An Innovative Optical Fiber Flowmeter
摘要
Optical fiber has been applied in sensing technology for years. Compared with conventional sensors, optical fiber excels in low cost, small size, free from electromagnetic interference, low transmission loss, etc. Hence it is very suitable for the environmental monitoring and measuring in various industries. An innovative optical fiber flowmeter combining optical fiber sensing technologies and turbine flowmeter is presented in this paper. The sensor head includes a precise propeller. The optical fibers are used to transmit and collect the light signals. The light injects on the blades of the propeller will be reflected and received by the collecting fiber. By calculating the reflected signal frequency, we can convert it into the flow velocity after appropriate calibration. A prototype was developed and verified in a simulated flow measuring system. The results show good linearity and accuracy which could be used for remote monitoring, especially in the hazard area under safety concern.