Propulsion System Performance and Health Monitor

The innovation proposed is a flight-worthy optical sensor that will monitor propulsion system performance and health characteristics, including identifying the onset of combustion instability, in air-breathing engines such as turbojets and ramjets. It is an innovation for three reasons: 1) the sensing is performed in the hot exhaust flow at the back of the engine instead of at the flame-front in the combustor, so no undesired penetrations into the high-pressure, high-temperature combustor are required; 2) in addition to detecting incipient combustion instability the sensor will provide a means to monitor and diagnose the operational health of the engine; and 3) key components of the sensor include a novel optic and passive measurement method. The innovation is directly relevant and important to meeting the technology need described in the topic since it will be measuring new parameters in real-time that will provide propulsion system performance characteristics and contribute to safely expanding the flight envelope of aerospace vehicles. The technology will be attractive to the military aerospace industry since it will provide low-risk technology transfer, advanced aircraft superiority, lower maintenance costs, increased performance, and increased affordability.