Wireless Sensors To Monitor Bearings In Jet Engines Developed!!!

Researchers at Purdue University, working with the U.S. Air Force, have developed tiny wireless sensors resilient enough to survive the harsh conditions inside jet engines to detect when critical bearings are close to failing and prevent breakdowns.

The devices are an example of an emerging technology known as "micro electromechanical systems," or MEMS, which are machines that combine electronic and mechanical components on a microscopic scale.

"The MEMS technology is critical because it needs to be small enough that it doesn't interfere with the performance of the bearing itself," said Farshid Sadeghi, a professor of mechanical engineering. " And the other issue is that it needs to be able to withstand extreme heat."

The engine bearings must function amid temperatures of about 300 degrees Celsius, or 572 degrees Farenheit. The researchers have shown that the new sensors can detect impending temperature-induced bearing failure significantly earlier than conventional sensors.

The sensors could be in use in a few years in military aircraft such as fighter jets and helicopters. The technology also has potential applications in commercial products, including aircraft and cars.

The MEMS devices will not require batteries and will transmit temperature data wirelessly. Power will be provided using a technique called inductive coupling, which uses coils of wire to generate current.