Silicon carbide (SiC) pressure sensor technology that can be used in the high temperatures of jet engine combustion chambers has been licensed by its developer, NASA Glenn Research Center, for use in commercial ground and flight testing.
At high temperatures, silicon-based sensors have to be isolated or protected in a water-cooled environment. SiC can withstand far higher temperatures than silicon, and because of this SiC pressure sensors can be located in close proximity to the component that is to be monitored.
The GRC SiC sensors are able to operate for 130h at 600ºC (1,110ºF) in air, which NASA says makes them useful for engine ground testing and as short-duration flight-test instrumentation. With no water-cooling required the sensors are lighter as well as less expensive and complex.
Three patents for the technology have been licensed to San Juan Capistrano, California-based instrumentation manufacturer Endevco. NASA Glenn used an Endevco silicon-based accelerometer as a benchmark to validate the SiC sensor. The centre will continue to work with the company to overcome any outstanding technical issues. The technology was developed under the US agency's aviation safety and fundamental aeronautics programmes in its aeronautics research mission directorate.
Source: Flight International
