Multiplexed Spectroscopy Sensor for Assessing Combustion Instabilities in Jet Engine Augmenters Navy SBIR FY2004.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2004.1 Topic No.: N04-021 Topic Title: Multiplexed Spectroscopy Sensor for Assessing Combustion Instabilities in Jet Engine Augmenters Proposal No.: N041-021-0 Firm: Zolo Technologies, Inc. 4946 N. 63rd Street Boulder, Colorado 80301 Contact: Andrew Sappey Phone: (303) 604-5804 Web Site: www.zolotech.com Abstract: Recent issues with augmenter performance tests including blow-off and intense combustion dynamics that drive strong acoustic waves have necessitated new augmenter designs. In order to validate new concepts, quantitative combustion diagnostics will be required to assess the effect of design alterations. Zolo Technologies, Inc., cooperating with Professor Ron Hanson's group in the High Temperature Gasdynamics Laboratory at Stanford University, proposes a combustion diagnostic sensor system that will be capable of providing the necessary data to validate new augmenter design concepts. The multiplexed spectroscopy sensor (MSS) can monitor combustion parameters such as temperature, temperature non-uniformity, flow velocity, CO2, CO, H2O, O2, and unburned fuel concentration using a fiber-coupled tunable diode laser (TDLAS) system at data acquisition rates of, at least, 100 kHz. The proposed sensor is similar in concept to, but substantively different from, MSS sensors that Zolo and Stanford have demonstrated for SCRAMJET diagnostics at the Wright-Patterson AFB and for application to combustion optimization at coal-fired electric utility boilers. Benefits: In addition, to enabling new augmenter design testing, the proposed system has the potential to benefit a wide variety of military and civilian aerospace applications as well as the commercial power generation industry. For instance, the Air Force is considering the use of multiplexed spectroscopy sensors for ground test and embedded flight applications in its SCRAMJET development program. In addition, the ability of the proposed sensor to monitor combustion processes in-situ and thereby facilitate combustion optimization has far-reaching applications in the commercial power generation industry. The sensor can also be applied to the optimization of gas turbine aircraft engine performance allowing more efficient operation with the potential for reduced emissions of harmful pollutants. Return