SBIR-STTR Award

Fiber-Coupled Pulsed and High-Intensity Ultraviolet Optical Measurements for Propulsion Systems
Award last edited on: 10/12/2011

Sponsored Program
SBIR
Awarding Agency
DOD : AF
Total Award Amount
$849,899
Award Phase
2
Solicitation Topic Code
AF103-199
Principal Investigator
Anil Patnaik

Company Information

Innovative Scientific Solutions Inc (AKA: ISSI)

7610 McEwen Road
Dayton, OH 45459
   (937) 429-4980
   issi-sales@innssi.com
   www.innssi.com
Location: Multiple
Congr. District: 10
County: Montgomery

Phase I

Contract Number: FA8650-11-M-2161
Start Date: 3/1/2011    Completed: 00/00/00
Phase I year
2011
Phase I Amount
$99,957
Augmentor designs are rapidly evolving as goals of high performance, static and dynamic stability, and low emissions are pursued. To understand the details of the combustion in these and other devices, one generally requires spatially resolved, continuous high-repetition-rate (¡Ý 20 kHz) monitoring of species concentrations and temperature. Optical access must be made using fibers through high-temperature walls that are subject to fouling. Many diagnostics that perform well in laboratory flames experience challenges in these situations, including traditional laser-induced-fluorescence (LIF) techniques. Current state-of-the-art laser-based measurement technologies are not amenable to fiber-coupled measurements in the ultraviolet regime and are incapable of providing quantitative, continuous engineering information with the temporal resolution required to address the instabilities associated with combustors or afterburners. We propose an innovative fiber-coupled sensor based on hyperspectral UV sources to provide LIF-based temperature and OH concentration in reacting flows at ¡Ý 20 kHz. The sensor system will also be able to monitor other species including NO, CH2O, and possibly C6H6 with straightforward modifications. The hyperspectral ultraviolet sensor to be developed will be rack mounted with required accessories accompanied by the state-of-art ultra-low-solarization fibers that can be coupled to the test article.

Benefit:
A hyperspectral UV fiber-based sensor would be of great value to scientists and engineers for monitoring a wide variety of chemical species remotely. The detection of illegal drugs, chemical warfare agents, and chemical pollution for both airborne and water-bound substances could be monitored with such a system. Rapid analysis of chemical signatures could be useful for the Federal Law Enforcement Community (DEA and FBI), the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Defense. A hyperspectral UV source would allow combustion engineers to monitor combustion efficiency and minimize the production of pollution in combustion processes with a high temporal resolution. Higher efficiency translates into lower fuel costs, while lower pollution translates into reduced green-house emission, which resulting in a cleaner and safer environment for everyone. The results of the Phase-I Market Need Assessment are detailed below.

Keywords:
Fiber Operating At Uv, Fiber Solarization, Hyperspectral Uv Source, Hyperspectral Sensor, Laser-Induced Fluorescence, Laser-Based Diagnostics, Minor Species Detection

Phase II

Contract Number: FA8650-12-C-2235
Start Date: 4/20/2012    Completed: 00/00/00
Phase II year
2012
Phase II Amount
$749,942
Based on the success of the Phase-I effort, the objective of the proposed Phase-II research effort will be to develop and deliver a system of fiber-coupled, high-speed UV-LIF- and PLIF-based sensor. During this effort we will 1) quantitatively measure spatially resolved 2D temperature in laboratory flames, 2) develop technology for simultaneously measuring concentrations of multiple species (such as OH, CH2O, C2H2, and C6H6) using fiber-based UV-LIF and PLIF, 3) further optimize the sensor components to make the system test-cell ready, and 4) demonstrate the capability of the fiber LIF and PLIF technology by making spatially resolved measurements at a rate 10 kHz or more in real combustors. Phase-II development will primarily involve integrating the huge knowledge-base acquired during Phase I on optimal UV fibers and laser parameters and also on OH- and NO-PLIF measurements in laboratory flames into a single unit of a sensor system. The ultimate goal of this effort will be to make a transition to the development of a test-cell-ready sensor with quantitative temperature- and concentration-measurement capability. Finally, we will demonstrate fiber-coupled, high-speed OH-PLIF measurements at 10 kHz in an atmospheric-pressure augmentor test rig and a high-pressure gas-turbine combustor test facility at WPAFB.

Benefit:
Phase-II development of a fiber-based high-speed UV LIF/PLIF is expected to result in a commercially viable system that permits LIF diagnostics of multiple species that was never before possible in harsh reacting flow applications. The whole system would probably limit sales to major combustion and fuels research facilities. However, the UV laser is the most expensive component, and it is not unusual to find such lasers in combustion research facilities that use LIF diagnostics. Therefore, a lower-cost option with significantly higher sales potential exists. Specifically, the UV-fiber-based pitch and catch module for high-speed LIF/PLIF, which consists of the delivery, collection, and detection hardware and the software needed for the measurements and analysis. This significantly expands the market to include university laboratories in the aircraft and automotive combustion and fuels domains.

Keywords:
Laser-Induced Fluorescente (Lif), Plannar Laser-Induced Fluorescente (Plif), Ultraviolet-Grade Fiber, High Speed Diagnostics, Combustion Species Detection, Ultraviolet Sensor,