LWIR Fiber Bundle for Thermal Imaging in Gas Turbine Systems

Improved temperature measurements of thermal barrier coating (TBC) components are needed for gas turbine research and development.Imaging pyrometry systems are preferred because they are non-contact and can measure the complex spatial temperature distribution on components.Measurement in the long-wave infrared (LWIR) band is required for accurate temperature measurements of modern TBCs.Fiber coupling will allow pyrometry systems to be widely employed, but no appropriate LWIR fiber-optic imaging bundles are available.In the proposed project, the Creare-led team will develop a flexible, high resolution fiber-optic imaging bundle with excellent transmission at LWIR wavelengths.We will also develop standardized coupling optics to integrate the LWIR fiber bundle hot side probes and commercial LWIR cameras.In Phase I, we will perform an initial design of the system and fabricate prototype LWIR fibers.In Phase II, we will produce new, small diameter LWIR fiber-optics and a fiber-optic imaging bundle.We will use this bundle to perform temperature measurements of TBC coated components.