The world’s first commercial temperature and pressure sensor capable of operating at over 1000 degrees Celsius has been developed by Oxsensis – a spin out from the Research Councils UK Energy Programme.
The Wave-Phire device can gather data in hostile environments, such as gas turbines used in aircraft engines and power stations, and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Oxsensis chief executive officer David Gahan said: “A black hole of information has existed in the heart of combustion systems for air transport and power generation. Our sensors will provide previously unavailable information to enable far finer levels of intelligent control of the equipment.”
The aim is to improve the efficiency of fossil fuels and promote a cleaner environment. “We are working with major producers of gas turbines for energy and transport, as well as with a major car producer,” adds Mr Gahan. “We are looking to help save tens of millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide each year.”
Formed in 2003, Oxsensis is a spin-out company from the Science and Technology Facilities Council's (STFC) Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. It responded to industry demands for better sensors in the hottest parts of engines. The Wave-Phire is highly sensitive yet can be flush mounted to a combustion engine and is immune to electromagnetic interference.
The micro-machined sapphire sensor uses technology developed at the STFC's Micro-Nano Technology Centre. The design, which won an Institution of Engineering and Technology Innovation Award, was made possible thanks to the knowledge transfer arm STFC Innovations Ltd.
Mr Gahan credits its success to “the availability of world-class facilities on the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus and the fundamental pool of knowledge and networking available. Basically we couldn’t do it without them.”
Oxsensis is one of 17 European organisations working on the gas turbine programme HEATTOP. The programme, backed by the European Commission, aims to advance the performance and life of gas turbines.