Pryroelectric Aenomometer for Turbine Control

A program is proposed to establish the feasibility of using a pyroelectric anemometer as the sensing element in a small and inobtrusive microelectronic control system for gas turbines and compressors. This will enable the designer and user to monitor the flow of gas in various locations within the turbine. Such a sensor, together with a control algorithm such as has been developed at MIT, will enable the system to be operated under feedback control. This will insure that the systems will avoid conditions of instability such as surge and rotating stall regardless of even dramatic (and unpredictable) changes in operating conditions. Once feasibility has been established, a control system will be tested based on the MIT algorithm.