A study of fluid viscosity and flow measurement using fiber-optic transducers.

摘要

The dissertation describes the development of a new fiber-optic fluid sensor capable of measuring a wide range of viscosity and flow rates in either the liquid and gas phase. Unlike any previously known viscosity and flow rate measuring techniques, the new method makes use of the effect of a fluid on the oscillations of a fiber-optic probe immersed in the fluid for viscosity and flow rate measurements. The technique overcomes many of the difficulties that exist in conventional viscosity and flow transducers, including ambient vibration noise, high pressure and extreme temperature conditions. It also allows many experimental studies of fluid and mechanical phenomena such as vortex induced vibration, air/liquid surface tension, vibration in a partially immersed structure, nonlinear vibration, superharmonic and subharmonic excitations. In the course of study, three new fiber-optic transducers were developed for viscosity and flow rate measurement. Configuration and optimization of the sensors are also studied in the context of designing sensors capable of achieving greater sensitivity.