Project Title:

Aeolian Tone Flow Meter Using Optical Fiber

92-1-09.14-3088                                                   NAS03-26915
Aeolian Tone Flow Meter Using Optical Fiber
Physical Optics Corporation
20600 Gramercy Place, Suite 103
Torrance, CA  90501
Lev Sadovnik                                         (310-320-3088)

Abstract:

     An innovative, vortex-shedding, optical-fiber flow meter will
be developed. A single optical fiber passing through a flow-
carrying pipe vibrates due to the natural phenomenon of vortex
shedding. Information about the vibration, and thus the flow rate,
is conveyed to monitoring stations. The measurement utilizes
theoretically and experimentally proven linear relationship
between the flow rate and the flow-induced vibration frequency of
the vortex shedding body. Several candidate fiber sensor
techniques will be investigated. With electronic signal
processing, the accuracy of the flow rate measurement is expected
to be 0.5%. This high accuracy will allow early detection of gas
leaks and increase the safety of space missions. Other advantages
of the fiber sensor are its extremely low interference with gas
flow, its high immunity to any electromagnetic field, and its
ready integrability into gas monitoring systems.

Potential Commercial Application:

Potential Commercial Applications:  The success of this project
may lead to a new class of compact, robust, optical-fiber flow
meters for improved monitoring of various industrial processes and
for use by gas utilities.

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