Aeropropulsion Test Facility Diagnostics

Advanced diagnostic methods are required for characterization of high enthalpy propulsion test facilities. To date, reliable quantitative measurements of combustion efficiency, thrust, gas temperature, species concentrations and velocity in high-speed combustion flows and of temperature, velocity and flux in high speed combustion flows have been difficult due to the large and rapid changes in pressure, temperature, and velocity. This Phase-II program will include the design, development and deployment of advanced tunable diode-laser sensors for temporally resolved, in situ measurements of gas temperature, velocity, and gas concentration in realistic flows generated in the hypersonic combustion facilities. The compact, rugged TDL absorption sensor components will be fiber-optically coupled for wavelength multiplexing, easy implementation, and simultaneous multi-parameter measurements. The Phase-II effort will involve development and delivery of a portable sensor system for measurements at APTU at Arnold Engineering Research Center propulsion facilities.