DOE SAPPHIRE PROJECT

Since this is the first report for this project an extensive background section follows on the theory of operation of the single crystal sapphire sensor technology which will be developed and field tested at the Wabash River Coal Gasification Facility. Requirements for the temperature sensors for implementation in the coal gasifiers has been established in conjunction with the industrial partner, Dynegy. Coal slag immersion tests indicate good corrosion resistance of the single crystal sapphire. However, a more sophisticated corrosion apparatus has been constructed in order to test the optical attenuation of a single crystal sapphire fiber immersed in the coal slag at high temperature. These results will be reported in the next period. The data to date for sapphire sensor development is promising. More extensive data on the sapphire fiber sensor development will be reported for the next period