Optical Flow Sensor.
Abstract
A thermal dilation type optical flow sensor includes an optical heating source for heating a flowing fluid and a sensor disposed in a downstream direction from a said heating source wherein the sensor includes a probe for varying a reflected light according to the temperature of the probe, a Michelson type interferometer for measuring the temperature of the probe according to the phase of the reflected light, and a calculating device for determining the flow rate based on the temperature of the probe, the distance between the heating source and the probe, and the amount of heat produced by the heating source. In an alternative embodiment, a thermal dilation type optical flow sensor includes a reflecting probe disposed in the flowing fluid for reflecting an incident light with a phase varied according to the probe temperature, an optical heater for heating the probe with a predetermined heat, and a calculating device for calculating a flow rate based on the predetermined heat and the phase of the reflected light.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 30, 1991
- Accession Number
- ADD015200
Entities
People
- Thomas G. Giallorenzi
Organizations
- United States Department of the Navy