When the heat and pressure are on, count on Kaman's high precision sensors. In applications requiring high accuracy, reliability, structural integrity they operate in temperatures from -320°F to +1000°F (+1200°F short term). The displacement systems withstand pressures up to 3500 or 5000 psi. Pressure system measures pressure up to 5000 psi. The dual-coil sensor design effectively minimizes radiation effects. Hermetically sealed and laser welded, they are unaffected by environmental contaminants.

These high temperature products were initially designed for NASA and the nuclear power industry - applications requiring high reliability, accuracy, and structural integrity. The same engineering skill and technology that went into Kaman's +2000°F microphone for measuring the dB level of jet engine exhaust noise, in the exhaust, went into the design and manufacture of this superior line of high temperature products.

One of the first members of this product line was an early pressure sensor developed over 30 years ago for the then Atomic Energy Commission to measure pressure buildup in controlled reactor core meltdown tests. This product evolved into the KP-1911 high temperature pressure sensor.

Kaman developed the high temperature displacement sensor to measure steam turbine shaft runout in nuclear power plants. They are also used to measure nuclear fuel rod position/vibration, since these inductive sensors are unaffected by radiation and most other environmental contaminants. This specialized line of high temperature sensors features precise operation at up to +1000°F continuous and +1200°F short term. They have resolution and repeatability comparable to Kaman's conventional line of high precision systems.

Kaman Measuring Systems is the only firm to make a high temperature pressure transducer capable of responding to static pressure. Kaman makes the only high temperature displacement transducers for a steam and water environment. All of Kaman's high temperature transducers are made with sealed, all laser welded, Inconel cases and use metal-jacketed, mineral-insulated cable. The KP-1911 measures pressure up to 5000 psi. The displacement transducers withstand pressures: KD-1925 greater than 5000 psi; KD-1950 and KD-1975 up to 3500 psi.

High Temperature Displacement Sensors include the KD-1925, KD-1950 and KD-1975. Kaman Measuring System's high temperature displacement sensors provide accurate noncontacting measurement of conductive surface motion in hostile environments. Thermal compensation techniques that maintain sensitivity and linearity with small zero shifts make accurate high temperature measurements possible.

These sensors feature laser-welded, Inconel construction, making them perfect for a variety of extreme environment applications. The sensors use the versatile KDM-8200 family of signal conditioning electronics. Single channel systems are available in the NEMA-enclosed KDM-8200 or bench-top/rack-mountable KDM-8200. The NEMA enclosure houses an internal power supply, digital panel meter and window kit. Up to eight measuring channels are available in the rack mountable KDM-8200. (See Kaman's Series 8000 data sheet for a complete description and additional specifications for these electronics.) Each sensor has dual coils inside the corrosion resistant case. In operation, an electromagnetic field generated by the active coil penetrates the front of the sensor to induce eddy currents in a conductive target within the sensor's range. Changes in target displacement result in impedance variation in the active coil. This variation is detected by the signal conditioning electronics and converted to a linear analog output signal. The symmetrical design of the dual coils compensates for constant and slowly changing temperatures from -320°F to +77°F or from 77°F to +1000°F. Measurement quality is unaffected by most corrosive gasses and liquids and most other environmental contaminants such as oil, dirt, radiation, and stray RF and magnetic fields. The cabling has two sections joined by a LEMO® transition connector: a high temperature metal sheathed, mineral insulated section designed to the same environmental specifications as the sensor, and a flexible section of PVC sheath, twisted pair, shielded cable for connection to the electronics unit.

High Temperature Pressure Measuring System Kaman Measuring System's KP-1911 high temperature pressure measuring system is an integrated transducer system that operates reliably at over +1000°F (+538°C) and 5000 psi (34.5 MPa). It includes the pressure transducer/sensor, cabling (high and low temperature sections) and signal conditioning electronics. The sensor can operate in a variety of media including liquid sodium, steam, plastics, petro-chemicals, high temperature steam, and many other gases and liquids. System output is an analog voltage directly proportional to the applied static or dynamic pressure. The sensor uses internal impedance variation to measure static and dynamic pressure. Absolute pressure is measured with the standard hermetically sealed sensor. Gage and differential sensors are available as options. The gage sensor has a vent for atmospheric reference and the differential sensor has a tube exiting the case for supplying a dry gas reference pressure. The sensors can be mounted mechanically or welded to optional adapters. The cabling has two sections joined by a LEMO® transition connector: a high temperature metal sheathed, mineral insulated section designed to the same environmental specifications as the sensor, and a flexible section of PVC sheath, twisted pair, shielded cable for connection to the electronics unit. The metal sheathed cable is available in lengths up to 6.1 meters (20 feet).

The sensor housing is Alloy 718 (AMS 5662) and the cable sheath is Alloy 600 (AMS 5580). The patented two coil design of the sensor essentially cancels the effects of constant or slowly changing temperatures and permits compensation over the temperature range of -320°F to +77°F (-196°C to +25°C) or +77°F to +1000°F (+25°C to +538°C). Kaman performs temperature compensation and calibration before shipment. Each system has user adjustable zero and gain controls.