Multiple Bends Coated Intensity based Plastic Optical Fiber Sensor to Detect Liquid Level

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to obtain a sensitive liquid level sensor by using Plastic Optical Fiber (POF). Methods/Analysis: The sensor head is obtained by removing part of the jacket. This section is bent with a diameter of 2 cm. To determine differences in the sensitivity, the sensor head is also coated with aluminum or copper. In a fiber composed of four/five bends. He-Ne laser light inserted into the fiber optic. Output intensity is measured by a power meter. Findings: The diameter and the number of bends in the POF affects the intensity of the output, since the incident angle core becomes smaller than the critical angle so that not all of the light to be refracted toward the cladding. The coating on the cladding affects the intensity of the output of POF due to differences in the reflectance of the coating material. Coating affects the performance of the sensor. Aluminum coating on the fiber with four bends provide better sensitivity sensor. Applications/Improvements: This sensor can be used to monitor liquid levels. The number of bends and coating with aluminum on the sensor increases sensitivity.