INDUSTRY NEWS
National aerospace programme supports novel temperature mapping technology
Sensor Coating Systems ( SCS ), together with Monitor Coatings ( MC ) and Cranfield University , launched a new 18 months R & D project under the National Aerospace Technology Exploitation Programme ( NATEP ). The goal of this project is to develop a robust system capable of measuring temperatures between 900-1500 ° C in industrial , multi-cycle application . This novel temperature profiling technique can help to optimise component designs for highly efficient gas turbines . As part of the project , the measurement system will be demonstrated under industrial conditions in collaboration three endusers from the aviation and power generation industries .
The development of new gas turbines is driven by the need for higher fuel efficiency and lower CO 2 emissions , which includes the drive to go to higher temperatures . To withstand the increasing temperatures up to 1600 ° C , new cooling designs are needed . Therefore accurate temperature data is vital for the engineers to validate component designs , cooling strategies and thermal models . SCS offers a high-definition thermal mapping service for temperature detection on mission critical components in the range of 150- 1500 ° C , and beyond . There is currently no alternative on the market than can produce precise surface measurements in that range .
To record temperatures between 500- 1500 ° C SCS uses Thermal History Coatings ( THCs ); an innovative patented temperature mapping system , with disruptive technical advantages over the current state-of-the-art techniques , that meets a substantial market demand . The technology combines a luminescent temperature sensitive coating , a non-destructive optical read-out device , and an automated scanning system to provide accurate readings over the wide temperature range .
A previous SCS NATEP project successfully optimised a high-temperature measurement coating in the range 900-1500 ° C . Good results were found under laboratory conditions for short steady-state exposures and in controlled demonstrator platforms . However , the project revealed that an enhanced read-out instrumentation system must be developed . As part of further validation , the THCs should also be thoroughly tested under a large range of likley industrial exposures to reduce the levels of uncertainty .
This new NATEP project ( termed MULTICOAT ) aims to build on previous knoweldge , and will produce a novel
temperature measurement system in the range of 900-1500 ° C , including an enhanced measurement instrument and a data-driven calibration methodology that accounts for multi-cycle combustion exposures . The system will be able to provide continuous data coverage over the hightemperature range with an uncertainty below 25 ° C . Furthermore , the program will aim to exercise the complete supply chain , test the coating in representative multi-cycle conditions and ultimately demonstrate the enhanced system in industrial applications .
Alternative technologies only offer point measurements ( thermocouples , thermal crystals ) or suffer low durability and toxicity
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22 DECEMBER 2020 twitter : @ surfaceworldmag