An optical sensor system extends gas temperature measurement capability in turbine engines beyond the present generation of thermocouple technology. The sensing element which consists of a thermally emissive insert embedded inside a sapphire lightguide is capable of operating above the melting point of nickel-based super alloys. The emissive insert generates an optical signal as a function of temperature. Continued development has led to an optically averaged system by combining the optical signals from four individual sensing elements at a single detector assembly. The size of the signal processor module has been reduced to overall dimensions of 2 x 4 x 0.7 inches.The durability of the optical probe design has been evaluated in an electric-utility operated gas turbine under the sponsorship of the Electric Power Research Institute. The temperature probe was installed between the first stage rotor and second stage nozzle on a General Electric MS7001B turbine. The combined length of the ceramic support tube and sensing element reached 1 .5 inches into the hot gas stream. A total of over 2000 hours has been accumulated at probe operation temperatures near 1600°F.An optically averaged sensor system was designed to replace the existing four thermocouple probes on the upper half of a GE F404 aircraft turbine engine. The system was ground tested for 250 hours as part of GE Aircraft Engines IR&D Optical Engine Program. Subsequently, two flight sensor systems were shipped for use on the FOCSI (Fiber Optic Control System Integration) Program. The optical harnesses, each with four optical probes, measure the exhaust gas temperature in a GE F404 engine.
Optical and mechanical properties of commercially available chalcogenide glasses (Asse, AsGeSe, AsGeSeTe and SbGeSe) are reported.The measured optical properties include: bulk transmittance (between 0.5 and 25 um) and the attenuation (at 10.6 um) of core and optically clad fibers. The measured mechanical properties include: bending and tensile strength testing of coated, uncoated, core and optically clad fibers.In addition to the measured physical characteristics, some potential applications of chalcogenide fibers are mentioned.
The optical characteristics of several different chalcogenide bulk glasses and single core fibers were investigated. The spectral transmittance of bulk glasses was measured between 0.8 and 15 µm.A decrease in transmittance of the bulk material at elevated temperatures were shown to occur beyond 8 dun. At 100 °C and a wavelength of 10.6 um the effect was measured to be between 3.5 and 10 dB /m depending on material. Coated fibers were drawn from the bulk material and the fiber attenuation between 9.2 and 11 µm was between 6 and 30 dB /m depending on the material, coating, wavelength and fiber diameter.
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