A Radioactive Krypton Diffusion Technique for Temperature Mapping of Turbine Blade Surfaces

Development of turbine blade cooling techniques have been prompted by the demand for increased power and efficiency from existing engine envelopes. Accurate determination of temperature profiles exhibited by the turbine blades during engine operation expedite the attainment of optimum design. This paper describes the use of radioactive krypton-85 to determine the maximum temperature experienced by the blade surface during the engine operating period. Apparatus and procedures developed after considerable experimentation are described, and typical temperature evaluations are presented.