High-Temperature Turbine Monitoring and Control System

Luna Innovations Incorporated will work with our existing gas turbine engine OEM partners to develop durable, high-temperature fiber-optic temperature and pressure sensors and readout system for turbine and combustor health monitoring in military turbine engines. Luna has already demonstrated un-cooled gas pressure measurements at 500psig and 1922°F and in a running P&W JT-15D at temperatures in excess of 500°F. High-temperature and high-transient sensors will enable extended maintenance intervals through improved prognosis of turbine engines based on real operating conditions and/or by active control to avoid stressful operation. The proposed sensors and system will be designed to track numerous failure modes of interest. The readout system will also be capable of measuring other parameters which will enable broader commercialization. During Phase I, Luna successfully demonstrated limited temperature cycling durability of temperature and pressure sensor prototypes. Luna also demonstrated temperature measurements above 3000°F with a fiber optic sensor design that is compatible with gas turbine engine environments. During Phase II Luna will optimize the system design, further demonstrate durability, accuracy, and begin field trials. The goals of the Phase II are to develop turbine monitoring sensors capable of temperature excursions to 3600°F and a lifetime of 3000hrs at temperatures up to 3000°F.