Exhaust Gas Trace Species Detection System for Turbine Engines

SPA proposes to develop a Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) system for turbine engine exhaust monitoring. The optical LIBS detection system is based on an optical emission technique using a high peak power pulsed laser beam to form a small spark(i.e., breakdown) directly in a process stream. The sample within this laser-induced spark (which is less than 1 mm in diameter) is converted to a plasma state, with temperatures approaching 25,000 K (45,000 F). These detection limits should thus be morethan sufficient to detect wear debris particles, which are expected to be in the 500 nm - 2 micron size range and above. Elements that can be measured using the LIBS system include Al, Ba, Be, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cs, Fe, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Se, Ti, and V, amongothers.