Fiber optic pressure sensor system for gas turbine engine control

Laurence N. Wesson; Nellie L. Cabato; Nicholson L. Pine; Victor J. Bird

doi:10.1117/12.24746

1 February 1991 Fiber optic pressure sensor system for gas turbine engine control

Laurence N. Wesson, Nellie L. Cabato, Nicholson L. Pine, Victor J. Bird

Proceedings Volume 1367, Fiber Optic and Laser Sensors VIII; (1991) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.24746
Event: SPIE Microelectronic Interconnect and Integrated Processing Symposium, 1990, San Jose, United States

Abstract

A high-performance fiber optic pressure sensor system is being developed for gas turbine engine applications. Based on the photoelastic effect, the four sensors convert differential pressure into bending stress in transparent plates. The bending stress is then measured by its effect on polarized light transmitted through the plates. Three different pressure ranges, from 0-15 psia to 0-500 psia, are provided to measure compressor inlet (CIP), compressor discharge (CDP), ambient static (ASP), and nozzle total pressure (NTP). The sensors are designed for accurate onengine operation at temperatures from -55 to +800°C, so the optical components, housing, and fiber cables have all been designed for stability over this temperature range. The sensor design employs fused silica and Inconel 718 to achieve these results. The fiber cable materials include metal-coated fiber, ceramics, and stainless steel. The transducer electronics interface unit (EIU) is a multiplexed analog system which gathers eight data readings (four pressures and four temperatures) and processes all eight within 2 ms. The analog intensity-modulated nature of the basic sensing method has been modified to yield highly accurate results by the use of a novel self-referencing technique. At the same time the receiver circuitry measures the temperature of each sensor by two-color pyrometry. This in turn allows continuous temperature compensation of each sensor. The multi-sensor system thus produces four separate temperature-corrected pressure readings in 12-bit digital format every 2 ms. A further benefit of the self-referencing scheme is that it allows the cables to be freely disconnected and reconnected, or reconfigured portto- port, without loss of calibration or accuracy. Each sensor pressure and temperature reading is resolved to within 0.1% of full scale.

Citation Download Citation

Laurence N. Wesson, Nellie L. Cabato, Nicholson L. Pine, and Victor J. Bird "Fiber optic pressure sensor system for gas turbine engine control", Proc. SPIE 1367, Fiber Optic and Laser Sensors VIII, (1 February 1991); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.24746

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available