Abstract
We developed a novel method to monitor mass flow based on distributed fiber optical temperature sensing. Examination of the temporal and spatial temperature distribution along the entire length of a locally heated fluidic conduit reveals heat flow under forced convection. Our experimental results are in good agreement with two-dimensional finite element analysis that couples fluid dynamic and heat transfer equations. Through analysis of the temperature distribution bidirectional flow rates can be measured over three orders of magnitude. The technique is not flow intrusive, works in harsh conditions, including high-temperatures, high pressures, corrosive media, and strong electromagnetic environments. We demonstrate a first experimental implementation on a short fluidic system with a length of one meter. This range covers many applications such as low volume drug delivery, diagnostics, as well as process and automation technology. Yet, the technique can, without restrictions, be applied to long range installations. Existing fiber optics infrastructures, for instance on oil pipelines or down hole installations, would only require the addition of a heat source to enable reliable flow monitoring capability.
Highlights
Today, distributed fiber optical sensors already find applications in fault monitoring of communications networks, structural health monitoring in buildings or bridges, shape sensing, pipeline and electrical transmission line monitoring, and intrusion detection for perimeter security applications [1,2]
We developed a novel method to monitor mass flow based on distributed fiber optical temperature sensing
Therein, heat is injected for a known short period of time and the temperature distribution is observed, i.e., the temperature distribution is measured at a known time interval after the heating pulse was applied
Summary
Today, distributed fiber optical sensors already find applications in fault monitoring of communications networks, structural health monitoring in buildings or bridges, shape sensing, pipeline and electrical transmission line monitoring, and intrusion detection for perimeter security applications [1,2]. We present their use for thermal mass flow sensing. In an optical fiber this can be achieved using multicore fibers [8], but more common are the realization of heaters and nearby thermometers in micro-electro-mechanical-systems (MEMS) [9,10,11] Their fabrication remains costly and complex, and assembly procedures to integrate these sensors within a fluidic conduit is challenging [12]. Fiber optical temperature sensing exploits scattering of light to Sensors 2019, 19, 4151; doi:10.3390/s19194151 www.mdpi.com/journal/sensors
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