Very Low Profile Non-Intrusive Data Acquisition Systems for Turbine High Temperature Bearing Sensors

APEI, Inc. is proposing to develop a low profile, non-intrusive, high temperature (300 °C) bearing data transmitter system that will allow the in-situ monitoring and diagnostic of bearing health. The proposed high-temperature data transmitter system will be built on high temperature flexible substrates with integrated and thin film deposited electronics, eventually including thin film deposited wide band-gap silicon carbide or gallium nitride transistors (thus, eliminating wire bonds and die attaches). Bearing data will be wirelessly transmitted from the bearing sensor to a closely placed receiver unit. Signal paths will be “written” onto the surface of the turbine components, leading out of the turbine (thus eliminating the need for physical wiring, or eliminating the need to overcome the challenges of penetrating the turbine casing with RF wireless signal transmissions). The goal of this Phase I is to explore different design options with the objective of developing a high-temperature data transmitter design approach that is simple in concept, minimizes mechanical modifications, will utilize many electronics already proven reliable at high temperature, and shall present an adaptable approach that can be easily transitioned to other engine components.