Development and application of high-temperature sensors and electronics for propulsion applications

High temperature sensors and electronics are necessary for a number of aerospace propulsion applications. The Sensors and Electronics Branch at NASA Glenn Research Center (NASA GRC) has been involved in the design, fabrication, and application of a range of sensors and electronics that have use in high temperature, harsh environment propulsion environments. The emphasis is on developing advanced capabilities for measurement and control of aeropropulsion systems as well as monitoring the safety of those systems using Micro/Nano technologies. Specific areas of work include SiC based electronic devices and sensors; thin film thermocouples, strain gauges, and heat flux gauges; chemical sensors; as well as integrated and multifunctional sensor systems. Each sensor type has its own technical challenges related to integration and reliability in a given application. These activities have a common goal of improving the awareness of the state of the propulsion system and moving towards the realization of intelligent engines. This paper will give an overview of the broad range of sensor-related development activities on-going in the NASA GRC Sensors and Electronics Branch as well as their current and potential use in propulsion systems.

[1]  Gustave C. Fralick,et al.  A Thin Film Multifunction Sensor for Harsh Environments , 2001 .

[2]  Gustave C. Fralick,et al.  Steady-State and Frequency Response of a Thin-Film Heat Flux Gauge , 1997 .

[3]  John D. Wrbanek,et al.  Thin Film Heat Flux Sensor of Improved Design , 2002 .

[4]  Herbert A. Will,et al.  Advances in Thin Film Sensor Technologies for Engine Applications , 1997 .

[5]  Gustave C. Fralick,et al.  Development of Thin Film Ceramic Thermocouples For High Temperature Environments , 2004 .

[6]  C. Blaha,et al.  Reliability evaluation of direct chip attached silicon carbide pressure transducers , 2004, Proceedings of IEEE Sensors, 2004..

[7]  P. Kayser,et al.  High-temperature thin-film strain gauges , 1993 .

[8]  M. Palmer,et al.  Thick film hybrid packaging techniques for 500/spl deg/C operation , 1998, 1998 Fourth International High Temperature Electronics Conference. HITEC (Cat. No.98EX145).

[9]  P. Neudeck,et al.  High-temperature electronics - a role for wide bandgap semiconductors? , 2002, Proc. IEEE.

[10]  Gary W. Hunter,et al.  Development of SiC-based Gas Sensors for Aerospace Applications , 2004 .

[11]  B. Ward,et al.  Microfabricated chemical sensors for space health monitoring applications , 2001 .

[12]  E. M. Logothetis.  Metal oxide oxygen sensors for automotive applications , 1975 .

[13]  Glenn Beheim,et al.  Electrical Operation of 6H-SiC MESFET at 500 °C for 500 Hours in Air Ambient , 2004 .

[14]  P. Neudeck,et al.  600 C Logic Gates Using Silicon Carbide JFET's , 2000 .

[15]  Robert S. Okojie,et al.  Reliability assessment of Ti/TaSi2/Pt ohmic contacts on SiC after 1000 h at 600 °C , 2002 .

[16]  Gary Hunter,et al.  Morphing, Self-Repairing Engines , 2003 .

[17]  Lisa C. Martin,et al.  Applications of thin-film thermocouples for surface temperature measurement , 1994, Optics & Photonics.

[18]  Gustave C. Fralick,et al.  Thin Film Sensors for Surface Measurements , 2001 .

[19]  Julian W. Gardner,et al.  A brief history of electronic noses , 1994 .