Real-Time Thermal and 3-D Imaging in Gas Turbine Engines

Despite offering advantages to fields ranging from engine maintenance to engine development, a simple yet accurate system to inspect hot components in operating engines has been elusive due to the challenges of high operating speeds in a harsh environment. In the proposed project, Creare will develop an engine imaging system that will empower its users with real-time surface temperature and 3-D imaging capabilities of hot components during engine operation. Our techniques will enable highly accurate surface temperature measurement using the short-wave infrared imagery (SWIR) spectrum. A 3-D scanning system will also provide pointcloud data of hot components during operation. The system design can be optimized to eliminate the need for complex hardware cooling systems and allow for easy installation. During Phase I, we will design the system architecture, identify appropriate hardware, and develop a design for the Phase II system. We will also prototype our infrared imaging sensor and use it to measure temperature in laboratory testing. During Phase II, we will construct a fully-functional imaging system and demonstrate functionality during tests in an engine test cell.