Passive, Wireless Sensors for Turbine Engine Airfoils

The purpose of this project is to demonstrate the feasibility of using a nanoparticle inkjet process to fabricate wireless temperature and pressure sensors on turbine engine airfoils for Integrated System Health Management. The approach will use a circuit constructed of passive components that will readout the temperature or pressure. The state of the sensor circuit will be determined by the resonant response from an outside transmitter/receiver. The sensors will be constructed from proven high-temperature materials that meet the project goal of stable material properties up to 650° C (1200° F). BENEFIT: The development of low cost, robust, high temperature sensors will allow: 1) For measuring the operating parameters in extremely hot environments such as the compressor and turbine sections to validate computer modeling codes, 2) Allow active control of pressure surges in turbine engines, 3) Allow the ability to diagnose turbine engine system health and estimate component capability for future missions, thereby reducing the cost of ownership 4) And help reduce the significant costs of testing and qualifying turbine engines.