ATHEMA - Accelerated thermal mapping for on-engine measurements

The objective of this project is to develop an on-engine high-resolution temperature mapping technique using continuum or 'snake' robot technology in combination with an advanced detection system.

UK is the first country to sign legislation zero net carbon emissions by 2050\. Sustainable Aviation Fuels and advanced propulsion systems are in the forefront of these effort. Higher efficiencies can be achieved with higher firing temperature. Both pathways require the design of new more robust materials and cooling schemes to withstand the harsh thermal conditions. Hence a complete knowledge of temperature distributions within the engine will be essential for the design process of modern aircraft engines.

Sensor Coating Systems (SCS) has developed a unique temperature mapping technology that enables OEMs to validate new designs in the aviation and power generation gas turbine industry. The technology uses a combination of temperature memory materials, advances in optical instrumentation and automation to generate digitised maps with hundreds and thousands of data points. Currently the measurements are conducted 'off-engine': the components are interrogated in a laboratory which requires the disassembly of the engine -- a costly and time-consuming exercise!

With this project, SCS aims to significantly reduce the time and costs for design validation, by applying its unique thermal mapping technology 'on-engine', saving hundreds of working hours and thousands of pounds in running costs. Snake-robot technology will enable accessibility in components inside the engine, which is not possible at the moment, and an advanced optical system will enable both simultaneous luminescence and spectral measurements.