Low temperature characteristics of FBG with free arc shape for low temperature monitoring

Abstract It is important to monitor the iced condition for operating wind turbine blades. However, most sensors are difficult to be used in this quite cold and lightweight environment. Although the fiber bragg grating (FBG) is a good candidate for the case. With the change of the temperature, the thermal expansion coefficient and thermo-optical coeffecient of FBG material will affect the accuracy of characteristics of FBG sensor. Aiming at the application of fiber optic sensor in low temperature environment and ultrathin requirement, the low temperature characteristics of FBG sensor with free arc shape package has been studied. The low temperature calibration experiments of two packaged FBG samples are tested from -35°C ~20°C in a constant temperature freezer with alcohol tank. The effects of low temperature characteristics of two FBGs packaged with free straight and arc shape tubes are compared. The results show that arc shape can effectively reduce the repeatability error and improve its accuracy due to providing possible low temperature contracting of the optical fibers. Flat arc shape makes it possible to package ultrathin FBG temperature sensor.