SANHTA – Spectral ANalysis for High Temperature Applications

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Sensor Coating Systems (SCS) provides a thermal mapping service to the power generation, jet propulsion, automotive and manufacturing industry. SCS has developed a measurement system consisting of three technical pillars: 1) Smart phosphorescent temperature memory coating2) Tailored instrumentation3) Fully automated robotic and digitisation systemThe system allows to provide high resolution thermal maps to be generated on CAD models of mission-critical components. These thermal maps enable designers to fine tune cooling arrangements and increase thermal efficiencies specifically in gas turbines. An enabling, unique technology highly valuable for the energy transition where hotter operating temperatures are needed to achieve net zero.**Context:** In a recent survey SCS established the importance of accurate temperature measurements for its clients specifically in power generation and aviation. SCS has developed this novel technology from scratch competing with traditional methods such as thermocouples, pyrometry, thermal paints and thermal crystals.SCS' technology has shown areas of higher uncertainties in specific temperature ranges using its traditional measurement approach. SCS tried to resolve this by changing the analysis method and analysing specific features of the optical spectrum of the coatings. This has shown great promise and made the technology more robust. However, the uncertainty of this novel approach can be unacceptably high at around 150°C-200°C in specific areas and needs to be brought to ±30°C.**Objective:** To this end, this project brings together SCS as technology owner, NEL as partner and machine learning expert, and UKAEA as subcontractor and spectral fitting expert to develop a computerised spectra analysis toolbox that identifies, fits and tracks changes in coating luminescence with exposure temperature. This will enable the reduction of uncertainty of the measurements to ±30°C across the temperature measurement range from 150°C - 1600°C, significantly improving the competitive advantage of the technology.**Impact:** SCS' technology has been utilised for temperature mapping services with clients in the US, Europe and Asia. SCS believes that a successful project delivering ±30°C uncertainty using the new spectral approach will accelerate the adoption of the technique worldwide in all sectors. SCS estimates that a successful project could double last year's turnover figure from £1.15m (2021). A recent large engine test in the US on 50 components has exposed all parts across a wide temperature range. 50% of components would have benefited from the proposed spectral analysis approach, making other competing technologies obsolete. Further, the number of 'early' adopters and clients will increase.