Themoluminescence Lifetime Imaging System for Measurement of Heat Flux and Surface Temperature in Turbine Engines

Redondo Optics Inc. (ROI), a world leader in engineering and manufacturing of leading-edge optical materials, optical sensors and instrumentation proposes to develop and demonstrate a thermo-luminescence lifetime imaging (ThermoSee) system for the non-intrusive, real time, and high spatial resolution measurement of heat flux and surface temperature in turbine engines test environments. This proposal addresses the problem of accurately mapping heat flux and temperature distribution on turbine surfaces with temperatures varying from 200°F to 2200°F, with high temperature resolution (+/- 10°F), high spatial resolution (<0.125-inch), fast response time (<1 ms), low photo-degradation, no mechanical degradation, using phosphorescence sol-gel (PhoSol) coating materials that can be readily applied to a any test surface by spray coating techniques including thermal-barrier coatings typically found in turbine blades. The PhoSolT paint, the phosphorescence of which is dependent on temperature, is applied to the surface of a turbine blade, and the heat distribution on the surface of the turbine blade is obtained from the phosphorescence lifetime image. Optical temperature measurements using phosphorescent, techniques has been widely researched for use in turbine engines, automobile engines, wind tunnels and aero propulsion test models, and power generators. The ThermoSee system offers global coverage of heat flux and surface temperature.