Real-time 3D airflow sensing module for gas turbine engines
This technology uses an array of acoustic sensors—essentially sound-based measurement devices—to precisely measure airflow inside a gas turbine engine. The key innovation is that at least one sensor is mounted on a rotating hub or shaft while others are fixed to the engine casing, allowing the system to capture flow measurements from both stationary and moving reference frames simultaneously. By transmitting sound waves through the moving airstream and measuring how the flow affects those waves, the system can generate highly accurate, real-time airflow data across the engine intake. This gives engine operators and control systems far better information about what is actually happening inside the engine than traditional fixed-sensor approaches.
What you could build
An integrated airflow sensing module for new or retrofit installation on commercial and military gas turbine engines, sold to engine OEMs or MRO operators to enable more precise fuel management, performance monitoring, and fault detection.
Who in Virginia should care
Defense aerospace primes and MRO facilities concentrated in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads—including Rolls-Royce, Pratt & Whitney, and Navy aviation depot operations—would have direct interest in improved turbine engine diagnostics.
Readiness: Prototype likely
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- Vasileios KYRITSIS, Kevin Todd LOWE, Maurice BRISTOW, Peter LOFTUS
- Granted
- October 24, 2023
- Status
- Granted patent
- Patent number
- 11796358
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.