A Passive Optical Carbon-Monoxide, Combustion Exhaust, and Temperature Sensor (Poccets) for Turbine Engine Gas Paths

An innovative gas path sensor technology is proposed for use in active control of gas turbine engines. Passive optical probes and a readout devices are used to make spatially resolved measurements of the key parameters for monitoring state of combustion:temperature, CO concentration, H2O concentration, and CO2 concentration. The probes are arrayed to collect the emitted radiation over different views of the hot gas path. Combustion parameters are determined by spectral analysis of the emitted radiationand spatial profiles are determined by comparing the values for differing views.The proposed approach should provide a general-purpose real-time temperature and chemical species sensing capability. Probes can be inserted in the combustor, at the turbine inlet, in the augmenter, or at the engine exit with application as an enginedevelopment diagnostic tool, and ultimately, as a real-time active control component for high performance gas turbines. The proposed sensor will have immediate application in gas-turbine research where it would provide experimental verification of computed combustor properties. As it measures the four key parameters for characterizing the state of combustion, it has thepotential to replace intrusive gas analyzers for engine and component testing. It will also serve as an enabler technology for real-time active combustion control systems. In the near term, it will be used in control systems for stationary engines andground-based component tests. With continuing evolution, it may form the basis of an engine control system.