Description: En’Urga Inc. will evaluate the feasibility of utilizing mid-infrared hyperspectral imaging as a diagnostic for ground test facilities that have high-temperature turbulent flows such as exhaust plumes from rockets and advanced propulsion systems. The two key issues that will be addressed during the Phase I research work are: (1) the feasibility of developing a high speed mid-infrared hyperspectral imager for turbulent flows, and (2) the feasibility of obtaining spatially and temporally resolved gas concentrations and temperatures from the mid-infrared hyperspectral images. Three tasks are planned to be completed during the Phase I work to address the feasibility of the Hyperspectral emission tomography system. The first task is to design and integrate a breadboard version of the hyperspectral imager to measure path integrated emission in the mid-infrared region from reacting flows. The second task is to develop an algorithm to obtain spatially and temporally resolved gas concentrations and temperatures from the measurements. The third task is to evaluate the system using laboratory-scale experiments. It is anticipated that at the end of the Phase I project, the feasibility of obtaining temperatures and gas concentrations from path-integrated measurements using a mid-infrared hyperspectral imager will be demonstrated conclusively. For Phase II work, a prototype mid-infrared hyperspectral tomographic system will be fabricated and delivered to NASA for use in the ground test facilities at the Stennis Space Center.

Benefits: The proposed hyperspectral imager will provide planar temperature and gas concentration from turbulent reacting flows in high-speed exhaust plumes. The primary NASA application for the proposed hyperspectral imager is to provide non-intrusive validation data for advanced technologies and vehicles. The Phase II prototype instrument can be directly utilized in the ground test facility at NASA Stennis Space Center.

The primary commercial application of the hyperspectral imager will be to obtain validation data from the plumes of all types of propulsion devices. The data are required to develop advanced propulsion systems, aero engines, and associated technologies. Potential customers include commercial and military aerospace propulsion and aircraft engine organizations and university research laboratories