Innovative High-Speed Sensing System for Operational Monitoring of Jet Engine Turbine Blade Ceramic Coatings

Surface Optics Corporation (SOC), teamed with Pratt and Whitney (P&W), is proposing an innovative solution for operational monitoring of the health of Ceramic Matrix Composite (CMC) Thermal Barrier Coatings (TBC) on jet engine turbine blades.  The proposed Phase II effort will produce a high speed endoscopic SWIR (0.9 - 1.7 micrometers) radiometer able to monitor in real time the condition of the CMC coatings on each and every blade in the turbine.  This solution is based on extensive work performed by both team members that has been directed towards problems of similar nature over many years.  The problem is that turbine blades are nickel-based superalloys with a CMC thermal barrier that protects them from temperatures as high as 4000 deg. F (the melting point of the steel is ~ 2900 F).  The role of the CMC layer is to assure that the temperature of the steel blades does not exceed ~ 1700 F.  Premature (occurring before routine scheduled maintenance) degradation or failure of the CMC blanket can lead to engine failure.  Our team solution is to apply proven SOC real-time hyperspectral imaging with continuous automated analysis and reporting of the health of the blade CMC coatings. BENEFITS: Military application:  If proven feasible, the proposed solution will lead to an advanced real-time on-engine hot parts monitoring system for turbine engine health applicable to aircraft, marine, land, and stationary propulsion systems.  This monitoring should lead to improved cost effectiveness of maintenance programs.  Non-military applications:  These applications will include those attributed to military applications but applied to a much wider range of power level and propulsion system form factors with the same cost effectiveness benefits.