Temperature is a word we perceive everywhere in our daily lives; idioms describing it include "crisp autumn air," "scorching heat," and "bitter cold." Temperature is also a crucial technical parameter in disciplines such as physics, thermodynamics, materials science, and metallurgy. In industries like power generation and plastics production, temperature monitoring and control are essential for improving production efficiency and ensuring safe production. In materials research and development, measuring material temperature reveals its spectral radiation characteristics, providing technical support for material upgrades. In engine testing, surface temperature distribution can determine combustion characteristics and patterns, providing data support for engine optimization.
As the heart of an aircraft, aero-engines require not only pressure monitoring but also crucial temperature measurement. It directly impacts the aircraft's power performance, safety, reliability, and economic efficiency, and is a significant indicator of my country's scientific and technological level, industrial technology, and military strength. With the development of aerospace technology, the operating temperature of hot-end components in engines has gradually increased, with the airframe temperature range roughly from 50 to 600°C, and the combustion chamber temperature reaching as high as 1650°C. Aircraft engines operate for extended periods in high-temperature environments. If the ambient temperature exceeds the tolerance range of various components, it will lead to a reduction in engine life or even damage to the engine, posing a danger to aircraft operation. Therefore, accurate measurement of engine temperature is essential.
Faced with the challenges of complex geometry, dense measurement points, and harsh environments in engine hot-end components, temperature scanners have become an efficient solution for temperature measurement. For example, KETU&TEST temperature scanners can synchronously, rapidly, and accurately measure and record temperature variations across dozens or even hundreds of measurement points, making them particularly suitable for applications in instrumentation, automatic control, and aerospace.
The core working principle of a temperature scanner is thermocouple temperature measurement, the most common method in temperature measurement. Based on the thermoelectric effect, it connects two conductors of different materials into a closed loop. When the temperatures at the two ends of the loop are different, a thermoelectric potential is generated. Finally, the temperature of the object being measured is obtained by looking up a table or other operations.
Regarding thermocouple selection, it is necessary to match the thermocouple to the temperature range of the measurement location. S-type thermocouples, due to their excellent oxidation resistance, high-temperature stability, and a measurement upper limit of up to 1768℃, are ideal for monitoring ultra-high temperature areas such as combustion chambers. K-type thermocouples, with their good cost-effectiveness, high sensitivity, and wide range of -200 to 1300℃, are more suitable for use in engine parts with slightly lower temperatures, such as compressor outlets and turbine blades.
In the development of temperature scanners, Xi’an Ketu Test Technology Co., LTD (KETU&TEST) is committed to 100% in-house R&D of the underlying logic, aiming to design a fully domestically produced, high-performance temperature scanner to support industrial advancement.
KETU&TEST temperature scanners are available in 16- and 32-channel models, and multiple devices can be interconnected for synchronized operation. They offer a maximum accuracy of ±0.5°C, with an adjustable sampling rate of 0–10 kHz. The scanners support a variety of thermocouple types, including K, T, E, J, S, R, and B, and each channel can be configured with a different thermocouple type if needed.
Equipped with professional acquisition software that is easy to operate, with a clear interface and one-click data export, these temperature scanners are an essential tool for aircraft engine temperature measurements.