Characteristics analysis and experiment verification of electrostatic sensor for aero-engine exhaust gas monitoring

An electrostatic sensor is a critical component of the electrostatic monitoring system for an aero-engine gas path. In this paper, the basic principles of the electrostatic sensor are described and the materials selection process for sensor electrodes and an isolation medium is introduced. The finite element method was adopted to calculate the sensitivity distribution, and the influence of relevant structural parameters on the sensitivity distribution characteristic is analyzed. The data fitting method was employed to acquire the unified spatial sensitivity distribution functions for a given structure sensor, which provides a useful reference for the sensor's installation location. Based on the unified function, the sensitivity distribution function along the particle moving direction and the frequency characteristic of the electrostatic sensor were acquired. Then the corresponding influence factors of the frequency properties were analyzed. An experiment platform was established to verify the model and the theoretical analysis results. Then, simulated experiments were applied to verify the feasibility and validity of the electrostatic sensor, and the experiment results provided a useful reference for the identification of abnormal particles as a characteristic of aero-engine faults.