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Lallana PC, Aldabaldetreku G, López A, Montero DS, Durana G, Mateo J, Losada MÁ, Zubia J, Vázquez C. Sensing Applications in Aircrafts Using Polymer Optical Fibres. SENSORS 2021; 21:s21113605. [PMID: 34064285 PMCID: PMC8196816 DOI: 10.3390/s21113605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
We report on recent advances in the use of inexpensive polymer optical fibres (POFs) for sensing applications in avionics. The sensors analysed in this manuscript take advantage of the unique properties of polymers, such as high flexibility, elasticity, and sensitivity, and they range from strain, elongation, and vibration interrogators to level and temperature meters, leading to cost-effective techniques for structural health monitoring in aircraft structures. We also highlight recent power-supply methods using Power-over-POF in order to feed sensors remotely, and we discuss the constraints imposed by connectors on the performance of POF networks in aircrafts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro C. Lallana
- Electronics Technology Department, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, E-28911 Leganés, Spain;
- Correspondence: (P.C.L.); (C.V.)
| | - Gotzon Aldabaldetreku
- Communications Engineering Department, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Ingeniero Torres Quevedo 1, E-48013 Bilbao, Spain; (G.A.); (G.D.); (J.Z.)
| | - Alicia López
- GTF, Aragon Institute of Engineering Research (i3A), University of Zaragoza, María de Luna 1, E-50018 Zaragoza, Spain; (A.L.); (J.M.); (M.Á.L.)
| | - David S. Montero
- Electronics Technology Department, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, E-28911 Leganés, Spain;
| | - Gaizka Durana
- Communications Engineering Department, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Ingeniero Torres Quevedo 1, E-48013 Bilbao, Spain; (G.A.); (G.D.); (J.Z.)
| | - Javier Mateo
- GTF, Aragon Institute of Engineering Research (i3A), University of Zaragoza, María de Luna 1, E-50018 Zaragoza, Spain; (A.L.); (J.M.); (M.Á.L.)
| | - M. Ángeles Losada
- GTF, Aragon Institute of Engineering Research (i3A), University of Zaragoza, María de Luna 1, E-50018 Zaragoza, Spain; (A.L.); (J.M.); (M.Á.L.)
| | - Joseba Zubia
- Communications Engineering Department, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Ingeniero Torres Quevedo 1, E-48013 Bilbao, Spain; (G.A.); (G.D.); (J.Z.)
| | - Carmen Vázquez
- Electronics Technology Department, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, E-28911 Leganés, Spain;
- Correspondence: (P.C.L.); (C.V.)
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Experimental Investigation of Inductive Sensor Characteristic for Blade Tip Clearance Measurement at High Temperature. SENSORS 2019; 19:s19173694. [PMID: 31450693 PMCID: PMC6749453 DOI: 10.3390/s19173694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2019] [Revised: 08/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Turbine tip clearance of aero-engine is important to engine performance. Proper tip clearance can reduce the gas leakage over turbine blade tips and improve the engine efficiency of turbo machinery and reduce the fuel consumption. Therefore, accurate tip clearance measurement is essential. The inductive measurement method is one of the non-contact distance measurement methods, which has the characteristics of high sensitivity, fast response speed, and strong anti-interference ability. Based on the principle of inductive sensor measuring tip clearance, the ambient temperature change may cause the material electromagnetic performance change for the conductivity and permeability varies with temperature. In order to verify the temperature effect on the sensor performance, the repeated calibration experiments were carried out to obtain the sensor repeatability error of 5.4%. Then, the sensor was calibrated in the range of 0mm-4mm clearance at temperature from 600 °C to 1000 °C and obtained the measurement error of 4.6%. Results indicate when the temperature ranged from 600 °C to 1000 °C, clearance measurement error is smaller than the sensor repeatability error so the temperature effect on the sensor characteristics can be ignored. This conclusion makes the sensor promising for monitoring the blade tip clearances at various temperature environment.
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Fernández-Bello R, Amorebieta J, Beloki J, Aldabaldetreku G, García I, Zubia J, Durana G. Performance Comparison of Three Fibre-Based Reflective Optical Sensors for Aero Engine Monitorization. SENSORS 2019; 19:s19102244. [PMID: 31096612 PMCID: PMC6567319 DOI: 10.3390/s19102244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2019] [Revised: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 05/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Among the different available optical technologies, fibre bundle-based reflective optical sensors represent an interesting alternative for parameter monitorization in aero engines. Tip clearance is one of the parameters of great concern for engine designers and engineers. In the framework of this optical technology, three fibre-based reflective optical sensors have been compared. Two of them are custom designed and based on the same geometrical fibre arrangement, whereas the third one is commercially available and relies on a different geometrical arrangement of the fibres. Their performance has been compared in clearance measurements carried out during an experimental program followed at a transonic wind tunnel for aero turbines. The custom-designed solution that operates in the most sensitive part of its response curve proved to be by far the most reliable tool for clearance measurements. Its high resolution opens up the possibility to detect small blade features such as cracks, reflectivity changes, etc. that otherwise could not be tracked. These results show that the detection of unexpected features on blade tips may have an important effect on how the clearance is calculated, ultimately giving rise to corrective actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubén Fernández-Bello
- Communications Engineering Department, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Ingeniero Torres Quevedo Plaza 1, E-48013 Bilbao, Spain.
| | - Josu Amorebieta
- Communications Engineering Department, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Ingeniero Torres Quevedo Plaza 1, E-48013 Bilbao, Spain.
| | - Josu Beloki
- Fundación Centro de Tecnologías Aeronáuticas (CTA), Bizkaia Technological Park, E-48170 Zamudio, Spain.
| | - Gotzon Aldabaldetreku
- Communications Engineering Department, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Ingeniero Torres Quevedo Plaza 1, E-48013 Bilbao, Spain.
| | - Iker García
- AOTECH, Advanced Optical Technologies S.L., E-48002 Bilbao, Spain.
| | - Joseba Zubia
- Communications Engineering Department, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Ingeniero Torres Quevedo Plaza 1, E-48013 Bilbao, Spain.
| | - Gaizka Durana
- Communications Engineering Department, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Ingeniero Torres Quevedo Plaza 1, E-48013 Bilbao, Spain.
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Zhao Z, Liu Z, Lyu Y, Gao Y. Experimental Investigation of High Temperature-Resistant Inductive Sensor for Blade Tip Clearance Measurement. SENSORS 2018; 19:s19010061. [PMID: 30586916 PMCID: PMC6338999 DOI: 10.3390/s19010061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2018] [Revised: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 12/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Turbine tip clearance of aero-engine is important to engine performance. Proper control of rotor tip clearance contributes to engine efficiency improvement and fuel consumption reduction. Therefore, accurate tip clearance measurement is essential. The inductive measurement method is one of the non-contact distance measurement methods, which has the characteristics of high sensitivity, fast response speed and strong anti-interference ability. Based on the principle of inductive sensor measuring tip clearance, the ambient temperature change will cause the material electromagnetic performance change for the conductivity and permeability varies with temperature. The calibration experiment was conducted to obtain the sensor resolution and sensing range. The effect of temperature on sensor parameters was extracted from high temperature experiment data. Results show the resolution of planar coil made of platinum wire can be 10 μm and the maximum sensing range can reach 5 mm. At temperature from 500 ℃ to 1100 ℃, coil inductance almost does not change with temperature while coil resistance varies exponentially with temperature, that means the coil inductance variation can reflect the tip clearance change and resistance can indicate the measuring temperature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyu Zhao
- School of Power and Energy, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Youyi West Road 127#, Xi'an 710054, China.
| | - Zhenxia Liu
- School of Power and Energy, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Youyi West Road 127#, Xi'an 710054, China.
| | - Yaguo Lyu
- School of Power and Energy, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Youyi West Road 127#, Xi'an 710054, China.
| | - Yajun Gao
- School of Power and Energy, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Youyi West Road 127#, Xi'an 710054, China.
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