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Oxsensis Launches 1000°C (1800°F) Wave-Phire™ Dynamic Pressure Sensor
Oxsensis Ltd has launched, Wave-Phire™, the world's first commercially available 1000°C (1800°F) dynamic pressure sensor.
Oxford, UK, July 2008. Oxsensis Ltd has launched, Wave?Phire™, the world's first commercially available 1000°C (1800°F) dynamic pressure sensor and the first of a range of sensor products designed for use at extreme temperatures which are immune to EMI effects.
Oxsensis is developing the Wave?Phire™ series of sensors, which are dynamic pressure sensors capable of operating up to 1000°C (1800°F). The system has been used in several full scale gas turbine trials as well as in combustion rigs up to 1000°C and has shown measurement capability, repeatability and equally importantly good survivability. Further development of the range will extend the measurement capability to allow dynamic and static pressure, and temperature from a single sensor head, at far hotter locations then has previously been possible with conventional sensors.
David Gahan, the CEO of Oxsensis declared,
"Oxsensis is proud to introduce the world's first commercially available sensor for temperatures up to 1000°C (1800°F), the first product in our range of sensors designed to allow unprecedented direct access to the hottest parts of the engine".
As a result of stricter market and regulatory targets on low emissions levels, gas turbine manufacturers are being driven to further improve their lean?burn or dry?low NOx combustion systems. In particular, this drive has pushed the fuel?to?air ratios in these combustion systems to ever lower levels, consequently bringing the flame very close to its stability limit. Under these operating conditions, the system is more vulnerable to large pressure pulsations and may experience problems such as acoustic resonances, flaming?out or flashback, which can seriously damage components both in the combustion system itself and also further downstream. As the drive to higher efficiencies continues, designers wish to increase firing temperatures further which will push stability issues even closer to the edge.
Andrew Elder of Oxsensis backer Close Ventures said,
"It is exciting to see the first of the Wave?Phire™ products emerging with such a temperature advantage over currently available sensors. This promises to be of significant help in increasing energy efficiencies in several important world industries."
The technology is based on micro?machined sapphire, which gives the sensing element the ability to withstand and successfully operate under high temperatures and pressures in combination with the harsh chemical and mechanical environment of the combustion system. With the temperature capability of the sensor head eventually being extended up to the Firing Temperature (Turbine Entry Temperature), this will open up applications for the sensor further downstream in the turbine.