US Patent 7503177 Combustion dynamics monitoring

A method for monitoring combustion dynamics of a can annular combustor (12) of a gas turbine engine includes monitoring respective dynamic operating conditions of cans (16) of the can annular combustor with respective dynamic operating condition sensors (20) associated with each of the cans. The method also includes grouping the cans into two or more groups according to their respective dynamic operating conditions and identifying a sensor providing an anomalous dynamic operating condition reading for at least one of the cans. The method further includes determining a need to service the identified sensor according to the associated can's group membership.