Blackbody High Temperature Optical Sensor

Conax Buffalo Technologies L.L.C. Laboratories

Buffalo, NY 
 

An optical sensor system for gas pass temperatures utilizing a thermally emissive insert imbedded in a sapphire lightguide

• Sensing element has a time constant less than one second, a diameter of 0.06 inches and has been tested at temperatures up to 1500^oC
• Calibrated sensor under static conditions against thermocouples, accuracy is estimated to be +18^oC

• Complete optical sensor systems have been fabricated for commercial use
• Large scale production of optical sensor systems for commercial and government use is in progress
• A Phase III effort of qualifying this optical sensor system for use commercially was financed by Electric Power Research  Institute (EPRI), GE Aircraft Engines IR&D, and NASA
• More than $500K was received for optical sensor qualification and other commercial sales

• Hardware was developed for the NASA Fiber Optic Control Systems Integration (FOCSI) Program
• Development programs are ongoing for use of this system in military aircraft and ground based power generation turbines

 

 
 
 

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Curator: SBIR Support