ELECTROSTATIC DUST SENSOR FOR AN ENGINE

The present disclosure is directed to an integrated electrostatic sensor (75) for detecting dust and/or other airborne particulates in an engine, e.g. in an aircraft gas turbine engine. The electrostatic sensor (75) includes an outer housing (76) having a sensing face (79), an electrode (83) configured within the outer housing (76) adjacent to the sensing face (79), and an amplifier (84) configured with the electrode (83). The electrode (83) contains a plurality of electrons (85) configured to move as charged dust particles flow past the sensing face (79). Thus, the amplifier (84) is configured to detect a dust level as a function of the electron movement. The electrostatic sensor (75) also includes a circuit board (86) configured within the outer housing (76) and electrically coupled to the amplifier (84). Thus, the circuit board (86) is configured to send the one or more signals to a controller of the engine indicative of the dust level.