A Smart, High Temperature, High Bandwidth Pressure Sensor for Advanced Turbine Engine Control and Health Monitoring

There is a growing demand for high-temperature (HT) pressure sensors for use in the extreme-temperature environments of aircraft turbine engines for performance enhancement, health monitoring, and controls. What is needed is a reliable, smart pressure sensor capable of measuring compressor pressures at data rates suitable for capturing and in-place processing of very-high-frequency phenomena useful in engine performance monitoring, advanced controls, and diagnostic/prognostic health management. Developed for commercial ground and aerospace turbine applications, Sporian’s HT smart pressure sensor technology has the potential to fill this need. The sensor technology has previously been included in a number of burner rig and engine test platforms/programs, leading to TRL 5 for Air Force use/adoption. During Phase I, the JSF/JPO F-35 - Propulsion (F135 engine) was identified as the lead platform/program for deployment/transition. Sporian worked with F-135 supply chain OEMs Pratt & Whitney, Collins Aerospace/Rosemount and Hamilton Sundstrand to develop a Phase II plan that focuses on implementing the TRL/MRL-advancing activities needed to meet the threshold for adoption by engine program stakeholders and their supply chains. For the proposed effort, Sporian will collaborate with Collins Aerospace/Rosemount and leverage strategic relationships with Pratt & Whitney and Hamilton Sundstrand.