In-Fiber Integrated Quasi-Distributed Temperature Sensor Array With High Spatial Resolution for Silicon Nitride Igniter

Abstract

As a key component in the engine system, silicon nitride igniter’s stable and reliable operation is a necessary condition for the proper functioning of the engine system. However, an online high temperature sensor of silicon nitride igniter inside the engine is absent. This paper presents and demonstrates a novel in-fiber integrated high temperature sensor array with high spatial resolution for online temperature field measurement on a silicon nitride igniter. The sensor array with a series of weak reflectors is written by a femtosecond laser in the core of single-mode fiber. The reflectivity of each reflector can be controlled from 10 <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">−5</sup> ~10 <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">−8</sup> by adjusting the written power of femtosecond laser. Two adjacent weak reflectors form a compact fiber sensor. The size of a single sensor can be as small as 3–5 mm, so it is able to measure the temperature fluctuation in a space down to several millimeters. The five-sensor-array, with the help of a white light interference demodulation system, can measure high temperature up to 1000°C. Due to the advantages of high reliability, compact construction and simple fabrication, this high temperature sensor array can be widely applied in high temperature sensing applications with space constrains.