Nonintrusive Sensor for Gas Turbine Smoke Emissions

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) proposes to demonstrate the feasibility of laser-induced incandescence (LII) as a commercializable optical sensor package for the detection of carbon soot particles in engine exhaust plumes. The specific innovation proposed here are to develop calibration methods for the quantitative determination of soot mass loading and particle size distribution in engine exhaust flows. This represents a major step toward the application of LII as a practical and affordable diagnostic tool for the development of advanced combustor systems. Such non-intrusive optical diagnostic tools are essential for the evaluation of soot particle yields and size distributions produced by aircraft and industrial gas turbine combustors. Measurements of this type are required to evaluate combustor performance with regard to environmental and health requirements for low particulate emissions by advanced and emerging combustion systems.