High spatial resolution MEMS surface pressure sensor array for transonic compressor IGV measurement

A high spatial resolution MEMS pressure sensor array consisting of 60 transducers for the measurement of unsteady surface pressures on the inlet guide vane (IGV) of a transonic compressor rig is presented. Measurements from this sensor array will be used to investigate three-dimensional unsteady vane/blade interaction aeromechanical forcing functions in a modem, highly loaded compressor stage. Included are details of the design and construction of the MEMS array and electronic interrogation circuitry used for acquisition of the 60 transducer signals using the available data acquisition system. In addition, the MEMS pressure sensor array is used to acquire experimental data. A sample of the data is reduced and shown to give excellent agreement both in the time and frequency domain when compared with previous instrumentation using traditional individual sensor mounting methods. Finally, a significant cost saving of 44% in instrumenting the IGV is realized over traditional instrumentation methods along with substantial benefits in the handling of the sensor wiring.