Fiber-optic flow sensors for high-temperature environment operation up to 800°C

This Letter presents an all-optical high-temperature flow sensor based on hot-wire anemometry. High-attenuation fibers (HAFs) were used as the heating elements. High-temperature-stable regenerated fiber Bragg gratings were inscribed in HAFs and in standard telecom fibers as temperature sensors. Using in-fiber light as both the heating power source and the interrogation light source, regenerative fiber Bragg grating sensors were used to gauge the heat transfer from an optically powered heating element induced by the gas flow. Reliable gas flow measurements were demonstrated between 0.066 m/s and 0.66 m/s from the room temperature to 800 degrees C. This Letter presents a compact, low-cost, and multiflexible approach to measure gas flow for high-temperature harsh environments. (C) 2014 Optical Society of America