Intelligent fiber optic pressure sensor for measurements in extreme conditions

Abstract

Application of a fiber optic Fabry-Perot interferometer (FFPI) for measurements of pressure and speed of pressure variation in water reactors of nuclear power plants contributes to improving their safety and long-term metrological stability, which demands for intelligent sensors. It is shown that manufacturing of a FFPI sensitive element based on a molecular layering nanotechnology provides for substantial enhancement of the quality of the gauge. The algorithm of self-calibration of the pressure sensor based on the fact that the length of the FFPI cavity depends on the pressure at a constant spectrum of an optical source is considered. By means of fast tuning of the spectrum of an optical source it is possible to make self-calibration in the course of continuous work of the pressure gauge. It is also shown that the intelligent FFPI pressure sensor maintains metrological characteristics when the total dose of high-neutron/gamma radiation is over 2 MGy.