Sensatek Selected for $225,000 National Science Foundation Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I Award

Sensatek was selected for a $225,000 National Science Foundation Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I Award to establish proof of concept of a wireless high temperature sensor for real-time of power generation gas turbine engines. The new sensor offers turbine manufacturers and owners/operators the capability to place small-sized sensors in hard to reach areas in the turbine, and transmit sensed data wirelessly thereby enabling heat loads to be quantified. According to gas turbine engineers interviewed during National Science Foundation I-Corps program, increasing the firing temperature of a turbine by 100°C, due to accurate real-time temperature measurement, will result in 1% increase in efficiency. This translates to additional revenue of $48 million/year for a fleet of 100 turbines. In addition, these sensors can extend useful life by 10,000 – 25,000 hours per turbine due to enhanced maintenance planning, translating to an additional revenue of $76.7 Million to $192 Million per turbine.