Sensatek Propulsion Technology develops and manufactures wireless, high-temperature gas turbine sensors to measure heat transfer data for customers in several industries including energy, aviation, and aerospace. Sensatek’s passive RF sensors determine and report the health status of jet turbine engines, land-based gas turbines, wind turbines, and various other high-powered DUTs with the integration of CMT’s Reflectometers.

Sensatek’s RF temperature sensor is bonded on rotating equipment such as a jet engine turbine blade.  As the sensor passes by the stationary antenna at speeds up to 2000 kph, the antenna communicates with the sensor at RF frequencies.  CMT’s 1-Port VNA —often an R140— is connected to a high temperature cable that terminates within the antenna and reads the sensor. It then pings the antenna to get frequency sweeps. The sensor is passively ringing at a specific frequency which correlates to a particular temperature, strain, pressure, etc. This allows Sensatek to wirelessly interrogate the temperature, strain, or pressure on these rotating parts at very high speeds (up to over 1,200 MPH). Sensatek’s technology is the culmination of over 10 years of R&D on advanced ceramic materials that are robust inside harsh environments and feature elevated temperatures and corrosive gases. These materials are optimized for dielectric and sensor performance up to 1,700 °C.