Self-Powered Wireless Sensors for Gas Turbine Power Systems

Selfpowered wireless sensors are needed for remotely assessing the health of fossil fuel turbine systems to maximize engine safety and readiness while minimizing fulllife maintenance and sustainment costs. Demands for increased engine performance require sensor systems to survive at temperatures of up to 1500C and at high pressures without impacting air flow. Conventional sensors cannot withstand these extremely harsh environments and are rarely selfpowered with the option for wireless interrogation. An opportunity thus exists for the development of high temperature sensors fully integrated with energy harvesters that can transmit data wirelessly to engine management control systems. MesoScribe Technologies proposes a collaborative effort with KCF Technologies to develop a selfpowered wireless sensor system for monitoring industrial gas turbines. Novel passive wireless sensor technologies based on high temperature resonant LC circuits fabricated via Direct Write will be developed for measuring temperature, strain, and pressure on rotating components. Both these passive wireless and other high temperature Direct Write sensors will be integrated with power harvesting modules and wireless transmitters as part of the Phase II project. Prototype sensor systems will be validated using burner rigs and spin testing facilities to advance the technology readiness level and position the technology for engine testing. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: Sensors for health monitoring are in high demand, spanning a range of industries including power generation, commercial and military aviation, aerospace structures, and transportation. Gas turbines, steam turbines, coal fired boilers, and gasification systems used in the power generation industry are examples of critical equipment that must operate at top performance to provide low cost electricity to the U.S. consumer. Incorporating energy harvesters to power both the sensors and wireless transmitters will facilitate commercial installations and provide a practical route for system implementation within power plants.