title: Highly sensitive liquid level monitoring system utilizing polymer fiber Bragg gratings.
abstract: A novel and highly sensitive liquid level sensor based on a polymer optical fiber Bragg grating (POFBG) is experimentally demonstrated. Two different configurations are studied and both configurations show the potential to interrogate liquid level by measuring the strain induced in a POFBG embedded in a silicone rubber diaphragm, which deforms due to hydrostatic pressure variations. The sensor exhibits a highly linear response over the sensing range and a good repeatability. For comparison, a similar sensor using a FBG inscribed in silica fiber is fabricated, which displays a sensitivity that is a factor of 5 smaller than the POFBG. The temperature sensitivity is studied and a novel multi-sensor arrangement proposed which has the potential to provide level readings independent of temperature and the liquid density.
authors.forename: Carlos A F
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.forename: Gang-Ding
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Webb