inventive thermal measurement channels enable to further gain insight and optimize such continuous flow engine. Corresponding test results indicated that corresponding temperature data allows to identify deviations in the temperature profile within the hot fluid stream indicating problems like combustion problems resulting from burning channel blockages and the like, wherein such information is otherwise not readily available. Thus, making use of the inventive thermal measurement channels allows to acquire data of such continuous flow engine reaching well beyond the mere continuous flow engine component containing the inventive thermal measurement channel.
According to a further aspect the present invention refers to a use of thermal measurement channels to determine the temperature in an inventive continuous flow engine component during utilization of the continuous flow engine component in a continuous flow engine.
According to further embodiments the use is realized by a computer program product to simulate the sensor data gained. It was noted that such application allows to, for example, easily optimize the location of such thermal measurement channel to provide a further improved continuous flow engine component.
According to further embodiments the simulated sensor data gained are utilized to counter check the real sensor data of a continuous flow engine. This, for example, allows to verify whether deviation indicate some problem or damage of the continuous flow engine component.
According to further embodiments the simulated sensor data gained are utilized to identify tampering of measured sensor data. Based on deviations of simulated sensor data and measured sensor data taking into account the high reliability and credibility of the sensor data acquired with the inventive thermal measurement channels allows to, for example, identify even minor deviations indicating even complex tampering based on the high depth of detailed insight gained in such case.
The present invention was only described in further detail for explanatory purposes. However, the invention is not to be understood being limited to these embodiments as they represent embodiments providing benefits to solve specific problems or fulfilling specific needs. The scope of the protection should be understood to be only limited by the claims attached.
Figure 1 shows a cut view of an inventive continuous flow engine component 2 being a turbine vane being adapted to be utilized in the turbine section of a gas turbine. The cut view as shown contains three thermal measurement channels 1 being located in a wall of the continuous flow engine component. Herein, the thermal measurement channels 1 extend from a side of the turbine vane being adapted to not contact the hot fluid stream of the gas turbine into the wall of the turbine vane. The three thermal measurement channels 1 shown are one-sided thermal measurement channels 1 and provide different lengths with extending inside the wall. They are arranged essentially parallel to each other. However, as visible the longest thermal measurement channel slightly deviates a few degrees from an ideal parallel orientation. However, for many typical application cases at least the thermal measurement channels 1 located near to each other are arranged parallel. Similar three thermal measurement channels 1 not being shown in figure 1 are located on the opposing side of the wall on the other side of the inner cavity being not shown in the figure based on the cut view. Also indicated is the cutout 4 as shown in figure 2 as well as the direction B of the view as shown in figure 4
The one-sided thermal measurement channels 1 provide only one opening connecting the inside and outside of said channels 1. Herein, the thermal measurement channels extend straight into the wall. They further provide an essentially homogeneous thickness before they end. The end of the one-sided thermal measurement channels 1 is rounded providing a significantly reduced risk of damaging the tips of sensors being introduced. While it should be expected that such geometry would not be required as the sensor can be easily provided with a thicker diameter at a specific location prevention from said sensor being introduced too deep into the thermal measurement channel. However, it was noted that based on simple mistake such sensor might be introduced into the incorrect channel 1 resulting in damages, wherein such design significantly reduces the risk of damages.
Furthermore, the thermal measurement channels 1 as shown are neighboring thermal measurement channels 1. Herein, the distance between the opening of said neighboring thermal measurement channels 1 is lower than 5% of the length of the longest thermal measurement channel 1 of the corresponding pair of neighboring thermal measurement channels 1. Like already stated above the neighboring thermal measurement channels 1 provide different lengths, wherein the three thermal measurement channels 1 can be specified as first measurement channel, second measurement channel 1 and third measurement channel 1 according to their lengths. Herein, the second thermal measurement channel 1 provides a length being less than 60% of the length of the first thermal measurement channel. Furthermore, the third measurement channel 1 provides a length of less than 60% of the length of the second thermal measurement channel.
Additionally, the openings of the neighboring thermal measurement channels 1 are not arranged regularly. The opening of the second neighboring thermal measurement channel 1 is located between the opening of the first neighboring thermal measurement channel 1 and the opening of the third neighboring thermal measurement channel. Herein, the distance of the opening of the first neighboring thermal measurement channel 1 to the opening of the second neighboring thermal measurement channel 1 differs from the distance of the second neighboring thermal measurement channel 1 to the opening of the third neighboring thermal measurement channel. The distance of the openings is measured from the center of the openings. This allows to, for example, establish simple rules for servicing or installing such turbine vanes. Based on a generic system it can, for example, be defined that the longest sensor is always to be introduced into the opening providing a higher distance to the remaining opening allowing to easily identify such opening. While corresponding markings and the like are typically easily attached it was noted that such markings sometimes wear off during use or might be removed during refurbishment processes. Based on the high lifetime and high costs of such components it becomes surprisingly beneficial to utilize such means to guarantee a safe operation over decades of usage.
Said wall surrounds a cavity within the turbine vane, thus, providing an outer surface 3 and an inner surface 21 of the wall. Said outer surface 3 is adapted to contact the fluid stream inside the gas turbine resulting from burning a fuel and providing kinetic energy being converted into electrical power by the rotation of a rotor being attached to turbine blades inside said gas turbine being confronted with the fluid stream resulting in the rotational movement of the rotor.
The wall also contains cooling channels 22 being located outwards of the at least one thermal measurement channel. Said cooling channels 22 provide a convection cooling as well as are utilized to provide a film cooling when exiting the cooling channel 22 through fil cooling holes located on the outer surface 3 of the turbine vane. The thickness of the wall is essentially identical over the majority of is length in a cross section perpendicular to the thermal measurement channels 1. However, within the area of the thermal measurement channels 1 the wall provides an extension inside the cavity providing a thicker wall part in such cross section.
Figure 2 shows a cutout of the cut view of figure 1. Herein, the elevation 14 containing the openings 11 of the three thermal measurement channels 1 as available on the surface of the continuous flow engine component 2 as shown in figure 1 is clearly visible. These openings 11 are located on a surface 12 being not adapted to contact the hot fluid stream during utilization of said component. This elevation 14 extends from the surface of the turbine vane at this location and, for example, simplifies the attachment of a sensor group being attached to each other being required to be correctly oriented when entered into the thermal measurement channels 1. Herein, the figure shows the openings 11 of the three neighboring one-sided thermal measurement channels 1. Furthermore, it clearly shows multiple openings 13 of cooling channels 22 also being part of the corresponding wall.
Figure 3 shows a cross section of the turbine vane of figure 1, wherein the cross section is perpendicular to one of the thermal measurement channels 1. The six thermal measurement channels 1 as contained in the wall are clearly shown as well as the cooling channels 22 implemented in the continuous flow engine component. It is clearly visible in figure 3 that the thermal measurement channels 1 are located on a thicker area of the wall based on the distance of the outer surface 3 to the inner surface 21 measured perpendicular to the outer surface 3. It is also visible that the different distance between the first and second neighboring thermal measurement channels 1 compared to the distance of the second and third thermal measurement channels 1 is maintained inside the wall.
Figure 4 shows a top view of the turbine vane of figure 1, wherein the cut view through the turbine vane as shown in figure 1 is indicated by line A. The openings 11 of the thermal measurement channels 1 and some openings 13 of the cooling channels 22 are also visible. Herein, it is viewed through the hole of the top part of the turbine vane.
The present invention was only described in further detail for explanatory purposes. However, the invention is not to be understood being limited to these embodiments as they represent embodiments providing benefits to solve specific problems or fulfilling specific needs. The scope of the protection should be understood to be only limited by the claims attached.

Claims

Continuous flow engine component (2), wherein the continuous flow engine component (2) is adapted to contact a fluid stream of a continuous flow engine,
wherein the continuous flow engine component (2) contains at least one thermal measurement channel (1),

wherein the at least one thermal measurement channel (1) extends from a side of the continuous flow engine component (2) not being adapted to contact the fluid stream of the continuous flow engine into a wall of the continuous flow engine component (2),

wherein the wall provides an outer surface (3),

wherein the outer surface (3) is adapted to contact the fluid stream.
Continuous flow engine component (2) according to claim 1, wherein the continuous flow engine component (2) contains at least one one-sided thermal measurement channel (1), wherein the at least one one-sided thermal measurement channel (1) provides one opening, wherein the opening connects the inside of the one-sided thermal measurement channel (1) and the outside of the continuous flow engine component (2).
Continuous flow engine component (2) according to any of the aforementioned claims, wherein the continuous flow engine component (2) contains at least two, more preferred at least three thermal measurement channels (1).
Continuous flow engine component (2) according to any of the aforementioned claims, wherein the continuous flow engine component (2) contains at least two, more preferred at least three neighboring thermal measurement channels (1), wherein such neighboring thermal measurement channels (1) provide a distance of their opening (11) being at most 20% of the length of the longest neighboring thermal measurement channel (1), wherein the length of the length of the longest neighboring thermal measurement channel (1) is measured from the middle of the opening (11) of the corresponding thermal measurement channel (1) along the center of the corresponding thermal measurement channel (1) until it reaches the end of the corresponding thermal measurement channel (1).
Continuous flow engine component (2) according to any of the aforementioned claims, wherein the fluid stream is a hot fluid stream.
Continuous flow engine component (2) according to any of the aforementioned claims, wherein the continuous flow engine component (2) contains at least a first and a second thermal measurement channels (1),
wherein the first and the second thermal measurement channels (1) are one sided thermal measurement channels (1), wherein the second thermal measurement channel (1) provides a length being at most 70% of the length of the first thermal measurement channel (1),

wherein the length of the length of the first thermal measurement channel (1) and the length of the second thermal measurement channel (1) are measured from the middle of the opening (11) of the corresponding thermal measurement channel (1) along the center of the corresponding thermal measurement channel (1) until it reaches the end of the corresponding thermal measurement channel (1).
Continuous flow engine component (2) according to any of the aforementioned claims, wherein the continuous flow engine component (2) contains cooling channels (22), wherein the cooling channels (22) are located outwards of the at least one thermal measurement channel (1).
Continuous flow engine component (2) according to any of the aforementioned claims, wherein the continuous flow engine component (2) contains a cavity, wherein the at least one thermal measurement channel (1) is located in a wall surrounding the cavity, wherein the wall provides an inhomogenous thickness in a cross section perpendicular to the at least one thermal thermal measurement channel (1),
wherein the cross section provides a higher thickness in the area containing the at least one thermal measurement channel (1) .
Continuous flow engine component (2) according to any of the aforementioned claims, wherein the at least one thermal measurement channel (1) provides an opening (11),
wherein at least one opening (11) is located on an elevation of the surface (3) of the continuous flow engine component (2) .
Continuous flow engine component (2) according to any of the aforementioned claims, wherein the continuous flow engine component (2) contains a first neighboring thermal measurement channel (1), a second neighboring thermal measurement channel (1) and a third neighboring thermal measurement channel (1),
wherein the first neighboring thermal measurement channel (1), the second neighboring thermal measurement channel (1) and the third neighboring thermal measurement channel (1) each provide an opening (11),

wherein the opening (11) of the second neighboring thermal measurement channel (1) is located between the opening (11) of the first neighboring thermal measurement channel (1) and the opening (11) of the third neighboring thermal measurement channel (1),

wherein the distance of the opening (11) of the first neighboring thermal measurement channel (1) to the opening (11) of the second neighboring thermal measurement channel (1) differs from the distance of the second neighboring thermal measurement channel (1) to the opening (11) of the third neighboring thermal measurement channel (1),

wherein the distance of the openings (11) is measured from the center of the openings (11).
Continuous flow engine component (2) according to any of the aforementioned claims, wherein at least the at least one thermal measurement channel (1) was manufactured using 3D printing.
Continuous flow engine component (2) according to any of the aforementioned claims, wherein the continuous flow engine is a gas turbine.
Continuous flow engine containing a continuous flow engine component (2) according to any of claims 1 to 12.
Method of monitoring a continuous flow engine component (2) during use of the continuous flow engine component (2), wherein the method contains the steps of
- introducing a continuous flow engine component (2) according to any of claims 1 to 12 in a continuous flow engine,

- placing a sensor or directing a sensor in the at least one thermal measurement channel (1) before, during or after the continuous flow engine component (2) according to any of claims 1 to 12 is placed in a continuous flow engine,

- retrieving sensor data during utilization of the continuous flow engine using the sensor.
Use of thermal measurement channels (1) to determine the temperature in a continuous flow engine component (2) according to any of claims 1 to 12 during utilization of the continuous flow engine component (2) in a continuous flow engine.