Integrally Cooled Optical Probe for Larger LWIR Optics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas turbine engine LWIR sensors face limitations due to suboptimal lens size resulting from cooling requirements, which restricts thermal imaging capabilities and necessitates redesigning the entire engine to improve optics.
Innovation Solution
An integrally cooled optical probe design with a housing featuring a purge channel and cooling channels within the housing body, allowing for larger lens diameters without altering the outer dimensions, using coolant fluids to maintain operating temperatures below 300 °F.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If cooling channels are added to the housing body, then the operating temperature is maintained below 300 °F, but the housing structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling channels are integrated directly into the housing body structure, merging the cooling function with the existing housing rather than adding separate cooling components. This reduces overall device complexity while maintaining effective cooling below 300 °F
Solution Approach 2:
Coolant fluid is circulated through the cooling channels formed within the housing body to remove heat from the optical components, maintaining operating temperatures below 300 °F through fluid-based thermal management
2Measurement precision
If larger lens diameters are used, then thermal imaging capabilities are improved, but the housing size must be increased
Solution Approach 1:
The design transitions from two-dimensional lens placement to three-dimensional optical path routing using prisms and multiple reflection surfaces, enabling larger effective lens diameters within the constrained housing footprint by utilizing spatial dimensions more efficiently
Solution Approach 2:
The optical components including larger diameter lenses and prisms are nested within the housing cavity in a compact arrangement, allowing large optical elements to be accommodated within the existing housing external dimensions through optimized internal spatial configuration
3Measurement precision
If the housing dimensions are increased to accommodate larger optics, then the thermal imaging resolution is improved, but the gas turbine engine redesign is required
Solution Approach 1:
The optical probe housing is designed with localized optimization of the internal cavity shape and cooling channel placement, allowing larger effective optics without increasing external housing dimensions, thereby avoiding the need for gas turbine engine redesign
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables larger optics within the same housing size, improving thermal imaging capabilities and reducing the need for redesigning the gas turbine engine, while meeting cooling requirements and maintaining safe operating temperatures.
Implementation Method 1
The housing includes a hollow purge channel that includes a gas inlet and a gas outlet. The purge channel extends axially relative to the center longitudinal axis from the gas inlet to the gas outlet. The gas outlet directs gas into the cavity toward the distal end.
Implementation Method 2
A long wave infrared (LWIR) sensor can be strategically positioned within the gas turbine engine such that a probe is pointed toward one of the various rotatable blades to measure the temperature of the blade during operation without contacting the blade.
Data Source
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AI summary
A housing (300; 404; 504) for internal components of an optical probe (200A-200N; 400; 500) is provided. The housing (300; 404; 504) includes a housing body (406; 506) including an outer surface (302; 408; 508) and an inner surface (410) opposite the outer surface (302; 408; 508). The housing body (406; 506) is elongated along a center longitudinal axis (304; 416) from a proximal end (306; 418; 518) to a distal end (308; 420). The inner surface (410) defines and annularly surrounds a cavity (310; 422) that is open at the proximal end (306; 418; 518) and closed at the distal end (308; 420). The housing (300; 404; 504) includes a purge channel (424) that includes a gas inlet (426) and a gas outlet (428). The purge channel (424) extends axially relative to the center longitudinal axis (304; 416) from the gas inlet (426) to the gas outlet (428). The purge channel (424) is formed between the outer surface (302; 408; 508) and the inner surface (410) of the housing body (406; 506). The gas outlet (428) is located distally from the gas inlet (426) and through the inner surface (410) of the housing body (406; 506). The gas outlet (428) directs gas into the cavity (310; 422) toward the distal end.