HAL Technology, LLC — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: Hal Technology will develop a compact, rugged Multi-angle Optical Dust Sensor (MODS) for r

Description

Hal Technology will develop a compact, rugged Multi-angle Optical Dust Sensor (MODS) for real-time engine health monitoring. Prolonged sand and dust exposure leads to gas turbine component degradation and ultimately engine failure. The MODS will measure particulate size, size distributions, and concentration, and eventually chemical composition. This sensor has an extended range for size and concentration measurements when compared with commercially available particle sensors. In the Phase I effort we will produce and demonstrate a prototype sensor capable of measuring load rates which will lay the foundation for development of a composition-capable sensor in Phase II. In Phase II we will develop a detailed design and build an advanced prototype sensor ready for integration into selected engine system(s) for operational assessment. During Phase III we will work with the selected-engine OEM to develop a certification plan, perform Category A (ground) and B (flight) testing. Our MODS can be integrated into an engine control system to allow early warning of excessive dust loading and provide information to help manage the health and durability of an aero-turbine engine.