Miniature Infrared Turbine Engine Detection Camera

ABSTRACT: To address the Air Force need for a miniature infrared camera that is capable of providing image-based quantitative measurements of gas turbine engines at high-temperature (HT) and high-pressure (HP), Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new Miniature Infrared Turbine Engine Detection Camera (MINC). POC"s proposed MINC system is based on a simultaneous and parallel multispectral filtering method combined with an HT & HP survivable infrared optical assembly and an infrared sensor. Innovations in optical design and data analysis enable the MINC system to provide quantitative measurements, determining surface temperatures and the characteristics of reacting and non-reacting flows inside the combustor. As a result, this system offers capabilities such as high temperature and pressure operation (2200 K, 10 atm.) with simultaneous imaging within 6-8 narrow spectral bands and speeds faster than 1 kHz, directly addressing the USAF Engine Test facilities requirements. In Phase I, POC will demonstrate the feasibility of quantitative imaging by computer model and laboratory burner flame. In Phase II, POC plans to develop a prototype to be used in a turbine engine combustor for measuring HT casing material temperatures and gas interactions, providing a camera that is beneficial to government and private industry. BENEFIT: In addition to the primary Air Force application, the MINC has several other military applications that include tank/vehicle engine testing and development, military rocket engine design and test, and battlefield methane gas leak analysis. The capability of MINC in measuring physical quantities of high temperature gas flows results in its applicability in numerous commercial applications. These include commercial aircraft jet engine testing, power plant turbine measurements, auto engine design and quality control, forest fire gas and flame sensing, gas pollutants remote sensing, incinerator gas emission testing, rocket engine design and test, underground coal mine methane gas sensing.