Practical polarization maintaining optical fibre temperature sensor for harsh environment application

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Abstract
A reflection spot temperature sensor was proposed based on the polarization mode interference in polarization maintaining optical fiber(PMF),and the sensing equation was obtained.In this temperature sensor,a broadband source was used to suppress the drift due to polarization coupling in lead-in/lead-out PMF.The characteristic and performance investigation prove this sensor is practical and flexible and precision.Experimental result fits the theory model very well and the noise-limited minimum detectable temperature variation is less than 0.01 ℃.For the demand of field hot-spot monitoring of huge power transformers,a remote multi-channel temperature sensor prototype was made and tested.Specially coated Panda PMF that could stand high temperature of up to 250 ℃ were fabricated and used as probe fibers.The sensor probes were sealed within thin quartz tubes of high voltage insulation and could work in hot oil and vapor envi ronment.Test results show that the accuracy of the system is better than ±0.5 ℃ within 0~200 ℃.