Micro-Plasma Blade Monitoring Sensor System

The ability to monitor the structural health of the rotating components, especially in the hot sections of turbine engines, is of major interest to the aero community in improving engine safety and reliability. This is true for the Department of Defense where current developmental and future engines will need to operate at high efficiencies to meet the mission-weighted fuel burn requirements. This means engines operate with tighter running clearances, increased blade loading, at substantially higher temperatures. In response to this need, the Innoveering team is developing a novel sensor system that can operate uncooled in a +2500 F environment in the aft end of the turbo machinery.