Passive, Wireless Sensors for Extreme Turbine Conditions

WST's thin-film passive wireless temperature sensor technology will be optimized to measure the surface temperature of turbine blades in the hot section of the gas turbine engine. This technology consists of a conformal, thin-film circuit that can be deposited on a blade. The minimal size and weight of the sensor insure that the static and dynamic characteristics of the blade are not altered. The wireless temperature sensor will be designed for current manufacturing techniques allowing easy fabrication on the curved surface of a compressor blade without the use of clean rooms. The sensor physical configuration will be optimized to allow volume manufacturing and then"after-market"installation on non-rotating surfaces of gas turbine engines. BENEFIT: This temperature sensor provides an effective monitoring tool for gas turbine engine developmental testing as well as in operational environments as part of a Condition-based-Maintenance system. Since the sensor is wireless, it will achieve a dramatic improvement in reliability when compared to previous wired solutions. When the sensor system development is complete, up to 100 temperature sensors may be installed in each engine providing a significantly improved picture of the environment within the engine.