Work

Optical Fiber–Based Continuous Liquid Level Sensor Based on Rayleigh Backscattering

Year: 2022

Type: article

Abstract: This work reports an optical fiber-based continuous liquid level sensor for cryogenic propellant mass gauging, which has significant advantages over the existing liquid level sensors in terms of accuracy, simplicity, and reliability. Based on Rayleigh backscattering coherent optical frequency domain reflectometry, every point of the sensing fiber is a liquid sensor which is able to distinguish liquid and vapor. We obtained a measurement accuracy of 1 mm for the optical fiber sensor by measuring both liquid nitrogen and water levels. For the first time, for practical applications, we experimentally studied the influence of ambient temperature and strain changes on the sensing performance as well as the repeatability of the optical fiber-based liquid level sensor's measurements.

Source: Micromachines

DOI: 10.3390/mi13040633

Authors: Xingqiang Chi, Xiangjun Wang, Xuan Ke

Institutions: Wuhan Polytechnic University, Naval University of Engineering, Wuhan Technical University, Jianghan University

Language: English

Topic: Advanced Fiber Optic Sensors

Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,094

Funder: National Natural Science Foundation of China