Embedded Temperature Sensor Evaluations for Turbomachinery Component Health Monitoring

Muthuvel Murugan, Michael Walock, Anindya Ghoshal, Robert Knapp and Roger Caesley
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Muthuvel Murugan: U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command—Army Research Laboratory, Vehicle Technology Directorate, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21005, USA
Michael Walock: U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command—Army Research Laboratory, Vehicle Technology Directorate, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21005, USA
Anindya Ghoshal: U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command—Army Research Laboratory, Vehicle Technology Directorate, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21005, USA
Robert Knapp: Epsilon Optics Ltd., 10 Glasshouse Studios, Fryern Court Road, Fordingbridge SP6 1QX, UK
Roger Caesley: Epsilon Optics Ltd., 10 Glasshouse Studios, Fryern Court Road, Fordingbridge SP6 1QX, UK

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 4, 1-17

Abstract: Current rotorcraft gas turbine engines typically use titanium alloys and steel for the compressor section and single-crystal nickel superalloys for the hot-section turbine stator vanes and rotor blades. However, these material selections are rapidly changing due to increased requirements of power-density and efficiency. Future U.S. Army gas turbine engines will be using ceramic matrix composites for many high temperature engine components due to their low density and improved durability in high temperature environments. The gas turbine industry is also actively developing adaptive concept technologies for production and assembly of modular gas turbine engine components with integrated sensing. In order to actively monitor engine components for extended seamless operation and improved reliability, it is essential to have intelligent embedded sensing to monitor the health of critical components in engines. Under this U.S. Army Foreign Technology Assessment Support (FTAS) program funded research project, embedded fiber-optic temperature sensors from U.K.-based company, Epsilon Optics Ltd (Fordingbridge, UK)., were experimentally evaluated to measure temperature responses on typical turbomachinery component material coupons. The temperature responses from this foreign technology sensor were assessed using a thermomechanical fatigue tester with a built-in furnace to conduct thermal cycling durability experiments. The experimental results obtained from the durability performance of this embedded fiber Bragg sensor are reported in this paper. This sensor technology, upon maturation to higher TRL (technology readiness level), can greatly reduce the lifecycle cost of future U.S. Army gas turbine engines.

Keywords: embedded fiber-optic sensor; turbomachinery; fiber Bragg temperature sensor; component health monitoring; high temperature sensor evaluation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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