Engine Particle Ingestion Classifier for Gas Turbine Engines

Particle ingestion can be a significant issue for military aircraft with gas turbine engines. Ingested particles can erode or foul engine components such as cooling holes, accelerating engine wear, and decreasing service intervals. To better understand engine wear, and to plan service intervals, the Navy is interested in developing sensors that can measure particle loading in real time onboard operational gas turbine engines. Ingested particles may include sand, dust, salt spray, or even volcanic ash. Particles with high melting temperature, such as quartz, may fully transit the engine when ingested. Particles with low melting points can melt in the engine and stick to cool engine surfaces. For this reason, the composition and melting temperature of the particles is of significant interest. We propose to develop a novel sensor technology capable of measuring particle size, loading, and composition onboard an aircraft. The sensor is inherently compact and lightweight, and does not require probes or sampling tubes that interact with the flow. In Phase I, we will evaluate and apply a novel approach for classifying particles in the laboratory. In Phase II, we will develop and demonstrate a prototype flight sensor for measuring particle size, loading, and composition.