Fiber optic anemometer based on silicon Fabry-Pérot interferometer

Guigen Liu, Weilin Hou, Wei Qiao, Ming Han

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Flowmeters have been finding vast applications in all kinds of industrial processes, such as process control, food quality surveillance, wind turbines, environment monitoring, etc. In this paper, we propose a new anemometer which consists of a Fabry-Pérot interferometer (FPI) implemented using a thin silicon mounted on the tip of an optical fiber. The anemometer takes advantage of the superior thermal and optical properties of silicon. Silicon is transparent to infrared wavelength, while it absorbs visible light. Thus, the silicon FPI can be heated by a beam injected from a red diode laser while the infrared signals go through it without any interference from the heating light. The heat loss from the silicon film will increase when the sensor is placed in stronger flow (wind), which induces a decrease in the optical path of the silicon FPI, which lead to blueshifts the output spectrum. A higher wind speed corresponds to a larger wavelength shift. By tuning the heating power, the response range and sensitivity of the anemometer is changed. Experimental results demonstrate that a wavelength shift -0.574 nm was observed for a wind speed of 4 m/s. Better sensitivity is to be expected when stronger heating applied. The proposed sensor also features simple structure, low cost and fast response.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationFiber Optic Sensors and Applications XII
EditorsHenry H. Du, Gary Pickrell, Eric Udd
PublisherSPIE
ISBN (Electronic)9781628415964
DOIs
StatePublished - 2015
EventFiber Optic Sensors and Applications XII - Baltimore, United States
Duration: Apr 22 2015Apr 23 2015

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume9480
ISSN (Print)0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)1996-756X

Other

OtherFiber Optic Sensors and Applications XII
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityBaltimore
Period4/22/154/23/15

Keywords

  • Fabry-Pérot interferometer
  • Fiber-optic sensors
  • anemometer
  • silicon film
  • thermal effects

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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