{"81391":{"#nid":"81391","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Taking the Heat: Company Prepares to Launch Innovative Sensors Based on Georgia Tech Research","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EMaintaining large rotating equipment isn\u0027t easy or cheap. Take gas turbines used in power plants: Inspecting one of these behemoths for possible wear and tear costs about $500,000 in parts and labor. If companies skip on periodic checkups, they risk breakdowns averaging $4 million per incident. \n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EYet Atlanta-based Radatec Inc is about to transform condition monitoring with a new breed of non-contact displacement sensor. \n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EScheduled for commercial release later this summer, Radatec\u0027s sensors provide real-time information about critical mechanical components in areas that were previously off limits. \n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0022We take the guesswork out of maintenance,\u0022 says Scott Billington, Radatec\u0027s president and co-founder. \u0022Instead of having to shut down heavy equipment, Radatec\u0027s sensors allow operators to virtually see inside complex machinery and predict when repairs are needed.\u0022\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBased on microwave technology, Radatec\u0027s innovative sensors measure motion by sending a continuous microwave signal toward a vibrating or rotating object. This signal is reflected back to a radio receiver in the sensor. \n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EA patented algorithm then compares the transmitted signal with the received one, calculating a measure of displacement.\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn contrast to existing sensors that use capacitive, eddy current or laser technologies, Radatec\u0027s sensors: \n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0095 Operate at extremely high temperatures - up to 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u0095 Remain unaffected by contaminants such as oil, dust and carbon deposits.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u0095 Are immune to electromagnetic interference.\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThese unique characteristics allow Radatec\u0027s sensors to operate in harsh environments. \u0022Existing sensors work well in certain applications, but can\u0027t be used in areas where it\u0027s very hot, dirty or contaminated,\u0022 says Jonathan Geisheimer, Radatec\u0027s co-founder and vice president. \u0022And because these regions are often the most stressed areas of machinery, it\u0027s where major problems develop first.\u0022\n\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"An Atlanta company formed by former Georgia Tech researchers is preparing to launch an innovative new sensor system that monitors industrial equipment in harsh environments.","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":"","uid":"27304","created_gmt":"2004-05-21 00:00:00","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:03:38","author":"Matthew Nagel","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2004-05-21T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2004-05-21T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"related_links":[{"url":"http:\/\/gtresearchnews.gatech.edu\/newsrelease\/radatec.htm","title":"Smaller, cheaper"}],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"},{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"}],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cstrong\u003E \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.gatech.edu\/contact\/index.html?id=\u0022\u003EContact  \u003C\/a\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}