High-Temperature, High-Bandwidth Fiber Optic Pressure and Temperature Sensors for Gas Turbine Applications

The accurate measurement of gas flow conditions in the compressor, combustors, and turbines of gas turbine engines is important to assess performance, predict failure, and facilitate data-driven maintenance. Surface and point measurements of pressure and temperature in the high temperature regions of the turbine help engineers optimize performance, improve fuel mixing and burning in the combustor, and redesign compressor and turbine stages based on actual measurements. There currently exists no sensor technology capable of making pressure measurements in the critical hot regions of gas turbine engines. Luna Innovations is developing extremely high-temperature, fiber optic pressure sensors based on inert refractory ceramic construction. During the project, several breakthroughs were achieved in high-temperature fiber optic packaging, sensor design, and high-speed measurement. In-engine testing is scheduled to begin in mid-August at Virginia Tech. Additional testing will be conducted with a major aircraft turbine engine manufacturer. By the conclusion of this project, Luna Innovations will have produced a fiber optic pressure sensor capable of making measurements at up to 1400 degrees C, 75O psi, at a sample rate of 1.0 MHz.