A new method for measuring the steam quality

摘要

A new method of fibre-optic sensor for measuring the steam quality is presented in this paper. A sensor based on refractive index modulation is employed. The sensor is made up of a sapphire probe and fiber, the fiber transmits the optical signal and the sapphire probe detects reflectivity of steam. The surface of sapphire probe can be considered as an assemblage of infinitesimal square-meshes, and each mesh can distinguish between water and vapor, because water and vapor has different refractive index. After measuring temperature and reflectivity as well as analyzing the relation between them and steam quality, we can obtain the steam quality. The result obtained in this paper is also important to optimize the system of fibre-optic sensor.