title: Self-compensating fiber optic flow sensor system and its field applications.
abstract: A self-compensating fiber optic flow sensor system based on the principle of broadband white-light interferometers and cantilever beam bending is described. The fiber optic sensor system uses two fiber ferrule sensors that are bonded on either side of a cantilever beam to measure the flow rate by monitoring the air-gap changes caused by the bending of the cantilever beam. Cross sensitivity of the temperature and pressure dependence of the sensor can be compensated for automatically. The prototype sensor system was constructed, laboratory characterized, and field tested. The results from the field testing have demonstrated high resolution, repeatability, and stability for on-line detection of the flow rates of fluids.
authors.affiliation: Center for Photonics Technology, Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, Suite 303, 460 Turner Street, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061-0287, USA. weipeng@vt.edu
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Gary R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Pickrell
authors.forename: Zhengyu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Juncheng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Dae Woong
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Anbo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wang