A fiber optic wind vane

Abstract

A Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) between Met One Instruments, Incorporated (Met One) and Westinghouse Savannah River Company (WSRC) was made to develop and test a fiber optic measurement-based wind vane. Some advantages of using fiber optic technology for a wind vane include protection against lightning-induced electrical surges and radio-frequency interference, suitability for use in explosive environments, and a longer field life. A prototype fiber optic wind vane was built by Met One and tested by WSRC. Wind tunnel test results indicated that the vane is very sensitive to low wind speeds (< 0.15 meter per second) although the resolution of the sensor (1.4 degrees) is higher than typical wind vanes. A side-by-side field test with a conventional commercial wind vane indicated that the fiber optic wind vane performed well and even outperformed the conventional sensor during low wind speed conditions. The field test also indicated that the fiber optic sensor is a viable instrument although some modifications are required before the sensor can be readily commercialized.